You need alignment. I had same problem.
Centering steering wheel
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 199
Likes: 2
From: Toronto
Centering steering wheel
What's involved with centering a steering wheel? My car had an alignment done last year, and the wheel is slightly off. Alignment is good however.
On my Jeep, I just shorten/lengthen the drag link to center the wheel. Is there a similar adjustment on a C5?
Thanks!
On my Jeep, I just shorten/lengthen the drag link to center the wheel. Is there a similar adjustment on a C5?
Thanks!
Last edited by puzzleboy; May 19, 2009 at 02:40 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
It needs to go back to the alignment shop and be done correctly. They've set the toe off by not having the steering wheel properly centered. I'm not an alignment expert.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 739
Likes: 52
From: Reno NV
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
After the caster and camber are set, you always set the toe-in last and center the steering wheel by taking out equal amounts on each side.
To center the steering wheel you would need to lengthen the tie rod on the side the steering wheel is off, and subtract an equal amount to the tie rod length on the opposite side.
You point the wheels to the side the steering wheel is off so that when the wheels come back to center, the steering wheel will also return to center.
To center the steering wheel you would need to lengthen the tie rod on the side the steering wheel is off, and subtract an equal amount to the tie rod length on the opposite side.
You point the wheels to the side the steering wheel is off so that when the wheels come back to center, the steering wheel will also return to center.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 199
Likes: 2
From: Toronto
O.k., two different answers. Obviously, it's not the same as my other car which links the two wheels by the tie rod. On that one, you simply loosen/lengthen the drag link to center the wheel. Very easy.
So because it's off such a slight amount, I can loosen and tighten opposite sides an equal amount until it's centred?
Thanks!
So because it's off such a slight amount, I can loosen and tighten opposite sides an equal amount until it's centred?
Thanks!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
A tie rod comes out of each end of the steering rack. You will have to shorted one, and lengthen the other to center the wheel.
Usually the steering wheel gets off center because the shop makes all the toe-in adjustment on one side instead of equally from both sides.
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