Straightening steering Wheel after Alignment

I took my 2012 Tacoma DC for an alignment after installing front 5100 Bilsteins and Eibachs, my question is should worry about my steering wheel being off and I'm guessing like about 5 degrees off center to the left? What would Tacoma World forum members do? I could take it back, which is the obvious answer, besides that what? Open to suggestions, thanks for all replies.

 

Yeah I'd just take it back. Or if you're feeling ambitions you could adjust each tie rod by the same amount until the wheel is straight.

 

If your steering wheel is not straight while driving straight on a flat road, the alignment was not set properly. Take it back to your shop, if it drives straight just the wheel crooked, it is more than likely that toe is off.

 

If u dont get it set properly, it will chew up your tires. Dont try to set it yourself, it will just frustrate you and cause u to drink excessively.

 

The toe in maybe correct but the guy that did the alignment was lazy get them to make it right.

 

WWTWFMD

Nice touch

/spam post

 

not really related to toe or any other part of alignment
(if it is, then alignment was really badly done)

centered wheel is about tie rod ends

steering wheel being centered is as easy as turning nuts
on left and right tie rod ends the same direction and same number of threads


you can make the steering wheel aim anywhere you want and still
be perfectly aligned...it is all about tie rod 'takeup' as long as you do
both ends the same number of turns and lock them down afterward

 

Does the truck need to be jacked up at the time of tie rod adjustments? Thanks

 

no, I adjust mine by just crawling under with two large channellocks, pretty easy to dial the steering wheel to perfection...I, too, am a bit anal when it comes to my wheel being straight....

 

it should be, but not required. try 1/4 turns at first, each side.

but if you make one mistake and you are a little off on one side, it'll
need another alignment...so be super careful to be equal turns on both sides

mark everything before turning you'll be all set

 

If you don't know what you're doing I would take it back and tell them center the steering wheel. It's easy to screw everything up with just a turn of the tie rods.

 

Take it back. Mine was off after dealer alignment after spring tsb. I have had this problem several timed and always took it back. Hate a crooked steering wheel.

 

I used to do alignments with my Dad when he was a mechanic and getting the wheel straight was pretty difficult. I basically had to turn the wheel left, then right, over-and-over until it felt centered. After a road test, if it wasn't centered, we had to get the car on the alignment rack and do it all again... quite the pain in the butt.

 

This^^ The steering wheel should have been locked on center before the toe was adjusted other wise you'll never get it centered the alignment was done improperly make them fix it you payed for some thing you didn't get.

 

Funny that this thread pops up today. My truck has ALWAY been a bitch to align apparently. The few times that I've had it done it took a handful of tries to get the wheel straight. I'm considering doing the tie rods because it's only just a HAIR off of center to the right.

So, if my wheel is just a touch off to the right, which way should I be spinning each tie rode?

 

What he said ^^^, but mine is a touch to the left.

 

Anybody?

 

Lengthen the drivers side and shorten the passenger side.

 

That's for a first gen, opposite for a second gen.

 

Funny I see this thread. I had my truck aligned and it came in spot perfect. They made tiny adjustments, but its good to go, but the steering is maybe at 1150 on the clock to go straight, i mean sooooooo minor. I took it back and they said it was staight perfect. The thing is, it is not absolutely perfectly straight. If I straighten it just that 5 degrees it will pull right. Otherwise the car is aligned perfectly.

I installed my front struts and rear shocks, rear airbags, and tons of other stuff, but not sure about steering. i'd need a picture to know which rod it is and yes I could do 1/4 turn on each side and torque it down to whatever spec is needed and see until it corrects it. anyone take pics? got torque spec for the nut?