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Steering Wheel Alignment

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Bruce74B

Jedi Knight
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Two winters ago, I replaced the carpet in my B and got the steering wheel on one spline off...so the wheel was not straight when the road wheels were. This year, I rebuilt the front suspension and had the local Goodyear shop align the front end...it was right on except the steering wheel was still off. So the mechanic there adjusted the steering wheel alighment by adjusting the tie rods and everything was fine /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Last week I changed the oil and while I was under the car, I tightened the sway bar rods where they attach to the A-arm and looked at the rest of the previous job and saw nothing out of place. Yesterday I replaced the water pump and went for a drive and noticed the wheel was once again out of alignment /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I can't think of anything that I did or why the wheel would be out of alignement again. ANY IDEAS???

Bruce /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
 
First thing I'd check (if you haven't already) is that the tire pressure is correct (and more importantly equal L & R).

If the wheel is just off one spline's worth it should be easy to correct at the tierods but if it is way off the best thing is to get the tierods about equal and reset the wheel.
 
I did check the tire pressure right away. I only tighened the bolts on the sway bar link a tiny bit, but do recall hearing a funny squeek when I did the left one, but the links are rubber jointed. I hate to spend another $50 to pay for an alignment when all you can adjust is the to-in /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Does anyone have any experience with those toe-in measuring devices (the stick and trunion) that Moss sells?

Bruce /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone have any experience with those toe-in measuring devices (the stick and trunion) that Moss sells?


[/ QUOTE ]

Bruce -

I have one that I used on my TR3 when I rebuilt the front end. I bought it because the TR3 is too narrow to fit on alignment racks! As far as I know, it worked fine - the car tracks straight, and the steering wheel is centered. Really a simple operation, and about as accurate as can be. Not a bad investment.

Mickey
 
Just a comment:
Make sure you turn the wheel all the way to the left, then all the way to the right and then *exactly* half-way back. This way you will have the steering rack exactly in the middle when you set the toe-in. If you don't do this, the car will track straight OK, but the steering geometry for "toe-out on turns" will be off-kilter. Some discount shops will only adjust one tie rod to get the toe-in straight...not good.
Related to this: if you have the steering wheel set *exactly* at the mid-point and it's "off", you'll need to pull it off the spline and reposition it.....turning one tie rod to "fix it" will create the "toe-out on turns problem" mentioned above.
I've used a homemade version of the alignment gizmo mentioned above....works fine.
 
[ QUOTE ]
...I hate to spend another $50 to pay for an alignment when all you can adjust is the to-in...

[/ QUOTE ]

There are many methods for doing your own toe-in including several using stuff you may already have. I use a rafter square and 6' folding ruler. Other methods involve string and pins, plumb bobs, etc. A Google of the main terms will turn up some sites... probably some old forum threads on this too.

I have not used the Moss product, have used a product that was a set of swiveling plates and a pair of tape measures. Worked fine though the set-up was a bit more involved than my home-made technique.

Okay here's some sites, some are rather elaborate and do much more than toe-in...

https://www.geocities.com/roadratccc/toe/toe.html
https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/home_toe_in/home_toe_in.htm
https://au.geocities.com/ozbrick850/wheels-diy-alignment.html
 
I think the responses have covered the procedure that I am about to offer. Get your car on a level concrete floor and turn your steering wheel from lock to lock. Having observed where the steering wheel is at the end points, then divide the amount of rotation of the steerning wheel by two and rotate the wheel from one end to the middle point which is where your toe in must be set. Check the toe in now to verify the specification toe in. If not spec then reset it by equal rotation of each tie rod end in the appropriate direction(s). At this point the steering is at mid point with proper toe in. Now if your steering wheel is off center, pull it and recenter. Your steering should now be OK. Hope this helps.
 
Thanks all...lots of useful information here. I think I will build something this weekend with the rafter squares I have in the garage /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

But that will only help me treat the symptom...why would my steering wheel suddenly be 35 degrees off??? I drove her to work this morning, and she seemed to be aligned fine except for the steering wheel being tuned 35 degrees to the right while going straight. Is it possible that I have a problem in the steering rack? What happens when they fail? Is is possible it skipped one spline to the right?

Bruce /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
Just measure the darn thing! front and rear of tires, as high as you can get the tape. Use the tread closest to the center of the tire. Of Course it helps to have an assistant. I have over 300K mi.in my '73B and this method has never failed even after a suspension rebuild. It was checked at a shop after I did it--right on! 1 /16" toe in.
 
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