53 Mercury unequal steering

[dean333]

My steering wheel turns two turns to the right and only one and a half to the left. Can I just drop the steering arm and then turn the wheel equal directions to center it and reinstall the arm?

[69a]

Yes. You are correct!
Get the wheels pointing straight, drop the Pitman arm, then center the steering box by turning the steering wheel both ways, ignore the position of the steering wheel at this point as it can be adjusted with the drag link. and replace the arm.

[rich b]

Doesn't the pitman arm have several wide splines?

Maybe drop the drag link, center the box & the wheels, and then see what is out of kilter.

[69a]

[QUOTE=dean333;2405239]My steering wheel turns two turns to the right and only one and a half to the left. Can I just drop the steering arm and then turn the wheel equal directions to center it and reinstall the arm?

Yes, you are correct. You just need to "clock" the arm. You can probably fine tune it with the drag link to get your steering wheel level while driving straight, so check to see if the adjustment is not too far either way. If your splines don't quite lineup you are better to have the imbalance the other way, as you use "full lock" to the left ("U" turns) a lot more than to the right.
I made the same mistake when I removed the Pitman arm to replace a ball joint. Except I did it the other way. U turns were great, but I barely had enough lock to get around a left hand turn. Don't overthink it, it was correct at some point.

[mcgarrett]

Have never worked on a '53 Merc, but doesn't the pitman arm have a master spline to locate it on the splined shaft?

[Karl Wolf]

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I took a die grinder to a pitman arm spline impediment so that it suited the situation on the Model A-V8.

Karl

[Ideucev8]

You should also check that the tie rods out by the wheels are both adjusted to the same length.
Phil.

[38 coupe]

Adjusting the tie rods to center the steering wheel is the method. If your alignment is good with no unusual tire wear then: get the car pointed straight and drive up a pair of those ramps used for auto repair. Be careful not to move the front tires, keep the alignment as it is with the the weight on the front wheels. Loosen and adjust the tie rods to center the steering wheel, one side will need to get longer and the other side shorter. Hopefully everything is not rusted solid and the adjustments can be made without drama.