No shop that does alignments is going to take the time to even out the tie rod ends on the rack and then remove your steering wheel to change your steering wheel orientation. All GM vehicles that I work on at my dealership have a key in the steering shaft where the wheel attaches and the steering wheel will only go on 1 way. The OP got a shitty alignment and should get it checked to make sure his toe is still correct. Toe can be way out and the vehicle will still drive straight.
Steering Wheel Adjustment
- Thread starter BoomerBob
- Start date
No shop that does alignments is going to take the time to even out the tie rod ends on the rack and then remove your steering wheel to change your steering wheel orientation. All GM vehicles that I work on at my dealership have a key in the steering shaft where the wheel attaches and the steering wheel will only go on 1 way. The OP got a shitty alignment and should get it checked to make sure his toe is still correct. Toe can be way out and the vehicle will still drive straight.
JMat
New member
The reason the brake lights are on when it's the lift is they have a tool that they have two tools they use... One extends from the drivers seat to the bottom of the steering wheel and creates pressure to hold the wheel centered. The other uses pressure between the drivers seat and the brake pedal for checking caster.Good point. I did notice the brake lights were on while it was the lift so I asked if that was normal. They said yes. I don't understand why though.
I'll get under the rig in the coolness of the morning and see if there is adjustment at the tie rods. If it's obvious someone was being lazy; I'll ask to speak to their supervisor. It's a locally owned tire shop so I have to be careful and diplomatic. Gotta live here in this small town.
Here's a link toto the tools on Amazon so you can see how they work: https://www.amazon.com/YAKO-Steering-Wheel-Depressor-Aligner/dp/B01E75R0W4
The one between the drivers seat and the bottom of the steering wheel most likely slipped and that's why your steering wheel was way off center.
JMat
New member
The reason the brake lights are on when it's the lift is one of the two tools they use uses the drivers seat to create pressure between it and the brake pedal to keep the brakes on for checking caster... One extends from the drivers seat to the bottom of the steering wheel and creates pressure to hold the wheel centered.Good point. I did notice the brake lights were on while it was the lift so I asked if that was normal. They said yes. I don't understand why though.
I'll get under the rig in the coolness of the morning and see if there is adjustment at the tie rods. If it's obvious someone was being lazy; I'll ask to speak to their supervisor. It's a locally owned tire shop so I have to be careful and diplomatic. Gotta live here in this small town.
Here's a link to the tools on Amazon so you can see how they work: https://www.amazon.com/YAKO-Steering-Wheel-Depressor-Aligner/dp/B01E75R0W4
The one between the drivers seat and the bottom of the steering wheel most likely slipped and that's why your steering wheel was way off center.
BoomerBob
New member
Just got back from the alignment/tire shop and they pretty much said the same thing. They said they don't remove steering wheels and stuck by their explanation that the tie rods were maxed out to one side. The said the cross member was 'bent' which prevented them from doing any further adjustment of the steering wheel. I looked; it didn't look bent to me. When I explained to them that it was a 5 minute job to remove the air bag and steering wheel, rotate it to level, then button it up; they said no one does that. I said maybe they should start.
In the end the supervisor handed half my money back and I thanked him for making it right. The car was barely driveable with the steering wheel 40-43 degrees off level. Just using the cruise control with it at the bottom of the wheel was miserable.
My personal thoughts, since he said they did that on old cars, is they should adjust their methods and attitude a bit by being a leader so that people like me don't come back looking to make it right. Just do it. Jeeps and Toyota's must be among the top 5 wheel alignments they do so just learn how to do them, including resetting the steering wheel to center, to give the customer what they paid for. If we have to be charged an extra $20 for an extra 15 minutes of their time; I would be good with that.
I found this to be a true learning experience. Other than one time about 30 years ago when I rebuilt part of a front end on a 70 Camaro; I've never needed a front wheel alignment. I haven't been off roading other than dirt roads but that may change now and I don't hit curbs or potholes. I guess I've just been lucky with the potholes because I ride motorcycles. It becomes second nature to avoid them suckers unless one wants to face plant on the asphalt.
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plcfcng
Member
Glad you went back to the shop and questioned there work. As stated before Toe is not a steering angle and you can have it drive straight ahead and still be out of spec. So if you wanted to try and correct the action here is what can be done if you or some one is handy.
On jack stands make a mark on the tie rod ends and the threaded part in a place that will not get rubbed off. Unscrew the jam nut and turn the one with that's out too far in and vise versa Important the turns need to be the same amount. Line up your marks and re tighten the jam nut. Now sit in side unlock the steering wheel turn the wheel till it stops and back the other way counting the amount of turns.
Split the difference now the rack is in the middle of the run. Now if you need to re position the steering wheel the rack is in the middle you can pull the steering wheel and find the best spot. There are precautions you need to take before removing a Steer wheel I sure you can find it here some where. If the steering wheel is a little off don't worry. So in theory you have not changed the Toe angle and could just make the adjustment at the Tie Rod ends. But you got your money back so just take it in and have someone else make sure it's set right.
eace:
On jack stands make a mark on the tie rod ends and the threaded part in a place that will not get rubbed off. Unscrew the jam nut and turn the one with that's out too far in and vise versa Important the turns need to be the same amount. Line up your marks and re tighten the jam nut. Now sit in side unlock the steering wheel turn the wheel till it stops and back the other way counting the amount of turns.
Split the difference now the rack is in the middle of the run. Now if you need to re position the steering wheel the rack is in the middle you can pull the steering wheel and find the best spot. There are precautions you need to take before removing a Steer wheel I sure you can find it here some where. If the steering wheel is a little off don't worry. So in theory you have not changed the Toe angle and could just make the adjustment at the Tie Rod ends. But you got your money back so just take it in and have someone else make sure it's set right.
eace:
