Centering Steering Wheel

[NoLift911]

So after replacing alot of suspension components it seems my wheel is a little bit off center - am I to assume that if my wheel is off center to the right then turn both tie rods downward and if it is off center to the left turn both tie rods upward equal amounts?

Does that make sense?

Thanks -

[Gemballa2006]

If the car tracks straight with teh wheel off center a bit why not just pull the wheel off, move it a spline or two over until its center. Might be easier than messing with the tie rods

[NoLift911]

The splines are not fine enough for the adjustment - (normal rule of thumb says don't do this anyway) The spline correction puts the wheel worst than it is now.

Pretty sure the tie rods are the way to go - just want to be sure I am turning the right way.

[cgarr]

You rack may be off center with steering wheel too. Count the total turns from full left to full right, turn the wheel half that amount (center of rack) then center the wheel on the spline then align the front end.

[dad911]

Yes. Steering wheel should be centered to the 'rack'. Turn both tie-rods an equal amount.

[NoLift911]

OK - I guess I was not clear in my question and that is my fault. Rack is centered, car is aligned, my idea of centering the wheel was not my shops idea of centering the wheel - its off just a little bit.

Car is aligned, rack is centered.

What I was looking for (instead of trial and error method), to do this right the first time so as not to keep messing with it and risk losing my toe settings was a methodology for a wheel that is off center one way or the other then do X - which is what I posted above so if my wheel is off center to the right then turn both tie rods downward and if it is off center to the left turn both tie rods upward equal amounts?

It sounds like that is a yes from what I read (as nobody said no...)

Hope that makes sense now and thanks for the replies.

[Gemballa2006]

Why is it the rule of thumb is not to align the wheel using splines? Does this cause issues somehow? Thanks

[NoLift911]

Just what I have heard may be wrong - the steering wheel has never been removed so in terms of being right - I would leave - the issue is the lengths of the tie rods relative tot he centering of the rack - fix the problem at the source is my best guess - like I said I may be wrong.

I guess in my mind changing one thing to compensate for another is not the way to go - when you the the other is the source of the problem.

[cgarr]

If its aligned already but the wheel is off a tad then just turn each tie rod end the same amount, start with 1/2 turn and move both wheels in the same direction as the steering wheel then drive it and see.

[boyt911sc]

Originally Posted by Gemballa2006

Why is it the rule of thumb is not to align the wheel using splines? Does this cause issues somehow? Thanks

Gemballa,


If you have not done using the spline for centering try it once. You'll find out that with just one (1) spline adjustment, the change will be very big (coarse adjustment). For fine adjustment, you need to do the adjustment via the tie rods.

So to make the adjustments via the tie rod without disturbing the current set-up, you need to turn the tie rods in equal amount. Place a tape on both tie rods and mark them. This marking will be your reference point. As long as you make equal adjustments (+=-), the current toe-in setting will stay the same or unchanged.

Tony

[ddubois]

I just went through this after having the alignment done. Both tie rods are right hand thread so to avoid changing your toe-in you need to turn each opposite to the other to move the wheel and retain your toe-in. If you want to turn your wheel to the left then loosen (out) the left tie rod and tighten (in) the right the same amount. I found that around a 1/2 turn was enough.
I also found the steering wheel splines too coarse.