I changed out a leaky power steering rack and had my son help me. I had the steering wheel tied while it was all un hooked and when I reconnected it all I had him hold it so it didn't rotate while I was wiggling the lower part of the shaft to fit it onto the rack. He untied it without me knowing and he slipped. It definitely turned and I suspect it went 360 degrees (1 full turn).

Everything is connected and the steering is fine. Will this 1 full turn affect the clock spring or anything? Should I be concerned at all?

 

so was it a full turn (360) or a half turn (180) ?
if it a full turn the only danger is of it breaking the clock spring if it gets max'd out one way or the other, though I suspect there is some wiggle room there.
if it was 180 degrees out then your steering wheel will be upside down with the wheels pointed straight...
Ive never had one of these apart so I don't know if it has a flat spot or a key spline that only allows the joint to meet up in full rotations of the steering shaft?


I'm not sure how to check if the clockspring is ok, maybe jack the front wheels off the ground and slowly and gently turn the steering wheel to the lock in both directions and see if you feel any resistance before you get to the turn end stops?

 

I need to stop posting questions before 8:00 am. It was 360, not 180. It goes lock to lock no problem. There is a recess to accommodate the bolts at both ends of the shaft. I think he only went 180 degrees and to correct it he continued the rest of the way instead of going back to the start. Both recesses were in the right spot. I could easily fix it by insulting at the top and turning the steering wheel and rebolting, but it seems fine and I'm honestly not 100% sure he did the full turn. It was either 360 or he corrected the right way, but I didn't feel the shaft move back, only in 1 direction. He is 12 by the way. Trying to teach him early.