Centering the steering wheel

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Mar 12, 2007 | 08:39 PM

jim0517

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Centering the steering wheel

I replaced the inner tie rods this weekend and now notice that the steering wheel is rotated about 5 degrees left when the wheels are straight ahead. I'm thinking that I need to turn the adjusting sleeve on the inner tie rod to shorten it in order to center the wheel. Am I correct on this?

Also, since I only did the inner tie rods, is there a reason to get an alignment. Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see how the inner tie rod impacts alignment as it doesn't connect the two steering knuckles.

Mar 12, 2007 | 08:49 PM

miker67

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Any time you replace steering components an alignment is a good idea. A new component in the system changes the way the system is set up. Now, what do you mean by inners? Chevy uses inner tie rods with a pitman/idler arm setup. Ford uses a drag link instead, a totally different design. What kind of truck do you have?

Mar 13, 2007 | 06:32 AM

jim0517

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F250 SD 4x4. Inners are from the Pitman arm to the outer tie rods. I didn't replace or adjust the outers, so there should be no change in wheel to wheel distance.

Mar 13, 2007 | 09:32 AM

Super08

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From: Alberta, Canada

Yes you will need an alignment. Something has changed. You can adjust it and get your wheel centered yourself, but your toe in may be out of wack which will wear your tires.