[DML] Re: Source for proper wheel alignment specs?

["Harold McElraft" <hmcelraft@xxxxxxx>]

Not having a straight steering wheel can mean several misalignment 
issues or only a minor tie-rod adjustment to center the wheel.

If there are unequal lengths of threads showing at the tie rods - the 
steering wheel should be off-center and the short-thread side will 
cause the car to have a shorter turning radius when turning to the 
long-thread side. Also, depending on the severity of unequal threads 
showing, the short-thread wheel may rub the sway bar when turned in. 
In this case, the steering wheel, if all spines are in the correct 
place will be off-center. If someone took off the steering wheel to 
center it then the front-end is set up incorrectly - unequal turning 
radius R to L, and the turn signal will not cancel properly. There 
are other scenarios I have seen that equal an improper alignment.

The alignment process needs to start at the front wheels and be 
progressively checked back up the line to the steering wheel. The 
shaft spines have to be in the right spot to get the signal cancel 
correct - then you can see if the steering wheel is on correctly.

Harold McElraft - 3354


--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Dan" <djdanwilson@...> wrote:
>
 
> David, thanks for all the good info. My old tires are still on the
> car. Currently my steering wheel is not centered. When driving
> straight down the road it's cocked to the left just enough to be
> noticeable. It was that way when I bought it three years ago. When 
you
> release the wheel in the center lane on the highway, the car tracks
> pretty straight. Should I have the steering wheel centered? Other 
than
> looking odd I didn't think it made a mechanical difference.
> 
> On the freeway/highway I do get some shaking in the steering wheel,
> but I assumed that was from the flat spots that had developed in my
> current tires when a previous owner let the car sit for several 
years.
> I don't seem to recall any pulling to the left or right during
> acceleration and breaking, but the brakes feel out of round (w/ no
> pulsing felt in the brake pedal) when stopping. There is no play or
> looseness in the steering.
> 
>



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