help with steerwheel aligment

[bob hodges]

I have to ask this question..I searched all thru previous threads but nothing on this. I have lowered the front of the car and installed the Steer Bump kit ..didn't have much trouble with doing any of the lowering or the Bump kit. I am going to take it down and have the front end aligned up. The mystery is.... the steering wheel is cocked off center to the left. Now I am thinking this is a bit strange as this condition was never present prior to me installing the Bump Kit. Is it possiable that the alignment will bring the steering wheel back to center?

[tchanson]

Bob,

Its quite possible that your alignment will take care of it.

If not, you can easliy center your steering wheel by lengthening one tie rod end and shortening the other. Just loosen the lock nuts on the tie rod ends, and mark a starting/reference point on each tie rod on the threads.

If your wheel is off center to the left (counter-clockwise) and you want to rotate it slightly to the right (clockwise), lenghten the right tie rod and shorten the left. One full turn of the tie rod, as I recall, equals about an inch at the steering wheel, but hopefully you don't need that much rotation

Good luck,
Tim

[pjv911]

Do not adjust your alignement by eye. Take it to a reputable alignment facility and have you front end realigned. Changing the height of your rack will chage your total toe value , but should not change one side more than the other(making your wheel off to one side). But either way when its reset you wont need to wonder because it will be done. Dont forget to ask for the alignment printout. Being a alignment specialist myself I can tell you first hand that the people who ask for the printout get it done better than just within spec. I try to get it perfect so they approve and are happy with the little piece of paper they leave with.

Kurt Williams

[1bar]

You can more easily align the steering wheel from inside the car. First, park the car with the WHEELS STRAIGHT AHEAD. Pull the horn pad off, use a breaker bar to loosen and pull the steering shaft nut off the end (center of the steering wheel, under where the horn pad was), pull the wheel off, turn it straight, and push it back onto the steering shaft splines. Then re-tighten the nut and put your horn pad back on. Take you 5 minutes.

Of course, if you diddled the wheels while working the wrench, you may have to do this a couple of times to get it on the correct spline (BTDT).

Remember, this is in NO WAY a substitute for an alignment. If you were mucking around with the rack, you should probably have one done. Usually, they straighten the wheel out for you before they finish.

Larry

[tchanson]

Originally posted by bob hodges
I am going to take it down and have the front end aligned up.

Kurt,

Just curious, but as I read Bob's post, why do you think that he's going to adjust his alignment (not just steering wheel straightening) "by eye"?

Tim

[howie944]

When I added my 930s steering wheel it was slightly off center. Just enough to be an eyeball annoyance. About 1/8 inch when looking at the vertical seam at the bottom. I tried adjusting it by removing and shifting it one spline tooth but that put it off center in the other direction. So I had an alignment done (needed it anyway). The wheel is dead center now. Sometimes the spline thing works ... Sometimes it doesn't and you have to do the "tie rod" thing or have an alignment done and they will center the wheel during the alignment.

[bob hodges]

Iam heading for Scottsdale Porsche this morn to have the front end aligment done. Thanks for the help guys I will let you know if this does the trick.