Alignment Woes

[5VZ-FE]

I just replaced my leaky old steering rack with a brand new OEM unit. The job went well but I was a couple splines off on the rag joint so I had to drive a short distance with my wheel pointing to 2 o'clock while going straight. No problem. I went under the next day and lined it up at what I think was the correct position.

I went to get an alignment the next day at my local Toscalito's. When I picked it up a couple hours later I asked for the before and afters and the guy said the printer was broken but he'd send them to me tomorrow (which is today). It was fishy as hell because 10 minutes later, right before I left I asked to double check my email on file and he said they didn't have one. I gave them my email, and have called twice today and been told they'd send it within the hour each time. I have still not received it.

The issue: The steering feels looser than before I took it in (but after replacing the old one), and the wheel points very slightly to the left when going straight. For context, I live in San Francisco and the roads are terrible but I'm pretty confident it is pointing left when going straight (aka pulling right).

Am I creating something from nothing here? Not telling me about the lack of printer was funky because that before and after printout is a pretty basic part of an alignment, plus the fact that they still haven't gotten it to me.

Edit: Forgot to mention I can tell they changed the outer tie rod end length because of the match marks from the rack job

 

[dmppdx]

I just replaced my leaky old steering rack with a brand new OEM unit. The job went well but I was a couple splines off on the rag joint so I had to drive a short distance with my wheel pointing to 2 o'clock while going straight. No problem. I went under the next day and lined it up at what I think was the correct position.

I went to get an alignment the next day at my local Toscalito's. When I picked it up a couple hours later I asked for the before and afters and the guy said the printer was broken but he'd send them to me tomorrow (which is today). It was fishy as hell because 10 minutes later, right before I left I asked to double check my email on file and he said they didn't have one. I gave them my email, and have called twice today and been told they'd send it within the hour each time. I have still not received it.

The issue: The steering feels looser than before I took it in (but after replacing the old one), and the wheel points very slightly to the left when going straight. For context, I live in San Francisco and the roads are terrible but I'm pretty confident it is pointing left when going straight (aka pulling right).

Am I creating something from nothing here? Not telling me about the lack of printer was funky because that before and after printout is a pretty basic part of an alignment, plus the fact that they still haven't gotten it to me.

Edit: Forgot to mention I can tell they changed the outer tie rod end length because of the match marks from the rack job

Not sure about the feeling of being loser, but sounds like they didn't do a good job and properly align your steering wheel. That is different than it pulling to the side. A car can drive perfectly straight and have the steering wheel angled off center. I suggest you take it back and tell them to fix it. Its possible if your are too far off on your splines that might make it impossible for hem to properly align the steering wheel since you can only adjust the alignment so much, so you may need to pay them to adjust the splines. And for adjusting the out tie rod end, of course they did, that is part of the alignment.

 

[phattyduck]

There are a bunch of different ways the front end alignment can be wrong - you are right to be suspicious.

Step 1 here is to make sure the steering wheel is 'centered' to the rack. Turn the steering wheel lock-to-lock and make sure it is symmetric (turns the same amount in each direction).

If that is good, then you need to go back to the shop and have them put it back on the rack and get readings. They owe you this, especially since you likely still have an issue.

You want near 0 toe (slightly in), near 0 camber (matching on both sides, slightly negative if possible) and caster on the high end of the factory range with the right side slightly higher than the left if possible (helps fight road crown with no tire wear effect).

A likely scenario here is that they just adjusted toe and camber or caster is wrong or mis-matched side to side.

-Charlie

 

[5VZ-FE]

I went back a couple times and they eventually re-aligned it. They agreed that it was pulling right. Annoying process but alls well that ends well I suppose.