centering steering wheel question

[ramonesfreak]

After a turbo tie rod install, suspension refresh and alignment, I find my steering wheel is off center to the left a few degrees. Removing the steering wheel and turning one spline to the right results in the wheel being off center too far to the right a few degrees

So, I am going to adjust the tie rods on each side in small increments

I have found conflicting comments regarding which side gets shortened

Can you confirm for me, so I can avoid too much trial and error, that if the steering wheel is too far to the left when the rack is centered, that it is the left tie rod that needs to be turned clockwise (and the opposite/right side turned counter-clockwise)?

I plan to check left/right lock to lock to confirm rack is centered before I do this but I am pretty sure my steering wheel is in the same spline that it was in before I took it to my shop for work and it was always perfectly straight, so....

Thanks!

[AndrewCologne]

The side which that has to be shortened or enlarged depends on the actual toe setting of each wheel. Means you have to (let) adjust the toe completely on the axle.
You can search for a suspension adjusting shop/service in your area or you do it by yourself:
https://nineelevenheaven.wordpress.com/adjusting-the-toe-on-a-911/

[PeteKz]

Correct--check right to left to find the exact center on the rack, then if your steering wheel is not centered, move it a spline to center it when the rack is centered. THEN adjust the links to get the front wheels straight ahead with the degrees of toe in you want.

[proporsche]

Ramon..there is a little trick..i will try to explain.
It is a PITA sometimes you cannot make the wheel center...
So, on your tire rod ends mark the position of the shaft and tie rod-end on both sides.Best is straight line across..
Loosen the 22mm nut, if your st.wheel is a little to the left use 12mm open wrench and move the back of the wheel on left side IN about 2mm
On the right side move the back of the wheel 2mm OUT.. and see the position of the st.wheel -even drive it.No need to make the 22 tight.only if it is perfect.
If it`s a little to the right same procedure but left back of the to be moved 2mm OUT and right wheel back of the wheel to be moved IN..
This way you do not mess up your alignment-toe in.

Ivan

You can always have the alignment checked after..

CORRECTION MADE

[ramonesfreak]

Out on left? That is the opposite of what I was going to do based on what I read here and is the reason why I made this post

If I turn rod on left side counter-clockwise making the back of the left wheel move out, I visualize this in my head as making my steering wheel even more to the left in order to drive straight

So, if I drive now before making changes, if I put the steering wheel centered as I go down the road, the car will turn a little to the right as I go down road. I believed pulling the back of left wheel in and the back of right wheel out the same distance would correct this situation. What am I missing?

[AndrewCologne]

Ramon, if the Steering wheel results off center to the left, then you must give more toe out to the left wheel and more toe in to the right wheel – assuming that the "total toe" of the axle was correctly preset

[proporsche]

Andrew yup you are right it is totally opposite of what i have written ..just came to me..it has been many years since i did this correction
i go change it above so it does not mislead anyone

Ivan

[ramonesfreak]

ok got it. Thanks..What I do know...99% sure my rack is centered and that total toe was set correctly when aligned last fall....I think my mechanic just failed to look at the steering wheel centering when he test drove it leaving this annoying fine tuning to me.....

[dannobee]

Pulling off the steering wheel and moving it a spline or two is NOT the correct way to make the steering wheel straight.

Since it's off to the left (pointed at say, 11 o'clock), you need to make the drivers side tie rod shorter and the passenger side tie rod longer. Mark each tie rod with a sharpie and move each tie rod 1/4 turn, left side in and right side out, until the steering wheel is straight. Toe setting should remain the same.

[ramonesfreak]

Yes I know that it not correct....unless mechanic took wheel off for some reason and put it back on wrong spline which isnt what happened. My post was to confirm which side to shorten. Thanks

[pmax]

Originally Posted by ramonesfreak

..99% sure my rack is centered and that total toe was set correctly when aligned last fall....

What was the toe settings when it was aligned ?

[ramonesfreak]

I dont have it. He gave me the numbers last year and I misplaced it.

[AndrewCologne]

Originally Posted by ramonesfreak

I dont have it. He gave me the numbers last year and I misplaced it.

I can give you the clear advice: As the steering wheel is off centered the alignment was set wrong, which makes me guess that also other adjustings of the suspension could have been done incorrectly. So – if you can't do it by yourself as in my link above explained – you should spend the bucks to let a good suspension adjust shop do this for you, with a real optimal result here the steering wheel position should result optimally centered. The problem is, ... if someone does simply focus on a correct "total toe" of the axle then the axle does not run straight ahead.
Now in case of the rear axle this error won't be compensated by an off centered steering wheel ;-) ... means tires wear out much faster as the alignment of the whole axle is forced "static". This also means. ... beside other behaviors ... the vehicle could/will pull to one side when braking.