align steering wheel
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
align steering wheel
how hard is it to align the steering wheel. Mine is off a bit and I would like to move it.
I can always bring it to an alignment shop, but I figured if it was simple then I would just do it myself.
thanks
I can always bring it to an alignment shop, but I figured if it was simple then I would just do it myself.
thanks
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,270
Likes: 0
From: Prescott AZ
Originally Posted by Wicked Weasel
how hard is it to align the steering wheel. Mine is off a bit and I would like to move it.
I can always bring it to an alignment shop, but I figured if it was simple then I would just do it myself.
thanks
I can always bring it to an alignment shop, but I figured if it was simple then I would just do it myself.
thanks
When the wheel is tilted a bit in straight ahead driving wheel alignment is needed or a technician has attempted it already and failed to pay attention to proper procedures when adjusting to the toe in specification.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
thanks - I had a full alignment and did not realize it was off until recently (kind of my fault too because I went out and noticed the handling of the car and not the placement of the wheel). I will call and bring it back. I have T1 bars to go in anyway.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 50,808
Likes: 8
From: Buy USA products! Check the label! Employ Americans
Originally Posted by Wicked Weasel
thanks - I had a full alignment and did not realize it was off until recently (kind of my fault too because I went out and noticed the handling of the car and not the placement of the wheel). I will call and bring it back. I have T1 bars to go in anyway.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,294
Likes: 1,579
From: Western NY
Originally Posted by John Shiels
crummy alignment if they left the wheel off center
I agree, however, if you have a dial indicator, it's an easy adjustment. Just jack up the front of the car, place a dial indicator against the edge of the rim and turn the tie rod a small amount, moving the rim maybe .010"-.015". Adjust the other side in the same direction, going the same amount. Drive car, see if wheel is now straight. Continue adjusting until the wheel is straight.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,642
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by leadfoot4
I agree, however, if you have a dial indicator, it's an easy adjustment. Just jack up the front of the car, place a dial indicator against the edge of the rim and turn the tie rod a small amount, moving the rim maybe .010"-.015". Adjust the other side in the same direction, going the same amount. Drive car, see if wheel is now straight. Continue adjusting until the wheel is straight.
Where can I get a dial indicator? How much are they and where can I get one
Thanks
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Originally Posted by John Shiels
crummy alignment if they left the wheel off center
the thing is I dont remember it being out of line when I left the shop and then about 3 weeks ago (1 month after the alignment) I noticed that my wheel was facing left on the road when I was going straight. at first I thought it was from the crown of the road, but then I realized that putting the steering wheel center I would turn to the right.
I really noticed it at WGI when I had to change my hand position to make left hand turns.
I will get it corrected this week.
Last edited by Wicked Weasel; May 16, 2006 at 07:54 AM.
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,294
Likes: 1,579
From: Western NY
Originally Posted by 2MuchRiceMakesMeSick
Where can I get a dial indicator? How much are they and where can I get one
Thanks
Thanks
I got my stuff from my employer. Every several years, they replace and/or upgrade their tooling. Several years ago, they upgraded a lot of indicators to digital readout stuff. The direct read, dial indicators were long-ago written off the books, so they were made them available to the employees. It may not be the latest and greatest, but it works and the price was right....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 920
Likes: 2
From: Rogers, AR, USA
An easy way to center the wheel is to determine which tie rod needs to be shortened and which needs to be lengthened, loosen the lock nuts and then adjust the tie rods "one flat" in the proper directions. Test drive and if it needs more, do it again until the wheel is centered. The tie rod has six flats around it so an open end wrench fits on it just like the wrench will fit on a bolt. Make a "one flat" adjustment, on each rod, at a time until the wheel is centered. It's an easy job.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,168
Likes: 976
From: Think BEFORE hitting "Submit Reply"
Originally Posted by alanh
An easy way to center the wheel is to determine which tie rod needs to be shortened and which needs to be lengthened, loosen the lock nuts and then adjust the tie rods "one flat" in the proper directions. Test drive and if it needs more, do it again until the wheel is centered. The tie rod has six flats around it so an open end wrench fits on it just like the wrench will fit on a bolt. Make a "one flat" adjustment, on each rod, at a time until the wheel is centered. It's an easy job.
wholeheartedly!Very easy and works like a charm(provided the rest of the alignment was done properly)
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Originally Posted by alanh
An easy way to center the wheel is to determine which tie rod needs to be shortened and which needs to be lengthened, loosen the lock nuts and then adjust the tie rods "one flat" in the proper directions. Test drive and if it needs more, do it again until the wheel is centered. The tie rod has six flats around it so an open end wrench fits on it just like the wrench will fit on a bolt. Make a "one flat" adjustment, on each rod, at a time until the wheel is centered. It's an easy job.
thanks. Talked to the alignment center today and they said it was easy too. I need some other things done so we are going to work it all out.