Steering wheel has done a 180

[twocs]

Hello. Took a big hit on my left wheel in my life axle 100 on the w'end and thought I must have broken something. But all that has happened is the steering wheel has turned 180 degrees. There is no visible damage and everything seems good, steering etc. Any ides what I have done ?

[Shadow]

you've bent or broken something.

could be a pitman arm bent, could be steering box broken.

either way you need to get it fixed asap.

[dogbreath_48]

Have a look at the splines on the steering box output (sector shaft?) - are they straight?

Mate twisted the shaft in a 78 series the other day with a very low speed impact (idling in low 1st or 2nd into a hole). Doesn't take much!

Also doesn't take much of a bend in any steering component to get such a result at the wheel.

[80's_delirious]

x2, my money is on a twisted spline on the out put of the steering box.
it only takes a small twist to move the steering wheel a long way.

I twisted mine in my 80, swapped it at midnight to go wheeling and twisted the replacem,ent leaa than 12hrs later

[tiny80]

a shered pitman arm just holding on to your power steer box
or just box is shot change the power steer box or may be check the
steering shaft is not loose car should not be driven as if it is any of the above it will break and you might be doin 100 with no steer
then on ya roof

[crankycruiser]

X3 on the main shaft that comes outta the steering box, they twist piss easy. I have actually busted one.. not fun to get outta the bush!

[bj on roids]

Have a good look at the drag link too.

[twocs]

Cheers. Was told by a mechanic today it may just need a wheel alignment ! Will be getting it in soon so will find out for sure. Thanks again...

[80's_delirious]

do yourself a favour, find a different mechanic
steering wheel is 180degrees out of whack and hes gonna fix it with wheel alignment

sorry about shit mobile phone pic.

the splines are visible between steering box (where it bolts to the chassis) and pitman arm. The spline should be straight, in pic they are on an angle because the shaft has twisted after a mild hit in to front left wheel, steering wheel rotated maybe 45*, I'd be worried something
is ready to snap if your steering wheel moved 180*

[bj on roids]

Cheers. Was told by a mechanic today it may just need a wheel alignment ! Will be getting it in soon so will find out for sure. Thanks again...

I agree, I would take a serious look at it..... A wheel alignment isn't the answer, you have likely done some damage, check all steering linkages.

[rockcrawler31]

The ONLY alignment that can be done to your car is toe in. Castor and camber are fixed from factory. Like everyone else has said here already, check for bent arms, links, or shafts.

Also, while your at it, if you hit something hard you could have bent the leading arms or diff housing. Look along the leading arm for a bow along either the horizontal or vertical axis. (They usually bow side to side along the vertical axis).

If your steering knuckles start weeping oil and replacing the inner oil seal doesn't fix it and it happens recurringly, you will have to have the axle housing checked for straightness and trued.

[fat496]

steering wheel is 180degrees out of whack and hes gonna fix it with wheel alignment

Maybe he's just gonna do a 'STEERING' wheel alignment

...pull it off and turn it around.

[dow50r]

Does it drive ok otherwise, or does it pull to the left/right?
I did similar and it drove ok but steering wheel was out ....turns out i bent the panny chassis mount a bit :( if it drives ok, it will be steering box or mounts of something, if it doesnt drive straight, is may be diff housing