Steering wheel off center after alignment
05-16-2011, 11:56 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
Steering wheel off center after alignment
2001 convertible. Brand new Firestone Fire hawk tires on new wheels.
I had my wife take our Corvette to the local Chevy dealer for an alignment because the car was pulling to the right and the steering wheel had to be held to the left to go straight. It did this with the old tires as well as the new ones. She brought the car home and it sat in the garage for a week before I drove it again. On my first drive the steering wheel still needed to be held to the left as before. They gave me a spec sheet with before and after alignment specs. So was it properly aligned? I dont know?
I hate taking the car in for service anyway. Too much risk of having other bad things happen. So, adjusting the toe is simple. I have done this many times on other cars. Move the tie rod ends equall amounts till the steering wheel is centered. I did this by marking the tie rod position in relation to the shaft. I got the steering wheel pretty much dead on centered.
Here is the thing, took a weekend trip up to the mountains. The steering wheel was straight on center most of the trip. After some time in the twisties the steering wheel went back to the same off center position it was in before the alignment, and my toe adjustment. This is very odd. First thing I did was make sure the jam nuts didnt loosen up. They did not loosen.
What gives?
I had my wife take our Corvette to the local Chevy dealer for an alignment because the car was pulling to the right and the steering wheel had to be held to the left to go straight. It did this with the old tires as well as the new ones. She brought the car home and it sat in the garage for a week before I drove it again. On my first drive the steering wheel still needed to be held to the left as before. They gave me a spec sheet with before and after alignment specs. So was it properly aligned? I dont know?
I hate taking the car in for service anyway. Too much risk of having other bad things happen. So, adjusting the toe is simple. I have done this many times on other cars. Move the tie rod ends equall amounts till the steering wheel is centered. I did this by marking the tie rod position in relation to the shaft. I got the steering wheel pretty much dead on centered.
Here is the thing, took a weekend trip up to the mountains. The steering wheel was straight on center most of the trip. After some time in the twisties the steering wheel went back to the same off center position it was in before the alignment, and my toe adjustment. This is very odd. First thing I did was make sure the jam nuts didnt loosen up. They did not loosen.
What gives?
05-17-2011, 02:51 AM
#3
Drifting
2001 convertible. Brand new Firestone Fire hawk tires on new wheels.
I had my wife take our Corvette to the local Chevy dealer for an alignment because the car was pulling to the right and the steering wheel had to be held to the left to go straight. It did this with the old tires as well as the new ones. She brought the car home and it sat in the garage for a week before I drove it again. On my first drive the steering wheel still needed to be held to the left as before. They gave me a spec sheet with before and after alignment specs. So was it properly aligned? I dont know?
I hate taking the car in for service anyway. Too much risk of having other bad things happen. So, adjusting the toe is simple. I have done this many times on other cars. Move the tie rod ends equall amounts till the steering wheel is centered. I did this by marking the tie rod position in relation to the shaft. I got the steering wheel pretty much dead on centered.
Here is the thing, took a weekend trip up to the mountains. The steering wheel was straight on center most of the trip. After some time in the twisties the steering wheel went back to the same off center position it was in before the alignment, and my toe adjustment. This is very odd. First thing I did was make sure the jam nuts didnt loosen up. They did not loosen.
What gives?
I had my wife take our Corvette to the local Chevy dealer for an alignment because the car was pulling to the right and the steering wheel had to be held to the left to go straight. It did this with the old tires as well as the new ones. She brought the car home and it sat in the garage for a week before I drove it again. On my first drive the steering wheel still needed to be held to the left as before. They gave me a spec sheet with before and after alignment specs. So was it properly aligned? I dont know?
I hate taking the car in for service anyway. Too much risk of having other bad things happen. So, adjusting the toe is simple. I have done this many times on other cars. Move the tie rod ends equall amounts till the steering wheel is centered. I did this by marking the tie rod position in relation to the shaft. I got the steering wheel pretty much dead on centered.
Here is the thing, took a weekend trip up to the mountains. The steering wheel was straight on center most of the trip. After some time in the twisties the steering wheel went back to the same off center position it was in before the alignment, and my toe adjustment. This is very odd. First thing I did was make sure the jam nuts didnt loosen up. They did not loosen.
What gives?
05-17-2011, 08:16 AM
#4
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Wounded Warrior Escort '11
If it wasn't right when you got it back from the dealer, take it back. You paid for a proper alignment and didn't get it. Now if something else is causing an issue under there with the alignment, they should have found it and identified it to you.
05-17-2011, 08:33 AM
#5
Tech Contributor
05-17-2011, 08:51 AM
#6
Burning Brakes
More likely the lower eccentrics slipped than the tie rods moved. The lower A-arms are attached with eccentric bolts. Moving these are how the Caster and Camber are adjusted. They are quick and easy to use for adjustment but they have to be mucho tight or they will slip and wham....you are out of alighnment again. Maybe they marked them with a paint pen (I always do) so you can see at a glance if they slip.
05-17-2011, 09:30 AM
#7
Le Mans Master
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St. Jude Donor '08
I have the same problem. My steering wheel is to the left in order to drive straight. My lower control arm eccentrics are fine, as I have them marked with a pen. Do I simply adjust the steering wheel with the tie rod ends? Do I risk getting anything else out of alignment?
05-17-2011, 05:22 PM
#8
Drifting
Thread Starter
More likely the lower eccentrics slipped than the tie rods moved. The lower A-arms are attached with eccentric bolts. Moving these are how the Caster and Camber are adjusted. They are quick and easy to use for adjustment but they have to be mucho tight or they will slip and wham....you are out of alighnment again. Maybe they marked them with a paint pen (I always do) so you can see at a glance if they slip.
I have an appointment to go back to the dealer tomarow afternoon. That is a no brainer!
05-17-2011, 06:16 PM
#9
Drifting
Thread Starter
I think you hit the nail right on the head my friend! Just got out from under the car. I put the tie rod ends back where they were and removed my marking tape. Just for kicks I put my 7/8" wrench on the cam bolts (which are a much smaller size than 7/8") and was able to turn the front drivers side bolt with ease. I could see the lower arm moving in and out easily. The knucklehead left the bolt loose. I dont want that guy touching my Corvette again! But how do I explain to the service adviser that I know what happened?
05-17-2011, 07:15 PM
#11
Le Mans Master
Since you paid for an alignment, bring it back to the dealer and explain your issue, let them get it on the machine and figure it out, thats what you paid them for. If they can't align you car, steering wheel and all ask for the manager and get your money back then bring it to a reputable shop, explain what happened at the dealership you brought it to and chances are you'll get it done right.
05-17-2011, 10:07 PM
#12
Burning Brakes
I have the same problem. My steering wheel is to the left in order to drive straight. My lower control arm eccentrics are fine, as I have them marked with a pen. Do I simply adjust the steering wheel with the tie rod ends? Do I risk getting anything else out of alignment?
05-17-2011, 10:11 PM
#13
Le Mans Master
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St. Jude Donor '08
Adjusting toe will not affect caster or camber, so no worries there. Since your wheel is to the left you want to loosen the left tie rod and tighten the right (passenger) equal amounts (so you don't knock the overall toe off and cause scrubbing). Both sides are normal threads, you know...lefty loosey, righty tighty. The tie rod has flats on it. Turning three flats = 1/16" of movement. Mark them before moving so its easy to tell how many flats you have moved. They are very easy to adjust but its a trial and error type thing. Move both sides 6 flats or so (depending on how off the wheel is) and then go drive it. Repeat as necessary until you get the wheel centered.
05-17-2011, 10:23 PM
#14
Race Director
05-18-2011, 10:32 PM
#15
Drifting
Thread Starter
Got the car back from the dealer today. They did another alignment and the steering is now spot on.
I was a little concerned that they were going to try to say that I did something to cause it and try to charge me again. When I got there I just told the service advisor. "Leesa", that something is wrong with the steering, it is not right, the steering wheel keeps moving further away from the center position the more I drive it.
The alignment tech checked it over and didnt find any thing other than the aligmnet way out of spec. He said everything checked out okay and it was all tight. Me and Leesa walked away. I went back to him privately I asked him if he was going to stick with that? I told him that I was under the car after we got back from our trip, the left side front cam bolt was left loose! He said he makes sure everything is tight. I said that story wont fly with me, and I am pissed. I said, I dont wish to get you in trouble, between me and you I know you left that bolt loose. His reply was, "okay".
That conversation was between me and him, Leesa or any one else was not in ear shot.
I do feel bad about jumping that kids **** like I did. But it was kept private.
I was a little concerned that they were going to try to say that I did something to cause it and try to charge me again. When I got there I just told the service advisor. "Leesa", that something is wrong with the steering, it is not right, the steering wheel keeps moving further away from the center position the more I drive it.
The alignment tech checked it over and didnt find any thing other than the aligmnet way out of spec. He said everything checked out okay and it was all tight. Me and Leesa walked away. I went back to him privately I asked him if he was going to stick with that? I told him that I was under the car after we got back from our trip, the left side front cam bolt was left loose! He said he makes sure everything is tight. I said that story wont fly with me, and I am pissed. I said, I dont wish to get you in trouble, between me and you I know you left that bolt loose. His reply was, "okay".
That conversation was between me and him, Leesa or any one else was not in ear shot.
I do feel bad about jumping that kids **** like I did. But it was kept private.
05-19-2011, 06:25 AM
#16
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Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Sounds like a reasonable response to me. You let him know that he screwed up and you caught him at it. He's human and we do make mistakes. The good out of it is that he'll never make that mistake again.
05-19-2011, 08:25 AM
#17
Tech Contributor
05-19-2011, 04:33 PM
#19
Pro
2001 convertible. Brand new Firestone Fire hawk tires on new wheels.
I had my wife take our Corvette to the local Chevy dealer for an alignment because the car was pulling to the right and the steering wheel had to be held to the left to go straight. It did this with the old tires as well as the new ones. She brought the car home and it sat in the garage for a week before I drove it again. On my first drive the steering wheel still needed to be held to the left as before. They gave me a spec sheet with before and after alignment specs. So was it properly aligned? I dont know?
I hate taking the car in for service anyway. Too much risk of having other bad things happen. So, adjusting the toe is simple. I have done this many times on other cars. Move the tie rod ends equall amounts till the steering wheel is centered. I did this by marking the tie rod position in relation to the shaft. I got the steering wheel pretty much dead on centered.
Here is the thing, took a weekend trip up to the mountains. The steering wheel was straight on center most of the trip. After some time in the twisties the steering wheel went back to the same off center position it was in before the alignment, and my toe adjustment. This is very odd. First thing I did was make sure the jam nuts didnt loosen up. They did not loosen.
What gives?
I had my wife take our Corvette to the local Chevy dealer for an alignment because the car was pulling to the right and the steering wheel had to be held to the left to go straight. It did this with the old tires as well as the new ones. She brought the car home and it sat in the garage for a week before I drove it again. On my first drive the steering wheel still needed to be held to the left as before. They gave me a spec sheet with before and after alignment specs. So was it properly aligned? I dont know?
I hate taking the car in for service anyway. Too much risk of having other bad things happen. So, adjusting the toe is simple. I have done this many times on other cars. Move the tie rod ends equall amounts till the steering wheel is centered. I did this by marking the tie rod position in relation to the shaft. I got the steering wheel pretty much dead on centered.
Here is the thing, took a weekend trip up to the mountains. The steering wheel was straight on center most of the trip. After some time in the twisties the steering wheel went back to the same off center position it was in before the alignment, and my toe adjustment. This is very odd. First thing I did was make sure the jam nuts didnt loosen up. They did not loosen.
What gives?
05-19-2011, 10:03 PM
#20
Team Owner
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No other way to put it. What happen the guy didnt have the wheel setting correct when he did the work...