smalldog

Hello all.

I've been dealing with no heat for over a year due to defective air box and decided to replace it. Everything went well until I tried to bolt the steering wheel in place. The 4 mounting holes wouldn't line back up to the studs in the cross bar. The holes were @ 1.5 to 2 inches off. I googled it but had no luck. So I did what anyone would do and started pulling on the steering wheel. After a few twist and pulls the steering shaft was free and I was able to bolt up the steering column. Ok...so I thought everything was ok. Big mistake. Now my steering wheel is @ 90 degrees off center. I still have the same turning radius but can't figure out how to align the steering.

Help anyone...........

Thanks

ThomasGS4

iTrader: (19)

Make sure the wheels are straight, remove the steering wheel, and reinstall in the correct location. You could get an alignment to make sure it's truly dead center if you wanted to.

smalldog

thanks for the reply.

I've removed the steering wheel several times. The tires move when I try the straighten the wheel. Took car to alignment shop and everything is in spec.

sorry......misread post. you did say remove steering wheel (not steering column).......Will try that over the weekend. Just don't know why I have to remove steering wheel if I didn't remove it in the first place.

Thanks

smalldog

can not just realign steering wheel on column because the air bag plug would still be off center

smalldog

pics of steering wheel

RamAirRckt

Easy to fix.

Put steering wheel straight, jack up car and move tie rod adjusters EXACT same turns on each side to move the wheels back to straight.

So if you need to turn 10 turns on left side to get the left wheel straight, then do EXACT same turns on right.

I would be very concerned how it got that way in the first place. You don't want to have too few threads on the tie rods. 20 turns is about all there is with the outer tie rod to the inner.

This is simple basic geometry, all alignments are. "comptuers" don't make an alignment better. Simple geometry does.

smalldog

the strange thing is that this all happened after dropping steering wheel column to remove dash to replace air-box and heater core.

RamAirRckt

That is weird.... I'll see what I can find out....

smalldog

Thanks.

The posts listed below describe how everything started.

I found that two other members had this type of issue after removing steering column. Don't know they did to fix it.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...ng-column.html


https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...-w-pics-5.html

clos430

iTrader: (21)

What he said^^ Just make sure you don't spin the spiral cable around while the air bag is off.

RamAirRckt

My friend who is a Lexus Tech said that you pulled it off the splines, my guess is down at the rack. That would explain a lot.

smalldog

Thanks for the reply.

Did he give any advise on how to fix it? Driving with the wheel this way is driving me crazy.........

RamAirRckt

He said to look at the intermediate shaft.

smalldog

thanks for the help.

Will try to get car on a lift this week and let you guys know the out come.

RamAirRckt

Sounds like it might be inside the car at the firewall, will have him look more this week at the shop.