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Steering wheel alignment?

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Old Mar 29, 2006 | 11:20 AM
  #1  
BigLou93SE's Avatar
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From: Danbury, CT \ Rochester, NY
Steering wheel alignment?

After I finished installing my suspension, I got an alignment. The car drives straight, however, the steering wheel sits less than 5 degress cocked left when the car is driving straight.
Since the wheels are aligned right, is there any way to adjust the steering wheel myself to accomodate the slight misalignment, keeping the wheels on the ground and straight?
Thanks.

By the way, don't tell me to complain to the place I got my alignment from: I got this alignment a day or two before leaving for college at the end of my spring break, which is only about a five hour drive...and by the time I actual make it back to my hometown, I'm sure they can argue that the driving has misaligned the steering wheel.

Obviously, since the wheels are aligned, I don't want this professionally done, and am hoping there's something under the steering wheel perhaps that will allow me to adjust it myself.
Old Mar 29, 2006 | 12:25 PM
  #2  
Blaxima95's Avatar
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From: Old Bridge, NJ
The steering wheel alignment at the column isn't adjustable. The colum and wheel are keyed so you can't put them on incorrectly. While the car may be driving straight, the toe is off center with the steering wheel. This needs to be fixed by an alignment shop
Old Mar 29, 2006 | 12:29 PM
  #3  
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This should have been checked and set when they did the alignment. They messed it up when they adjusted the toe. It's a matter of re-setting the toe on both side to spec. with the steering wheel centered.
Old Mar 29, 2006 | 02:44 PM
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Wow, that sucks. I guess I'll have to call them back and schedule a free alignment for when I get back home. Thanks for the replies.
Old Mar 29, 2006 | 05:39 PM
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You can tweak both tie rod ends evenly to center the steering wheel yourself.
Mark the rods and turn both ends the same amount to adjust the center toe position.

The trick is knowing which way to turn the tie rods so you only move the center position. For example, moving both wheels slightly left brings your steering wheel slightly right. You have to look closely at the threads and determine which way you want the tie rods to move the wheel. Tricky, but actually very easy to do.
Old Mar 29, 2006 | 06:09 PM
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Originally Posted by njmaxseltd
You can tweak both tie rod ends evenly to center the steering wheel yourself.
Mark the rods and turn both ends the same amount to adjust the center toe position.

The trick is knowing which way to turn the tie rods so you only move the center position. For example, moving both wheels slightly left brings your steering wheel slightly right. You have to look closely at the threads and determine which way you want the tie rods to move the wheel. Tricky, but actually very easy to do.
I'll have to look into this. I want to avoid taking it back to this alignment shop, since they charged me a good amount, screwed up my steering wheel alignment (before the wheel was straight...), and the guy stalled, and then proceeded to burn my clutch all the way onto the rack. Thanks for the suggestion.
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