how do i align my steering wheel?
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Joined: Nov 2007
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how do i align my steering wheel?
got into alittle crash and fixed everything except one thing. my front tires are straight, everything drives and turns fine. no weird noises, drives straight but my steering wheel is turned about 45 deg to the left when my tires are straight. any help would be nice
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Millersburg, OH
There is an adjustment sleeve located on the drag link (the drag link is the bar that goes from the pitman arm on the steering box to the tie rod). Loosen the two bolts on the sleeve and spin it one way or the other to adjust the steering wheel.
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WOW!! Thats a heck of a deal. Every time I hve gotten mine alighned it cost me $70.
I would go get my truck alignment checked. After I put new tie rod ends on mine it drove fine, no pull, drove straight etc but after a thosand miles or so I started wearing the front tires and they started cupping so do what Ken said and get it aligned.
I would go get my truck alignment checked. After I put new tie rod ends on mine it drove fine, no pull, drove straight etc but after a thosand miles or so I started wearing the front tires and they started cupping so do what Ken said and get it aligned.
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Just be aware that this adjustment is VERY sensitive. I had the same issue after the "professionals" aligned mine. Wheel was off-center by a few degrees, and I chased it back and forth several times before I realized that I needed to turn the sleeve in 1/8 turn increments, not more. Make a mental note of where the wheel is, turn the sleeve a little bit, then see what the wheel does. It may take a few tries, but it works.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: So Cal
I wish it were that simple on the 2wd. Ours require crawling under the truck and adjusting both tie rods by the same amount. Not impossible, although 1/8 turns might still be a bit much. (Chased mine back and forth before realizing this, but then... I'm **** retentive. :-) Wouldn't attempt it if i didn't own a torque wrench though.
Having done it a few times, I can touch up the toe and steering wheel angle myself pretty easily, just requires patience and a double check the next day. If you have never done it before though - save yourself the time and trouble and just take it in.
Having done it a few times, I can touch up the toe and steering wheel angle myself pretty easily, just requires patience and a double check the next day. If you have never done it before though - save yourself the time and trouble and just take it in.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: North of Greenville
Old thread, I know, but I'm facing this issue myself as well. I replaced all tie-rods,drop links, wheel bearings, and upper/lower ball joints on both sides. The alignment shop got the alignment in nicely, but the steering wheel still cants to the left a tad more than I am willing to live with (being an anally detail-oriented engineer). The tire/alignment shop has been a great "friend" in helping diagnose problems in then past while knowing full well that I was going to do the work myself, so I will not trespass on their generosity any further on this particular issue because I know I can do it myself.
My question is this, and I believe I know the answer but want confirmation from those with more experience than myself... I still need to make some alight adjustments to the steering box to reduce steering slop (that, and my sway bar bushings are the only things left to have a completely "new" front end. I am assuming that I should tweak the steering box before working on the steering wheel alignment just to minimize how many back and forth efforts I might have to make.
Am I thinking correctly on this?
Thanks ahead of time for any and all input.
My question is this, and I believe I know the answer but want confirmation from those with more experience than myself... I still need to make some alight adjustments to the steering box to reduce steering slop (that, and my sway bar bushings are the only things left to have a completely "new" front end. I am assuming that I should tweak the steering box before working on the steering wheel alignment just to minimize how many back and forth efforts I might have to make.
Am I thinking correctly on this?
Thanks ahead of time for any and all input.