Matto'85TA

Not sure if this is the right board or not, if not then please move it to the proper one.

My car drives perfectly straight when the steering wheel is at a 90 degree turn to the right. Basically the 12 oclock position of the wheel(very top when wheel is in proper postion) is at a 3 oclock position when moving straight. How can I correct this? Can a shop do it without reodoing the entire alighnment? Could I do it myself?

Thanks,

Matt

dankhound

You can try adjusting the tie rods on each side just rememeber to do the same thing on each side or your gonna mess up your alignment.

I guess i should clarify the last statement a little. If you move the right tie rod sleeve out youll want to move the other one in.

studdmstr

Was the steering like this when you bought it, or did it just happen recently because of an accident? We need a little more information than what you've given to properly help you out.
The simple answer would be to turn the front wheels so that they were pointing straight, then remove the steering wheel from the column and reinstall it in the 12 o'clock position. But that might be masking a problem, such as a bent steering or suspension part.
Taking the stock steering wheel off is fairly easy job to do and I wouldn't pay a mechanic to do it. The only tools you'll need are a socket and breaker bar and a puller to take off the steering wheel unless it's a steering wheel with and air bag, then I wouldn't touch it.
With an aftermarket steering wheel you'll probably have to do a bit more work depending on what brand.

Matto'85TA

After the accident the alighnment was off. I took it to a shop, they realighned it and replaced the centerlink casue it was bent. Now it drives perfectly fine, its just the wheel is off like this.

studdmstr

Well if you took it to a shop and had them work on your car after an accident they should have aligned things right. I'd take it back and make them fix the problem, which they should have taken care of in the first place!

onebluemcm

I agree - the shop usually should get everything right, including the wheel. Would make me wonder if the alignment was done a bit half arsed - no offense intended if you know you shop guys well.

One thing you might do is get the front wheels pointing straight (forget about steering wheel placement for now) and look under the front at the pitman arm and idler arm. They should always be just about parallel to each other (unless the wrong center link was somehow used) and with the front wheels pointing straight ahead, both the pitman arm and idler arm should also be pointing just about perfectly straight ahead. If they are point toward oneside or the other of the car, with the front wheels pointing straight ahead, the adjustments on the tie rods are off and what was said by dankhound should be looked into.

Of course if all the linkage matches up with the wheels pointing straight ahead about the only other thing to do is pop the steerting wheel off and reposition.

Good luck,
K

Matto'85TA

Thanks, for the help and advice. I'll check it out tomarrow. I dont know the shop guys persnolly but i do know poepl who recommended them.

Thanks,
Matt