Alignment after harmonic balancer replacement
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 196
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From: ct
Alignment after harmonic balancer replacement
Just a question.. is an alignment required after replacing the harmonic balancer. Mine was done and shortly afterwards started throwing a 1287 code.
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
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Joined: Feb 2021
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From: Florida
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C1287 Steering Sensor rate malfunction.
Was your steering wheel braced to prevent it from moving during the balancer job?
Was your steering wheel braced to prevent it from moving during the balancer job?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 196
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From: ct
Pro
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 563
Likes: 201
From: Montgomery City, MO
An alignment shouldn't be needed.
I haven't pulled my rack so have no idea, but on the C4s the yoke was keyed so the steering shaft coupler could only be re-installed in one location. If the C5 yoke is similar, the shop might have re-installed the steering shaft 360 degrees "out" i.e. the steering wheel might have been rotated a full turn (or more) while the rack was out. This is just sloppy work, but it's likely the shop assumed the column would be locked and it sounds like your column lock has been removed.
I'd take it back and ask the shop to fix it, because driving the car like this can damage the airbag clockspring. I'm sure they'll try to pinch you additional labor, but this can be your indicator as to whether to be a repeat customer or not.
I haven't pulled my rack so have no idea, but on the C4s the yoke was keyed so the steering shaft coupler could only be re-installed in one location. If the C5 yoke is similar, the shop might have re-installed the steering shaft 360 degrees "out" i.e. the steering wheel might have been rotated a full turn (or more) while the rack was out. This is just sloppy work, but it's likely the shop assumed the column would be locked and it sounds like your column lock has been removed.
I'd take it back and ask the shop to fix it, because driving the car like this can damage the airbag clockspring. I'm sure they'll try to pinch you additional labor, but this can be your indicator as to whether to be a repeat customer or not.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 563
Likes: 201
From: Montgomery City, MO
I'm sure he was happy to charge you for it as well, but it shouldn't be needed. There are dowels in the frame spars that keep the cradle located, and nothing adjustable should have been touched. So it would be highly unlikely any misalignment would have been introduced that would be significant enough to set a steering angle code (not sure of the threshold but 15 degrees comes to mind).
This prompted me to loosen my steering coupler to check it out as my wheel has been aiming left by about 3 degrees since buying the car. No luck - the steering yoke has a flat machined on it that makes misaligning the column any less than a full revolution impossible.
So garllo if your steering wheel is aiming straight now and was before the job, you don't need an alignment - the shop screwed up.
This prompted me to loosen my steering coupler to check it out as my wheel has been aiming left by about 3 degrees since buying the car. No luck - the steering yoke has a flat machined on it that makes misaligning the column any less than a full revolution impossible.
So garllo if your steering wheel is aiming straight now and was before the job, you don't need an alignment - the shop screwed up.
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Melting Slicks
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Did you happen to get new tie rod ends when the steering rack was replaced? They have to be popped out when moving the steering rack. Sometimes wear is noted and new ends installed. Good idea to re-align after new tie rod ends.