Alignment Shop Can't Fix Crooked Steering Wheel, WTF?

[JRA2000TL]

I replaced the outer tie rod ends on the 89 this morning and took it to a shop to get an alignment afterward. The toe was obviously off after I did the repairs. Not sure if I installed them correctly (TREs only can go on one way), but when I installed them on each side, I turned the wheel full lock to gain easier access to removing them. I did this on my previous 90 w/o issue. I didn't remember the # of turns on one side but got both on without any problems. My steering wheel was previously a little off center before the repair.

After I test drove the car (after the repair but before the shop), it was really out of whack. It looked like I had major negative camber, car wandered all over the road, etc. I even checked my lugs because the wheels were like this. / \

Shop aligns car, says toe was out (no shit), fixed that, but he can't fix my crooked steering wheel. It's worse now, to the right about 2:00. He said he adjusted the tie rods as far as he could but couldn't get the wheel to straighten up.

$60 later I'm a little ******. The car is aligned correctly at the wheels; drives much better, no negative camber; but my steering wheel is way off and it's annoying. Is this something I can just fix myself to avoid another incompetent shop? This is why I hate taking my SHOs to any shop. Can I disconnect the steering yoke from the rack somehow and straighten it, then reconnect it?

 

[Vnuk1]

They Fvcked it up and were too lazy to do anything about it, it can be fixed through the alignment. Take it back or take it somewhere else and send them the bill.

 

[sperold]

You probably can disconnect the rack from the universal joint system, but that is kind of hit and miss as well, you would have to mark it accurately and move it one spline at a time, and it is no fun being upside down, with your heat jammed under the dash while you are doing this. I have changed racks in the past and there doesn't seem to be the flat spot or missing spline on the rack input shaft, like there was in the past.

I would think you could still do it using the tie rods, the way the shop was supposed to do it in the first place. Take a close look at the tie rod ends and see which one is bottomed out, even if you have to open up the clamps system they use, to see the end of the tie rod. If the opposite side has lots of room left between the rod end and the actuating arm, then you might be able to work out a plan to move them. It will require lots of measuring to begin with and counting the number of turns to spin the tie rods out and off the actuating arm or rod. Consider making a mark with a hacksaw and measuring from there.
It will be a lot of time, and thinking it out, as to which direction you need things to go, but it should work out.

 

[SHOmethewayhome]

dumb question,

if it's correctly aligned now, couldnt you just pull the cover off, use a steering wheel puller and and clock the wheel to straight? it's not keyed to the steering column is it?


EDIT:

nevermind, that would make the steering wheel in the right spot, but the rack could be out of center at that point...

have fun with all that.

 

[JRA2000TL]

You probably can disconnect the rack from the universal joint system, but that is kind of hit and miss as well, you would have to mark it accurately and move it one spline at a time, and it is no fun being upside down, with your heat jammed under the dash while you are doing this. I have changed racks in the past and there doesn't seem to be the flat spot or missing spline on the rack input shaft, like there was in the past.

I would think you could still do it using the tie rods, the way the shop was supposed to do it in the first place. Take a close look at the tie rod ends and see which one is bottomed out, even if you have to open up the clamps system they use, to see the end of the tie rod. If the opposite side has lots of room left between the rod end and the actuating arm, then you might be able to work out a plan to move them. It will require lots of measuring to begin with and counting the number of turns to spin the tie rods out and off the actuating arm or rod. Consider making a mark with a hacksaw and measuring from there.
It will be a lot of time, and thinking it out, as to which direction you need things to go, but it should work out.

I'm all about saving a buck and ensuring things are done right by doing them myself....but man, what a PITA to do all of this. I may be better off paying another $60 to have a competent shop do it. I just won't pay up until the problem is solved this time. It shouldn't be rocket science for them. I'm not asking them to replace a rear cam seal on a SHO specific motor or some oddball request. It's just a freaking alignment on a Ford Taurus. Now is when I wish I was close to a Dobbs in St. Louis, lol.

 

[SHOtimer]

They Fvcked it up and were too lazy to do anything about it, it can be fixed through the alignment. Take it back or take it somewhere else and send them the bill.

This.

Go back and make them make it right....you paid for a service and they didn't deliver. Part of an alignment is getting the steering wheel straight.

My SHO has the life-time alignment at Firestone. They know who I am and when I come in they have there master-tech do my alignment...it is perfect everytime and he knows what he is doing.

Sometimes they have the local idiot in there and it doesn't come out well.

Doug

 

[notbange]

If it was straight before you replaced outer tie rods, nothing has changed that would make the steering unable to be straightened now. Demand it fixed or your money back!

 

[ShadetreeSHOguy]

If it was straight before you replaced outer tie rods, nothing has changed that would make the steering unable to be straightened now. Demand it fixed or your money back!

This.


Sounds like you got a complete idiot on the rack. Or one of the heads for the tires was really dirty and didnt have a good reading for the alignment machine.

I'm saying it was the first.

 

[SHOtime2511]

Many alignment shops are lazy,this should be fixed with the alignment.
Same reason many shops will not align a lowered car,extra stuff to mess with.
A stock car comes in and asks for an alignment they check it and set the toe,thats it.

Go back and get you $ back from them.

 

[Shovert]

Done this on my Mustang and Midget. Can take a tape measure from same groove in tire to same groove on other tire and measure rear of tire. Then just adjust in and out till get wheel straight. I agree he too lazy to do it correct. Probably can't get him to fix since done drove off. But go to his boss and tell him word of mouth can **** alot of business. Maurice

 

[St Louis SHO]

Just an fyi: the rack splines only go on one way. as with the steering wheel.

incompetent alignment tech...

 

[Phoenix]

He prolly didnt lock the steering while adjusting.

Crooked steering can be fixed with tie rods (toe).