General Maintenance & Repairs - getting steering wheel straight after alignment ?




1 FMF
04-05-2012, 09:18 AM
have new tires on the car, got a front end alignment.
had caster off on right front causing car to pull at high speed.
car drives great now at speed, but my steering wheel is slightly off center.
What does it take to get it centered? Or what is the easiest or best way, without messing up the current alignment? I'd like to do it myself if possible.


JUSTINSWS6
04-05-2012, 09:28 AM
you cant take it back to who did it if its hasnt been that long they will redo it.

1 FMF
04-05-2012, 10:00 AM
i know that,
but was hoping if it's something simple i can do it in my garage in 30 minutes rather than taking a few hours out of my day on a weekday.


lt16spd1
04-05-2012, 12:37 PM
If the steering wheel is pointing to the left, pop off the drivers side tie rod end and toe it out by one turn and the pass side toe in by one turn, vice versa if tue steering wheel is pointing the other way

1 FMF
04-05-2012, 01:21 PM
that's what i was thinking. I can't imagine it's that hard or elaborate.
The stuff i started reading online, people were saying the car has to be on an alignment rack, that a shop has to do it, bla bla.

lt16spd1
04-05-2012, 01:38 PM
Oh for sure, its exactly what the alignment shop would do, I've done it more than once and never had any problems with it, just use your head and don't go turning one side 5 turns or turn them unequally or something stupid like that lol

Camaroz
04-05-2012, 01:52 PM
Even if you get the steering wheel straight by loosening the jamb nuts and adjusting the toe yourself it'll never be true. Goto the shop and tell them the steering wheel is off center.

DAVE00
04-05-2012, 03:00 PM
Even if you get the steering wheel straight by loosening the jamb nuts and adjusting the toe yourself it'll never be true. Goto the shop and tell them the steering wheel is off center.

+1 - you paid them to do this as it is part of the alignment process. Take it back and don't try to do it yourself as you will screw with the current alignment.

1ltcap
04-05-2012, 03:12 PM
have new tires on the car, got a front end alignment.
had caster off on right front causing car to pull at high speed.
car drives great now at speed, but my steering wheel is slightly off center.
What does it take to get it centered? Or what is the easiest or best way, without messing up the current alignment? I'd like to do it myself if possible.

if you paid a shop to do the alignment, then take it back to them.