I'm in the middle of doing the swap to a Durango box. Stupid me I failed to immobilize the steering wheel before removing the XJ box. I'm ready to install the Durango box but I'm not confident that my steering wheel is dead centered. I think it may be one turn to the right, but again, I'm not positive. It was a real PITA getting that 25 year old steering box out of my XJ. How can I put my steering wheel at dead center? Thanks.

 

Turn it all the way right. Turn it all the way left and count the turns. Turn it back right half that number of turns you counted.

 

Too easy! LOL! Actually, I read that the steering wheel will just keep turning and turning and break the clock springs inside. The limits are determined by the steering gear(s), not the wheel itself. Is that wrong?

 

Errrr. I think you are right. I was thinking if the wheel was hooked up.

Got me stumped on this one.

 

i thought there was only one way to put them back together.....

 

Yes, but if the steering wheel is already turned too much in either direction then I run the risk of breaking the clock spring when turning that way.

 

The only thing that'd be effected negatively by this is the turn signal cancel switch... and to be honest it might work correctly as well. I wouldn't sweat it. Bolt it back where it is now. You won't hurt anything. Just don't spin the wheel 30 times like a kid...

 

DAMN!!! I WAS IN MY GARAGE PLAYING HIGH-SPEED-PURSUIT-SHOOT-OUT LAST NIGHT!!!!

Thanks lr2! I'll hook it up tonight!

 

If you have a '87 you don't have a clockspring,do you?
That only for a airbag.

 

87 don't have clocksprings.
If you have later XJ, you have to remove clockspring and center it according to FSM.
What year is your XJ?

 

I have an 87.

 

I thought the horn went through a clock spring too. I found a how-to that described how to replace the clock spring and that guy's wheel didn't have an airbag.

 

That has no clockspring. The horn connection rubs a contact under the lock plate so it don't matter if you turn the wheel for a week.

 

SWEEEEEET!!! I'm gonna see how fast I can get it to spin... LOL!!!!

Seriously, thanks guys. I appreciate the help and am relieved that I don't have to worry about breaking anything.