I just wanted to know how do you know if you need a new steering column because a guy told me i might need one and then another person said i don't. And does a drop have anything to do with messing it up?

 

Does the tilt steering lock still work?
Does the steering wheel not turn the car?
Do you hold the wheel straight and the car pulls to either side?
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A drop can mess with your alignment. Make sure you go to an alignment shop for a good free shakedown of what might be the problem. They can also tell you if your column is messed up. Dont go to firestone or some crap place like that. Here in Nebraska there is a place, not a chain store, called In-Line Suspension.
Wonderful guys, try to find someone who doesnt do rice stuff. If they work on all crap, like semi's and motorhomes, you have a good be that they are honest. Those guys arnt making money on a maxima, so they have no need to screw you.
-- Mike

 

After working with a guy who did alignments at Sears, you don't ever want places like that, unless you're good buddies with a guy. They do quick, and not always correct alignments. One trick is, if the alignment is pretty close, they'll bump the heads a little to finish the alignment off. Most chains like that are interested in getting as many cars as they can get done in a day. More money for the aligner, and the store.

My advice is the same as flashover. Find a local place that does work. A good basis, ask how many alignments they usually get done in a day. If they say a few, and they still have quite a few cars parked outside waiting alignments. Might be a sign they take their time, getting it done right.