Steering won't return to center after strut install.
 

After I had KYB AGX's installed and the front end aligned, the steering wheel (or the steering system) gets locked on a hard turn and will not return to center -- this happens when making either a hard right or a hard left.

I have to manually return the wheel to center.

I recall this happening to my 3rd Gen Max, but I do not remember why it happened.

Any clues?

Is there a problem with the steering knuckles? Tie rods? Did they get overtightened or damaged during the strut install?

Too much camber????

probably your mechanic didnt align the cast and camber properly did this problem exsit before?? the install?

That would either be a caster issue or the bearing plates installed incorrectly. Caster is not an easy thing to adjust on these, so my bet would be it is in the bearing plates. You may also have a ball joint or tie rod binding up. HTH

I have somewhat of that problem. My wheel will almost come back to center maybe usually 1-2 clock off and then I have to pull it to center.

make sure the strut bearings are installed correctly

did you get a alignment? if not that is your problem. sounds like caster problem

I got an alignment, and looking at the sheet, all the alignment specs are within the right ranges, except for something called, "SAI." It was above the upper range limit.

I mentioned it to the mechanic, and he said that SAI was not adjustable. But if that is the case, why have it on the printout?

What the heck is "SAI" and is it adjustable?

To answer some other questions, I did not have the problem before the strut install, but I did notice it immediately afterwards.

:sprint: for needing an alignment.

i forget what SAI means but i do believe on our cars its not adjustable. if you got an alignment than they probably F-ed up and never centered the steering wheel before doing it. otherwise i dont see a reason why it would be off.

also, i dont know why everyones saying its deffinatly a caster problem? my toe was off after doing a inner tie rod and my steering wheel was off center. i just jacked the car up over the weekend and fixed it.

heres how i checked mine: turn your steering wheel so its straight. get out of the car and look down both sides of the car to see if the wheel is sticking out/turned at all. if it is you need an alignment. or if you know how to fix it youself do that. i bet you could go b*tch at the people who did it last time to get a free one.

The muffler shop that did the install put the struts (and/or mounts) in wrong -- that is the verdict of my trusted mechanic.

Can someone provide a link that explains how to install these AGX's?

have you ever hit anything with either wheel like a curbor something? mine was off cause i bent the steering kunckle on my carafter hydoplaning into a curb.

no matter how close my specs are the steering wheel is alittle off.

That's a good suggestion, but my car drove perfectly before the strut/shock installation. It is possible that one of the struts may have been damaged internally since both boxes had deep gashes in them.

On the other hand, I spoke with someo ne in tech support at the KYB company, and he suggested that the strut bearing may have been improperly installed.

I don't know what that might do....cause the wheels or steering to bind?

I am taking my car in to get it rechecked, but this time I am going to the other location for this company. I'm hoping that the manager there knows his sh** when it comes to suspension.

I'll keep everyone posted. Thanks for all the great help!