Steering wheel not centered

thegipper

thegipper

New member
97 SR5 auto v6 4x4

My steering wheel is not centered. Truck drives perfectly straight and the alignment is good but the steering wheel is at about 11 oclock.

Is the easiest way to fix this is by removing the steering wheel and just rotate it one groove over so it is centered? Anyone ever do this and what's involved?

I've read something about adjust tie rod ends to center the wheel and something about making adjustments on the rack. Both of these methods seem like more work than just pulling the steering wheel off and rotating it one tooth.

Or am I missing something?

Thanks
 
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thegipper said:
97 SR5 auto v6 4x4 My steering wheel is not centered. Truck drives perfectly straight and the alignment is good but the steering wheel is at about 11 oclock.
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You could probably rotate the wheel - but I also thought that aligning the wheel was part of the alignment process as well. Could be wrong.
 
Adjusting the tie rods is the correct way to fix it. Just lengthen one and shorten the other the exact same amount until the wheel is straight. My guess is that's easier than pulling the steering wheel.

Or you can take it to an alignment shop and have them correct it and check the toe at the same time.
 
Removing the steering wheel and turning it a couple teeth seems way easier than screwing around with two tie rod ends. I found a post on Yotatech that tells you how to remove it. I think I already have a steering wheel puller so it should be simple. Just need to disconnect the ground at the battery, wait 5 minutes, two #27 torx screws, pull off air bag, unplug the harness, break loose nut, use puller and pull the steering wheel off. Should be 25 ft/lbs on the nut once its back in.

Last time I tried to separate my tie rods it was a nightmare. One boot got totally screwed up, the other was so frozen on I had to nuke it with a oxy/acetylene torch and beat the hell out of it. I'd prefer to avoid all that bs.

Maybe I'll make a video for shits and giggles..
 
thegipper said:
Removing the steering wheel and turning it a couple teeth seems way easier than screwing around with two tie rod ends. I found a post on Yotatech that tells you how to remove it. I think I already have a steering wheel puller so it should be simple. Just need to disconnect the ground at the battery, wait 5 minutes, two #27 torx screws, pull off air bag, unplug the harness, break loose nut, use puller and pull the steering wheel off. Should be 25 ft/lbs on the nut once its back in.

Last time I tried to separate my tie rods it was a nightmare. One boot got totally screwed up, the other was so frozen on I had to nuke it with a oxy/acetylene torch and beat the hell out of it. I'd prefer to avoid all that bs.

Maybe I'll make a video for shits and giggles..
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This is a good way to destroy your clock spring.
 
Tam4511 said:
If the wheels not straight then the alignments not good.
Have them center it and re set the toe.
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The wheels are perfectly straight and it drives as straight as an arrow. The steering wheel is just in the 11 o clock position.

If even turning the steering wheel a couple teeth can mess up the clock spring, then its not an option.

I had both of the damn tie rods off when the did the LBJ's, I could have fixed it then.....Son of a Bi....

:ybrick::ybrick::ybrick:
 
thegipper said:
The wheels are perfectly straight and it drives as straight as an arrow. The steering wheel is just in the 11 o clock position.

If even turning the steering wheel a couple teeth can mess up the clock spring, then its not an option.

I had both of the damn tie rods off when the did the LBJ's, I could have fixed it then.....Son of a Bi....

:ybrick::ybrick::ybrick:
Click to expand...
Whoever aligned it last didn't center the wheel right or something, just get it re aligned
 
Tam4511 said:
Whoever aligned it last didn't center the wheel right or something, just get it re aligned
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My brother did the alignment and yes, he admitted he forgot to center the steering wheel.

If it is likely that the clock spring can get messed up from rotating the steering wheel a tooth or two, then I won't chance it.

When I get new tires I was planning on getting it aligned anyways.

Still pissed I didn't fix it when I had the Tie rods off..
 
thegipper said:
My brother did the alignment and yes, he admitted he forgot to center the steering wheel.

If it is likely that the clock spring can get messed up from rotating the steering wheel a tooth or two, then I won't chance it.

When I get new tires I was planning on getting it aligned anyways.

Still pissed I didn't fix it when I had the Tie rods off..
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Yeah rotating the wheel isnt a solution, plus it'll make your blinker disengagement weird
 
Are you sure the clock spring would even be effected by rotating the steering wheel? From the videos I watch, the clock spring is independent from the steering wheel. If I just turn and rotate the steering wheel once it is off, and put it back on centered, I shouldn't be adjusting or turning the clock spring at all. Not sure how it would change anything other than it being centered on the shaft now instead of slightly in the 11 oclock position. The shaft wouldn't ever move at all, the steering wheel would just come off (slightly off centered) and go back on centered.

Or am I missing something?
 
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thegipper said:
Last time I tried to separate my tie rods it was a nightmare. One boot got totally screwed up, the other was so frozen on I had to nuke it with a oxy/acetylene torch and beat the hell out of it. I'd prefer to avoid all that bs.
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No, No, No... That's not how you adjust the tie-rods! There is no need to separate the tie rod end or touch the boot at all. All you have to do is loosen the lock nut on the threaded portion of the rod, out near the tie rod end. Then turn the tie-rod body (rack end) on the threads to shorten or lengthen it. When you have it where you want, retighten the lock nut and you're done. Takes less than 5 minutes per side. I think you need a 14mm and a 19mm wrench, but I could be mis-remembering that. You may or may not have to loosen the hose clamp on the inner boot so it can spin on the rack end to avoid twisting it. The boot may well be loose enough to spin on its own.

To keep your alignment (toe adjustment) constant, turn each tie-rod body the same amount, only in opposite directions (one shorter, one longer).

It'll take you longer to reset your radio presets after disconnecting the battery to mess with the steering wheel than to do the process I've just described.

Here's a picture and description of how to do it.
 

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That totally makes sense and I should know that...lol.

In that case, I'll just adjust the tie rods. Not sure what I was thinking.

If my steering wheel is off to the left, what tie rods need to go which way?

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
 
thegipper said:
Are you sure the clock spring would even be effected by rotating the steering wheel? From the videos I watch, the clock spring is independent from the steering wheel. If I just turn and rotate the steering wheel once it is off, and put it back on centered, I shouldn't be adjusting or turning the clock spring at all. Not sure how it would change anything other than it being centered on the shaft now instead of slightly in the 11 oclock position. The shaft wouldn't ever move at all, the steering wheel would just come off (slightly off centered) and go back on centered.

Or am I missing something?
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this was my train of thought here....but I could be wrong. and if I am, I welcome some correction and education please.
 
If your steering wheel is off to the left, then when it's straight the vehicle will be turning right. To correct that, you need to lengthen the left rod and shorten the right one, to turn the front wheels back toward the left. It doesn't take much. Try 1/2 turn of the tie rods at a time.
 
Not a good idea to fix one problem by creating another. The steering wheel is installed correctly unless someone has removed and incorrectly reinstalled it. So, leave it alone. By your description of events, it seems that one tie rod end is adjusted a tad too long while the other is a little short which makes the toe setting okay but the steering wheel off center. So, reduce the length of one tie rod end and increase the other the same amount until the steering wheel is centered. Adjustments should be made by counting the turns you rotate the tie rod ends, not trying to measure length. One half turn or thereabouts per tie rod end is a good initial adjustment. Mark them with a sharpie or something to be able to accurately keep count of turns. If the steering wheel gets further off center, you're going the wrong way with your adjustments.
 
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thanks guys, I'll mess with the tie rods once it warms up. Shouldn't be long, like in May when it warms up in Wisconsin....facepalm
 
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