Wheel Alignment & Steering Wheel Question...
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,713
Likes: 31
From: Shreveport LA
LA Events Coordinator
Wheel Alignment & Steering Wheel Question...
Had my Vert aligned yesterday at a local reputable garage. Picked it up about 30 minutes before they closed and drove it home....checking out how it drove, etc etc etc...it drove perfectly. But when I got home, I looked at the steering wheel and (with the wheels straight ahead) the steering wheel was ****-eyed (not vertical). I called the owner of the garage and they said they had to only adjust the toe-in but bring it in on Monday and they will adjust the steering wheel. WHAT? 
Please explain. Every other alignment I have ever had done, in my driving life, was problem free.
Now I have to drive the Saturday night cruise with the steering wheel crooked...oh well, if that's the only problem I have in my life,then I'm sitting' pretty...but it's still frustrating.
Please explain. Every other alignment I have ever had done, in my driving life, was problem free.Now I have to drive the Saturday night cruise with the steering wheel crooked...oh well, if that's the only problem I have in my life,then I'm sitting' pretty...but it's still frustrating.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,317
Likes: 111
From: St Louis MO
With the flat of the input shaft of the steering gear box facing straight up, the steering wheel should be straight. If it's not, re-clock the steering wheel.
Afterwards, when driving straight on a flat road, note the steering wheel position to drive straight. If it's not straight, re-adjust the tie rods, shortening one and lengthening the other, each the same amount so as not to change the toe-in.
Afterwards, when driving straight on a flat road, note the steering wheel position to drive straight. If it's not straight, re-adjust the tie rods, shortening one and lengthening the other, each the same amount so as not to change the toe-in.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
The employee at the shop...and the manager...should know to put the wheel straight and lock it in place before they make any toe-in/out adjustments. If the steering wheel is lined up right with the steering shaft/box, then they just didn't do their job correctly. If they did set the steering box to 'neutral' condition...and the steering wheel was not straight...they should have let you know that, too.
"Adjusting" the steering wheel position can only be done in 60 degree increments as there are 6 screws that hold it on. Unless it was installed in the wrong position, that is NOT the way to get the wheel lined up with the car. This should be done with the toe adjustment during the alignment process.
"Adjusting" the steering wheel position can only be done in 60 degree increments as there are 6 screws that hold it on. Unless it was installed in the wrong position, that is NOT the way to get the wheel lined up with the car. This should be done with the toe adjustment during the alignment process.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,362
Likes: 5
From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
What that means, is that the mechanic did not test drive the car. If it had been test driven, that would have been seen. When you go back, ask the service manager if it is his shop's common practice to release a car without a test drive...if it is, then you know not to go back. And tell him that!
After doing front-end, brakes, and alignment for many years I followed that career by working as service manager for another dozen years. This kind of thing would never have been tolerated in any of the shops that I operated.
After doing front-end, brakes, and alignment for many years I followed that career by working as service manager for another dozen years. This kind of thing would never have been tolerated in any of the shops that I operated.
Last edited by SanDiegoPaul; May 14, 2011 at 12:04 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,317
Likes: 111
From: St Louis MO
Once the steering wheel is correct on the shaft, then further adjustment is done with the tie-rods.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
All of those parts are indexed so that they are line up properly. If not, you get things like "my left turn signal won't cancel sometimes", etc. Anyone can move things around so that it "kinda works". But, it's best to put it all together correctly.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,832
Likes: 38
From: Cedar,BC
Actually, that's not what I meant about indexing the steering wheel to the flat on the shaft. If you take a look at the steering wheel adapter, it fits on the steering shaft on fine splines - approximately 30 in all - so if the steering wheel needs to be indexed to the flat on the steering box, each spline will re-clock the steering wheel by about 12 degrees. Once the steering wheel is correct on the shaft, then further adjustment is done with the tie-rods.
But this shop is just plain careless,the only thing 98% of people will notice is if the steering wheel is straight up when they drive away after an alignment,there is really no excuse for letting a car go like that.
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