chuckerst

I have this problem too-I'm not sure how you mean by this: "Basically equal amounts on both sides in the opposite direction of direction when you manual center the steering wheel while driving." Did you mean equal amounts in opposite directions? This won't affect the alignment will it? Thanks

michael200

My $.02 - I'm sure it happens a lot that the alignment is adjusted correctly, but the steering wheel isn't exactly centered. You can easily fix it yourself by adjusting the tie rod length on both sides. You need to be sure that you lengthen one tie rod exactly the same that you shorten the other. For example: To adjust the steering wheel clockwise, you would need to shorten the tie rod on the drivers side, and lengthen the tie rod the same amount on the passenger side. Accurately mark the position of the tie rods to the rod ends using a marker, some tape and a pencil, some white-out, etc., before loosening the jam nut. Make small adjustments, and re-check the centering of the steering wheel each time. You can use the points on the jam nut as a gauge for how much you have adjusted the tie rods. For example: Adjusting the tie rods 1/6 of a turn will move the steering wheel only about 3/16 inch. If you screw something up, just put both tie rods back to the positions you marked before you started.
Note - You can also adjust the tie rods very accurately using feeler gauges between the jam nut and the rod end. Just loosen the jam nut a couple turns, and measure the gap between the jam nut and the rod end with the feeler gauges. Make sure the jam nut does not rotate on the tie rod while making the adjustments (mark it with a marker, white-out, etc., or tape the jam nut in position on the tie rod so it doesn't rotate). Then adjust the tie rods as described above, using feeler gauges to make the left and right adjustments exactly the same (of course one shorter and one longer).

lex4az

I recently had my sc400 aligned, and the wheel was steering wheel was a few degrees off center, but the alignment was fine. I took it back and told them,they realigned it , and when i drove it it was off the other way. I took it back, and told them i would sit in the car and hold the steering wheel to what i thought was straight. this time it was perfect. In resume, it can be correctly aligned,even if the wheel is not exactly centered. this is done by sight only. To some 2 degrees may not matter,but it bugs the hell out of me.

mandyfig

Remember in the old days and old cars, no airbags then, they loosen the nut and pull the steering wheel, then drop it to make it straight! Now you are aligned!