As I mentioned in another post I recently replaced my rack and pinion along with a bunch of other components. When I was done I ended up having my steering wheel off center by about 90 degrees to the left, which is too much for an alignment shop to fix.

Is it OK for me to remove the steering wheel and center it that way instead of messing with the rack and pinion again? I will still need to bring it to the alignment shop again because the first one didn't do a good job, but I want it to be as close to center as possible so I don't have to make any more trips.

 

I wouldn't take off the steering wheel. That seems like the ghetto way of fixing it. You may be able to get away with it though, as I'm not too sure how the steering wheel works.

It seems like when the rack was installed, it was at a different position than the steering wheel shaft.

I would disconnect the rack, with the wheels straight, and straighten the steering wheel. Then put the rack back on.

 

^^^ do this

 

Thanks, I think that is what I am going to have to do anyway. Seems I need to replace an o-ring or something in the high pressure line as I am getting a tiny bit of dextron III seeping out

 

Sounds like a lot of work for something that sounds so simple.

 

Don't take the steering wheel off to fix, that could create driving problems. Maximas are High Perfomance, treat it that way. It sucks to have to redo it, but it is still cheaper than a shop.

 

this is why your steering wheel is off center. ....if by any chace did you count the turns when you removed the outer tie rod ends?

if you replace the tie rod ends along with the steering rack, i'd go back and remove the outer tie rod ends and when you loosen the lock nut, before unscrewing the tie rod, count the number of turns it takes to remove it, it's usually around 19-22, then go back and remove and reinstall your new tie rod ends with the same revolutions you removed your old ones ...


this will get your alignment specs ( toe angle ) closer and will help the alignment shop reset your toe to specs and you'll have your steering wheel centered again...


i replaced my outer tie rods ends AND performed my alignment myself because the previous owner had torn outer tie rod ends and they were clunking..