Anyone know if there's a way to adjust the locking position? Mine is 180 degrees out. Only locks with the steering wheel upside down

 

Don't quote me on this but at a guess, is it possible that the steering wheel and the lower steering column U-joint have been off at some point, then the UJ 180 out and the steering wheel to match?

I know that would certainly knock the steering lock out on my VW Buggy.

 

I know the steering wheel hasn't been off. As far as the u-joint I don't believe it has either. The 180 out issue came about after I ran into a rocky side ditch on the right side. Tore the upper control arm bracket loose from the axle and knocked the axle back an inch plus. Friend of mine has a front end shop and fixed it for me. No issues to date but the 180 out issue I'd like to resolve. I'm redoing the front end. Just installed a new track bar and drop bracket. Going to be checking out all the control arms and bushings and will replace what's needed. If I can't get any info on fixing the 180 issue by then I'll see what my friend says when I take it in for alignment. I took the bottom half of the plastic cover off that's just below the steering wheel but can't see any movement when I turn the steering wheel to lock it.

 

Has any part of the steering moved in the cab from the axle moving so much? All I can think of at this point is that the steering lock can activate at 0 and 180 degrees and maybe something's moved out of alignment stopping the 0 degree point from locking in. I can't even work out how it does the steering lock looking at the diagrams so I'm purely guessing at this point. Hopefully someone else will have a better idea, maybe someone who has had their steering column apart.

 

I questioned that when I bought my 2000 WJ and it went in for recall for a computer reprogramming, intake heat shield, and seat belt bolts. The service manager said it was designed to lock 180* out to prevent being easily towed. IDK if that's true, but both my XJ and WJ lock the same way and neither have had collision damage. I believe the locking mechanism is in the column involving a disc with a slot in it welded to the shaft engaging with a pin in the lock tumbler.

 

Thanks for the replies fellas.

I never tried locking at 180 before so I can't say that it did before the wreck. Sounds like it activates in a way similar to the CJ's.

"All I can think of at this point is that the steering lock can activate at 0 and 180 degrees"
Didn't know this.

"and maybe something's moved out of alignment stopping the 0 degree point from locking in."
GOOD possibility. I hit the rocky side ditch hard which put a lot of shock and movement up to the steering wheel. Can't believe it didn't do more damage than it did. No body damage at all.

Not going to get too involved with fixing it. If it wasn't that big of a deal to do I would though.

 

I've just checked mine and on the parts diagram is has 95 and 96 together, my one only locks with the wheel in the 180 position.

 

So even before the wreck mine never locked at 0? I'm going to be honest here and use my old man "whoops" card and say I honestly don't remember if it did or not. I know our '96 Blazer does.

 

Possibly. We'll let you off this time.

 

LOL If so that's GREAT! One less thing to worry with.

 

"What's that noise?" "Don't worry about it. Watch the mirror and if anything falls off, we'll go back and get it!"

 

WISH that could be me. lol
Thing is my hearing about shot SO if I here a noise it could be something major. Best to stop check it out and hope I heard it in time.

 

That was a quote from a movie about road racing.