Just got a wheel alignment about a week ago. The shop that I went to has one alignment "specialist". He did my car and while the car tracked straight after the alignment, i noticed that the steering wheel was not perfectly straight when tracking straight the wheel is a little lop sided to the right about 10 degrees. So I brought it back and the guy did a tie rod adjustment at the passanger side front wheel. I drove it around and it was the same. So i brought it back, and he drove it this time and said that it was fine and that he had adjusted it the best that my car would get. We really tested each others patience. I really dont remember the car's steering wheel being lop sided, but now i constantly stare at it. Tomorrow, I will be taking it to the dealer for my rotten egg smell. I was thinking of asking them to investigate the steering wheel problem. and adjust the tie rod. The car is under factory warranty, and I am not askign for an alignment. Do you think they would do a tie rod adjustment? What do you guys think?

 

Did they do a 4 wheel thrust angle or only a 2 wheel toe adjustment?

You need a 4 wheel thrust angle alignment to get your steering wheel straight. A FWD car should never have a 2 wheel alignment done, as a matter of fact, most shops wount even do 2 wheel alignments anymore on any car.

Go to a different shop or make them do the correct alignment on your car.



Four Wheel Thrust Angle:

Car goes onto an alignment rack and the steering wheel is locked in place perfectly straight. Uusally a brace is put in place from your steering wheel, down against your brake pedal to assure nothing moves while your car is tracked.

All four wheels should have a laser pick up mounted on them at this point.

Next the front end is tracked in line with the rear, then camber gets adjusted (if necessary) and last is toe. All these setting are done up front, the rear is used as the reference.

Thats what produces straight tracking and a centered steering wheel.

 

Thanks NJMAX, you are always so helpful. Can you reccomned a shop? My dad lives in Edison amd maybe there isa place that you can reccomend me go to when Ivisit him. I only paid 40 bucks for my alignment, so that was probably only a twp wheel toe adjustment. BUT, there were these balancing computer thingies on all four of my wheels- I qwatched him do it. But he did not put any sort of brace on the wheel like that you speak of. So i should go back to him and tell him to do a four wheel thrust angle. he should have known this. ARGH!:rolleyes

 

I'm having the same problem you are having. Mine is angled to the left though. If I try to center it, the car would pull to the right. I'm bringing the car in back to where I got the alignment to let them have a look.

 

That sounds like a four wheel thrust angle setup to me.

Unless the guy didn't know how to use the machine correctly, your steering wheel should be centered after your alignment is finished. The only other thing that might be causing your problem is your tires. Try to rotate and see if the steering wheel remains in the same position. If it does, go back to the shop and tell them it's not right. Your steering wheel should be centered after an alignment.

Your entitled to a job done correctly, part of the alignment process is having a centered steering wheel.

As far as that brace is concerned, the shop that does my alignments always locks my steering wheel in position first. Then he sets everything up.

Common sense tells me you should start with a centered steering wheel and make adjustments to the suspension and steering to make it track straight while your steering wheel is centered. Also whats to keep it from moving a bit while the mechanic is tugging on the tie rod ends?

The shop that does my work is called Precision Tire and Alignment. They are on Rt 17 South in Ridgewood on the HoHoKus border. They do excellent work and will align any car dropped or not. (as long as they can get it up on the rack)

 

Correct. Bring it back & demand they do the job right. The steering wheel can be centered inside the car, independent of any alignment adjustments. Sounds to me like they're getting lazy on you. You paid for the job - they should do it right.

Call them on it!