About 2 months ago, I had a 4-wheel alignment done after purchasing new tires for my '04. I've noticed from day one, after the alignment was done, that the steering wheel position is slightly off-center (between 11 and 12 o'clock) to the left. The car tracks straight without any issues otherwise. I decided to ignore it since it will require making another appointment to get it corrected. However, my OCD is getting the better of me every time I'm driving my car. I had this same issue once before with my Chevy Equinox, also after an alignment, and corrected it myself. All I did was loosen the lock nuts on the inner tie rods and adjusted both sides equally, using 1/4 turns incrementally, in the same forward direction, until the steering wheel was straight. I would assume it's the same process to fix the C5's off-center steering wheel issue? Should the inner tie rods be rotated forward or backwards? Any other adjustments need to made to correct the steering wheel position other than the inner tie rods? Thanks.

 

I hate when that happens...why the hell didn't they test drive it before they gave it back to you ? or maybe they did and just didn't give a crap like usual
I would take it back to them and have them correct it ....you may make something else worse...just sayin

 

You're right. The tech probably didn't give a crap or was short on time. They hoped that the customer wouldn't notice as much.

From what I've seen on YouTube videos on the same subject, but on different cars, you just need to ensure that both inner tie rods are turned equally in the same direction using incremental adjustments. I'm just looking to confirm if it's basically the same process for the C5 and that no other adjustments are required. Making another appointment would mean I'd have to take some time off from work so I can bring the car in and wait. Saturdays are the worst time to bring a car into the local dealership for service, even with an appointment.

 

Lets c a pic.

 

Pic of the steering wheel? Not really much to see there. It's basically turned slightly to the left, between the 11 and 12 o'clock position, when the car is going straight. If I straighten the steering wheel out as I drive, it will naturally steer slightly towards the right as expected.

 

Here's a pic for him..... ...except this one is straight...

 

see post #6...

 

You should have turned it to the left a bit, then it would like mine.

 

No way i can turn it...i got the pic online...

 

see , Pic says a 1000 words and **** my steering wheel is at 90 degree off. But i'm use to it.
I guess thats what happens when u do it drunk

 

 

You should return and get the problem corrected.

It is not a high skill deal, so no more concern when again returning to the low quality place than going there the first time.

Returning there might get you some make up cash or services, if you still will trade with the place, and, more importantly , will make management aware of the work quality you were stuck with. maybe you will get a refund . Shoddy work can be dangerous , and an off centered steering wheel might indicate carelessness on more serious stuff. It all depends on the workman and the conditions set for him to get paid. You might want to check if the place pays enough to hire people who won't let shoddy work out the door, or if they pay crap for crap workers and hope it works out.

In my car, the alignment was done with the usual load in the car, which obviously included me behind the wheel. He used his impressive looking big track calipers, I think to show off a bit, they were nice tools, his shop also had all the computerized gear and associated racks, from an assortment of manufacturers. When the alignment was being set, I was asked to center the wheel before the steering was tightened down.

Fool proof, and alignments should always be done with the expected normal load, if one wants the best outcome. Fortunately for me, I had a center dot from when my car was an autocrosser, so I avoided a lot of otherwise embarrassing indecision in the middle of the job. This attention to detail did require me, and my usual load, to sit in the car the entire time the car was being aligned.

When I was at an alignment seminar, a newspaper delivery truck was used as an example. Driver complained of excessive tire wear, and had crazy tread wear. Had it aligned and noticed the same wear pattern developing on his new tires. Big mystery was solved when it was developed the truck was used to throw advertising papers in the early morning , a load that severely changed the aspects of the front end when loaded, messing up the projected correct alignment, which turned out to be very wrong when the truck was loaded and in use. An extreme example used to illustrate a point, but the point is , the alignment should incorporate the usual load . Had the poster been sitting in the car , the steering wheel would have been centered after being disconnected.

When I was thrashing around my town looking for suitable corvette repair, I saw a big GM SUV getting an alignment , not on a level alignment rack, but in a lumpy and steep driveway in front of the crowded shop. The guy running the alignment just kept frowning and hitting the swinging mirrors until he got a green light, then he quickly pressed a button and broke out in a smile, having just completed a computerized alignment with a full paper print out , who could argue with that kind of computerized alignment proof for the money asked .

By the way, I became AES alignment expert qualified , I forget the exact initials, but it was the usual organization one sees in certificates stuck on the wall of your local garage, or sometimes on a sleeve patch. I was at a trade show and attended the alignment talk , saw a short film and became qualified for expert certification, all in about 40 minutes. Sure surprised me.

 

Yes that is all there is to it. I did it in my driveway using two tape measures.

 

Quick update: I was finally able to correct the steering wheel position to where it should be. I used painter's tape and a sharpie to mark the beginning points. It took about 1/2 turns equally, in the same direction, for each of the inner tie rods towards the rear of the car. I went for a short test drive afterwards to confirm the settings. The car still tracks straight when I let go of the steering wheel for a few seconds. All is well again in my Corvette life. My OCD has been quelled for now, until some other issue is noticed by me, whatever that may be.

 

And you will rise to that challenge too, Grasshopper.

 

 

Next time you're sober, try my DIY method to fix your steering wheel back to where it should be.