METHOD OF ASSEMBLING STEERING ASSEMBLY

A method of assembling a steering assembly having a socket connected to a steering shaft via a steering joint which socket is to be serration-fitted to an input shaft of a gearbox which is mounted on a suspension assembly. The phase of the socket is measured at the time when a steering wheel is aligned in a neutral posture while the steering assembly is maintained in the same articulated condition as when the steering assembly is assembled to a car body and while the steering wheel is serration-fitted to the steering shaft of the steering assembly. The phase of the input shaft is adjusted such that the input shaft can be serration-fitted into the socket in the phase measured in the preceding step. The adjustment is performed by rotating the input shaft within an angular range corresponding to one half pitch of the serrations of the input shaft in either direction from a neutral posture in which the steering angles to the right and to the left are equal. The alignment of the right and the left wheels is adjusted to a condition where the car can run straight while the input shaft is maintained in the adjusted phase. A guide member which determines the phase of the socket relative to the input shaft is engaged with the input shaft in such a phase relationship that the socket becomes substantially equal in phase to the measured phase when the input shaft is in the adjusted phase. The socket of the steering assembly is serration-fitted to the input shaft of the suspension assembly by guiding the socket with the guide member.