steering wheel off center
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 398
Likes: 6
From: woodstock ga
steering wheel off center
my steering wheel is about 5 deg to the left when going straight. not far enough to cause any A/H problems just annoying. can anyone tell me how to adjust this.
thanks
thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 877
Likes: 43
From: Surprise AZ
I had the same problem years ago after I had a wheel alignment. The mechanic did not torque the suspension cam bolts enough causing the front end to get out of alignment and the steering wheel to get off center. Just a heads up in case you just had some suspension work done.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,100
Likes: 17
From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Have a good alignment shop make the adjustments.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,003
Likes: 89
From: Indy IN
I had the same problem years ago after I had a wheel alignment. The mechanic did not torque the suspension cam bolts enough causing the front end to get out of alignment and the steering wheel to get off center. Just a heads up in case you just had some suspension work done.
The eccentric adjusters are notoriously easy to get moved if they aren't tight enough. Also if you've lowered the car too much and if you hit a bump or pothole the suspension will bottom and that will put big loads on the eccentric adjusters and you will be back at the alignment shop. Bottom line is that the adjuster has slipped and you need to get it aligned.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 398
Likes: 6
From: woodstock ga
darn i thought that i could do this myself. bought tires and had it aligned probably 2 months ago, drives great with no pulling or drifting so i guess i will take it back and let them fix it.
thanks for your replies
thanks for your replies
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,100
Likes: 17
From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
A reputable shop should make a simple tie rod correction, free of charge, to center the steering wheel position. That's part of a good alignment!
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,364
Likes: 1,592
From: Western NY
I would take it back to the alignment shop that did the work, especially if the steering wheel centering was off ever since their alignment.
A reputable shop should make a simple tie rod correction, free of charge, to center the steering wheel position. That's part of a good alignment!
A reputable shop should make a simple tie rod correction, free of charge, to center the steering wheel position. That's part of a good alignment!
HOWEVER, to the OP, was the wheel this way since the alignment, or did something happen since then??
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 398
Likes: 6
From: woodstock ga
i will be taking it back to the same shop, i am sure that they will redo free as i am a regular customer there. owning 7 vehicles at one household something is always needing tires.
i did not notice this when the orig work was done, but i dont currently have an issue with the alignment or pulling. so i dont think any thing has moved.
i did not notice this when the orig work was done, but i dont currently have an issue with the alignment or pulling. so i dont think any thing has moved.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,364
Likes: 1,592
From: Western NY
i will be taking it back to the same shop, i am sure that they will redo free as i am a regular customer there. owning 7 vehicles at one household something is always needing tires.
i did not notice this when the orig work was done, but i dont currently have an issue with the alignment or pulling. so i dont think any thing has moved.
i did not notice this when the orig work was done, but i dont currently have an issue with the alignment or pulling. so i dont think any thing has moved.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,100
Likes: 17
From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
If the camber or toe adjustments had moved enough to affect the steering wheel centering, you would definitely be feeling a pull to either the left or right side.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,714
Likes: 6
From: Providence RI
Pro
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 660
Likes: 16
From: Tustin California
What Turbooo said. Wrap masking tape around each tie rod and put a mark on each one. Then turn the tie rod on one side 1/2 turn in one direction and the other tie rod in the opposite direction equally. Test and fine tune till wheel is straight when on a level road. Record which way and how much you turn, so you can always return to original spot. Rod
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 398
Likes: 6
From: woodstock ga
What Turbooo said. Wrap masking tape around each tie rod and put a mark on each one. Then turn the tie rod on one side 1/2 turn in one direction and the other tie rod in the opposite direction equally. Test and fine tune till wheel is straight when on a level road. Record which way and how much you turn, so you can always return to original spot. Rod
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,100
Likes: 17
From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
To change the steering wheel position, the tie rod ends need to be adjusted an equal amount in the SAME rotational direction.
Example: If the left side tie rod is lengthened by 1/4 turn, the right side tie rod must be shortened by exactly 1/4 turn.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,364
Likes: 1,592
From: Western NY
Turning the tie rod ends in opposite directions will ONLY change the total toe setting. It will NOT change the steering wheel position.
To change the steering wheel position, the tie rod ends need to be adjusted an equal amount in the SAME rotational direction.
Example: If the left side tie rod is lengthened by 1/4 turn, the right side tie rod must be shortened by exactly 1/4 turn.
To change the steering wheel position, the tie rod ends need to be adjusted an equal amount in the SAME rotational direction.
Example: If the left side tie rod is lengthened by 1/4 turn, the right side tie rod must be shortened by exactly 1/4 turn.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,003
Likes: 89
From: Indy IN
Leadfoot was right, if your wheel has moved, something has slipped and although the car isn't pulling, you could have a bunch of toe in. The car will feel fine, but you will eat the front tires. If it slipped and you had toe out, it would be darty and handle funny, but big toe won't feel funny at all.
Do yourself a favor and get it on a rack and get it set right before you eat the tires.
Just because it isn't pulling doesn't mean that the toe isn't messed up.
Do yourself a favor and get it on a rack and get it set right before you eat the tires.
Just because it isn't pulling doesn't mean that the toe isn't messed up.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
Last time I had my car aligned, I checked the cam bolts with a torque wrench and found they were not tight enough. I marked the cam positions on the frame with a paint pen so I could tell if they moved.
Toe in is always set last because all other changes affect it.
I also have a tram so I can do a quick check of toe in to see if it has changed, and to make toe in changes...
I have found that even the factory toe in settings can feather the tires, so I have had to adjust the toe back to near zero.
Many times the factory toe in is in degrees, but the actual toe in as measured in inches on the tread of the tire can vary depending on the diameter of the wheel.
When adjusting the toe in, I just mark the nut position on the tie rod with a paint pen, then I can adjust however many flats or fractions of flats I want to move the toe. If setting is close, it may only take 1/2 flat on each side, and by taking out equal amounts on each side, the steering wheel should stay centered.
Toe in is always set last because all other changes affect it.
I also have a tram so I can do a quick check of toe in to see if it has changed, and to make toe in changes...
I have found that even the factory toe in settings can feather the tires, so I have had to adjust the toe back to near zero.
Many times the factory toe in is in degrees, but the actual toe in as measured in inches on the tread of the tire can vary depending on the diameter of the wheel.
When adjusting the toe in, I just mark the nut position on the tie rod with a paint pen, then I can adjust however many flats or fractions of flats I want to move the toe. If setting is close, it may only take 1/2 flat on each side, and by taking out equal amounts on each side, the steering wheel should stay centered.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 398
Likes: 6
From: woodstock ga
update: i talked to Kaufman today and they told me that they have a 12 mo 12k miles warranty. i thought that i had only bought tires and alignment like 2 months ago. when in fact it was last nov and 13k miles ago. i must really be enjoying life to let time fly bye like that. they also suggested putting it on the rack to check measurements instead of guessing and ruining the Michelins. I think they will probably help me on the cost. taking it there saturday.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,100
Likes: 17
From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
update: i talked to Kaufman today and they told me that they have a 12 mo 12k miles warranty. i thought that i had only bought tires and alignment like 2 months ago. when in fact it was last nov and 13k miles ago. i must really be enjoying life to let time fly bye like that. they also suggested putting it on the rack to check measurements instead of guessing and ruining the Michelins. I think they will probably help me on the cost. taking it there saturday.