I just took my '04 to the dealer (have tried two different ones) for the fourth time over a steering wheel that has not been centered since day one. They keep telling me that there is nothing wrong with the wheel alignment, that it is in spec. I say yes, it tracks perfectly, but the wheel is not centered -- they don't seem to get it -- ugh!

So, from what I've learned here, in my case the ajustment should be to the tie rods and not from pulling and resetting the steering wheel. Is that correct? If yes, then how do I respond to the dealer if he says that adjusting the tie rods to center the wheel will mess up the alignment (toe-in?)?

Sorry, for all the questions, but this is one area of auto dynamics I've never bothered to learn much about -- I guess it's time to learn!

Thanks.

 

Just say, "Horseshit!"

Shortening one tie rod, while lengthening the other by the same amount, will not change toe.

If he needs help in understanding toe adjustment, have him read the shop manual, where the first step is to center the steering wheel.

 

Thanks, dhayner, I will try to teach the techs what to do to center the wheel.

Or I will try to do it myself, whcih leads to more questions:

1. if my wheel is off to the right and I want to bring it back to center, should I shorten the left tie rod and then lentghen the right by the same amount?
2. is the "same amount" a guessing game?
3. front of the car has to be off the ground?

Thanks again.

 

Okay, here we go.

If the steering wheel is off to the right when the car is going straight, then you have to turn it to the left to align it. Now the car will go towards the left. To make it go straight again, we have to adjust the tie rods. Yes, it's easier when the car is off the ground.

The tie rods connect to the front side of the wheels, so shortening the left one will bring the left wheel back into alignment. Lengthening the right one will bring that wheel back into alignment. To change the lengths by the same amount, turn the tie rods by the same amount - 1/4 turn, 1/2 turn, 3/4 turn, whatever. If you're careful to adjust by the same amount of turn, by eye, the change in tie rod length will be very close to the "same amount."

Since you don't have an alignment machine, you'll have to use trial and error to find the right amount of change to make the car go straight when the steering wheel is straight. Try, say, 1/2 turn and see if that is too much or too little (or, possibly, just right). Now you can judge how big to make a second correction by how far the steering wheel is off, compared to what it was initially.

Hope this helps,

Denis

 

Thanks, Denis -- seems easy enough. Appreciate all your help, I'll give it a try this weekend.

Paul

 

My steering wheel was off center too (pointing to 11 o'clock) but when I had an alignment done recently, that was taken care of as well. Now my steering wheel is centered.

I don't see why this problem couldn't be corrected by a competent alignment specialist.

 

Yes, the alignment procedure in the manual starts with "Center the steering wheel spokes," then goes on to adjusting the tie rods.