Wheel alignment question

PaoPee · Postby **PaoPee** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 9:49 am

Hi guys

Got a question, atm the car feels pretty straight but to go straight the actual steering wheel is turned a little to the right, if i go take it some wheel alignment place, wat do i need to tell the guy to make it so the steering wheel is centre, like wat settings affect this?

Thanks in advance

StanTheMan · Postby **StanTheMan** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 10:09 am

yes...defenatly tell them about it. I've been to plenty places where unless you tell them.......it will come back the same as it went in.
Any self respecting place will fix it without you saying anything. Unfortunantly there is not many places like that.
Don't expect Bob Jane or someone like that to get it right without saying it.

The spinning wheel at Wolomoloo is reputed to be one of the best. Also expect to pay for qualety service there. I've not been there yet but it will be my next stop.

PaoPee · Postby **PaoPee** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 10:18 am

yea planning to tell whoever does my next one.
since i bought the car had like 3 wheel alignments already they got it straight but the steering wheel isnt lol, sometimes my right arm gets tired too from continuously holding the steering wheel a little to the right.

do u know wat settings this affects, so i can tell em to change so and so,
kinda scared to even say stuff like that, cos i dont know wat cambers and all that toe thing means lol, dont wanna tell em change so and so, and get rock jobbed

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 12:57 pm

PaoPee wrote:do u know wat settings this affects, so i can tell em to change so and so, kinda scared to even say stuff like that, cos i dont know wat cambers and all that toe thing means lol, dont wanna tell em change so and so, and get rock jobbed

You don't need to know. Just tell them "the steering wheel is cocked off this much when the car is going straight and the car wants to pull to the left/right (delete non-applicable) all the time/sometimes/on braking....".

You need to get an unbiased opinion from someone (friend, relative) who regularly drives a car, who has some idea of how it should behave in normal driving situations and who you trust to take your car for a drive.

PaoPee · Postby **PaoPee** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 2:40 pm

well i definetely know the steering wheel is not at centre got some tape to find to centre and yea im holdin it a lil to the right to keep it straight by like 4-5 degrees.

so i can just tell the wheel alignment guy the steering wheel is like this make it centre, and he will be like no worries?

no need for numbers or anything?

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 3:04 pm

Correct. But go to a well respected wheel aligner/suspension specialist. Check with your local club.

CT · Postby CT » Sat Sep 30, 2006 7:46 pm

Sometimes the wheel will sit offset a little because the aligners go \"old skool\" and adjust the alignment so the car holds the crown of the road. I always get them to make it the same both sides. The steering arms affect toe and a good aligner will measure them and centre the rack first to make sure the wheel isn't a spline out which can be common in pre-airbag models with an aftermarket wheel.

You can measure it yourself if you get under the car either with a tape or by counting the threads on the adjusters.

Matty · Postby **Matty** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 9:25 pm

CT wrote:Sometimes the wheel will sit offset a little because the aligners go "old skool" and adjust the alignment so the car holds the crown of the road. I always get them to make it the same both sides. The steering arms affect toe and a good aligner will measure them and centre the rack first to make sure the wheel isn't a spline out which can be common in pre-airbag models with an aftermarket wheel.

You can measure it yourself if you get under the car either with a tape or by counting the threads on the adjusters.

The simpler way is to ensure that your wheel turns an equal angle at left and right lock...