Installed Dakar add-a-leaf, now steering wheel is crooked

Not sure if the above two are related but last night I installed an extra leaf into my OME Dakar leaf packs. During the test drive I noticed that the steering wheel was a bit crooked when driving straight. The truck didn't pull, just the wheel wasn't straight.

I tried to measure how straight the rear wheels were and noticed that the passenger wheel is maybe 1/2 in closer to the fender flare than the driver's side, I am not sure if that would cause what I am seeing with my steering wheel.

Has anyone run into this issue before or do think I am looking at two unrelated issues?

I am pretty sure I would have noticed the crooked steering wheel before so :shrug:

Tonight I plan on checking the axle to make sure everything is square, after that, alignment.

Thanks!

 

your rear end is not aligned exactly like it was before, double check centering pin ....

 

What should I double check? I am sure the center pin is in the hole in the axle bracket, is there something else to look at? Many thanks.

 

I've seen some axle brackets that have 2 holes, not just one, for the center pin to set into. Make sure, if you have 2 holes, that the same one is used on both sides.

 

This is actually pretty hilarious, what a strange realization that must have been. "Wait a minute, I'm turned left but going straight"

 

Well it was a very slight turn of the wheel, but enough to notice.

So tonight I loosened up both leafs and banged on them a bit before tightening them up. I was able to see one leaf pack shift, good news. I go for a test drive and now the wheel goes the OTHER WAY to drive straight, but at much less of an angle. So I guess I did too good of a job

I plan to take it in for an alignment tomorrow and see if all is within spec or not and if it just needs a small adjustment.

Thanks for all the input and I'll follow up after the alignment.

 

something still isn't right then, loosen the u-bolts with the back wheels just off the ground and then tap/beat on the axle as far to the rear as it will go then as far forward and measure both ways from the rear bumper. maybe one of your axle mount holes could be rusted out and not centering correctly or you didn't clean out the hole properly for it to seat correctly.

going get an alignment will do you no good since they only do the front end and your issue is with the rear.

another good point of reference for aligning things up is the nut on top of the springs tells you the center point that should be centered in the spring pad.

also, did you replace the hanger shackles? if so confirm they were installed correctly at the right angles

 

That's kinda what I did tonight, just seems like I "adjusted" too much, as now my problem went the other way (steering left to steering right). Nothing is really rusty at all on the truck, the leaf pack center pin goes cleanly into the axle mounting bracket, and u-bolts go in clean.

The goal with the alignment is for them to measure toe (which should mean the axle isn't square) like they did here when I first got my lift, and make sure it's not some crazy number:

 

well when my bump stops went in they didn't have any movement to them and the same for the leaf bolt. when I jiggled it there was no movement so if yours has movement then something is bigger then normal so maybe your new leafs have more room in the hole because the center bolt is different.

I agree with getting the alignment but ....

I would still first square the rear axle with the rear bumper, if it hasn't ever been damaged or hit, and if its questionable then go to the tranny mount or frame cross member but be sure that rear axle is dead center square in the frame or anything else you do is wasted effort. if you fix the rear by resetting the front then it will go straight but be driving down the road at a crooked angle when someone is behind you (not a good look lol).

 

I agree with you, I just don't know how much closer I can make it. We're talking about less than half an inch.

 

Steering wheel angle

 

Your steering wheel being out is not uncommon, adding the leaf is enough to raise the rear and change your castor ever so slightly which in turn affects the camber and toe in.
As the rear comes up, the front tilts down. Your install is prolly just fine, the alignment will take care of the offset wheel.

 

I bet the front wheel was already like that and you previously hadn't noticed.

Alignment will take care of it. On any truck with stability control VSC, you would need that to be corrected since steering angle sensor is one of the inputs into VSC engagement. On your pre-VSC truck, though, it's just cosmetic.

 

to be in alignment the rear axle should be no more then 1/16" and at the most 1/8" off square or it drives that much crooked.

try trimming a board to the correct size then slide the axle up against it (just tapping on it, no beating) and then snug it in place, then do the same for the other side and pull out the tape measure to check its the same on both before torqueing it down.

being 1/2" out on rear axle alignment is HUGE, are you sure you didn't put one of the leafs back in backwards? because the centering pin is offset (I think to the front end)

 

Alignment today showed 0.28/-0.24 degrees of toe on the rear. If I did my math right that's less than 5/32 in of error (or 5/16 in total error, a little over 1/4 in)

They also had to adjust the front alignment, as you guys mentioned, due to the change in the lift in the rear. Wheel is now straight and drives straight.

 

Glad to hear it man!! Good luck on your straight travels

 

I'd check to see if the center pin is "sit" correctly, why would it through your alignment off