Steering wheel cocked.....?
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Steering wheel cocked.....?
I replaced both hub and bearing assemblies on my son's '07 FREESTAR as well as the CV axle on the passenger's side.Put it all together and it rides nicely, EXCEPT that now the steering wheel is at a +- 40* angle when travel is straight ahead! Didn't give this any thought, because I did one side at a time, wheels pointed straight.
***The side NOT being worked was on the ground with the total weight of the vehicle on the suspension and steering.
What have I dinked up?....and how did I DO it?
Any suggestions on remediation?
THANKS!
Swa
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
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From: The Big, Oregon
If you took the strut loose to change the CV shaft, then the alignment is off. The proper way is to disconnect the knuckle from the lower ball joint.
I would suggest taking it to be professionally aligned as soon as possible, since a bad alignment can wear tires surprisingly quickly.
You may also get better advice in the general automotive discussion section, since this one isn't for tech discussions.
I would suggest taking it to be professionally aligned as soon as possible, since a bad alignment can wear tires surprisingly quickly.
You may also get better advice in the general automotive discussion section, since this one isn't for tech discussions.
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Check out "doing a front end alignment" on youtube.
There are several variations. I use 4 jack stands.
Basically: set up 4 stands of some type at each corner of the vehicle to hold a string at the center height of your wheel. Run a string from front to back on each side of the vehicle so that it "just" touches each portion of the rear tire (that would be on each side of the wheel/hubcap). and straight ahead to which ever portion of the front tire that the string barely touches. Adjust the tie rod end until the string equally grazes both portions of the front tires.
Equal string pressure against all 4 portions of the 2 tires, at the centerline of the wheel = a pretty darn close alignment.
Hard to explain....the videos do it better.
I've done this on all my family vehicles and it seems to work great.......no uneven tire wear and good handling.
Swa
There are several variations. I use 4 jack stands.
Basically: set up 4 stands of some type at each corner of the vehicle to hold a string at the center height of your wheel. Run a string from front to back on each side of the vehicle so that it "just" touches each portion of the rear tire (that would be on each side of the wheel/hubcap). and straight ahead to which ever portion of the front tire that the string barely touches. Adjust the tie rod end until the string equally grazes both portions of the front tires.
Equal string pressure against all 4 portions of the 2 tires, at the centerline of the wheel = a pretty darn close alignment.
Hard to explain....the videos do it better.
I've done this on all my family vehicles and it seems to work great.......no uneven tire wear and good handling.
Swa
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
Interesting method. I wouldn't recommend that on a twin I beam/twin traction beam truck though, as their steering pivot and beam pivots are not in the same plane.
Sent from my C771 using IB AutoGroup
Sent from my C771 using IB AutoGroup
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