Steering wheel misaligned after dropping steering rack
 

Hey guys,

I searched all over with no avail. I recently dropped my steering rack in order to drill/tap my oil pan. I did not disconnect the tie rod ends. I reinstalled the rack, aligning the splines of the steering rack with the knuckle of the steering shaft so that my steering wheel was straight and turned lock-to-lock in equal turns (1.3 to the left, 1.3 to the right; power steering rack).

Upon lowering the car back on to the ground, my car tracks straight but the wheel is misaligned (approximately 10:00 position as oppose to 12:00). Does anyone know what I did wrong? Should I just get an alignment or do I need to remove the rack again and re-align it with the splines of the steering shaft? Is there a correct process for the latter process? I spent hours trying to get it just right but it still drives with the misaligned wheel.

Perhaps whenever I lowered the car to the ground the suspension loaded and changed the steering dynamics? Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

The rack has moved left or right in the mounts a fraction. Not much you can do about it but loosen the rack bolts, tap a tyre with your foot maybe and retighten. I would just turn the tie rod ends a little till its straight.

Dann

What exactly do you mean? If i recall the steering rack has a little lip at the mounting points so that you couldnt shift the rack in its mounts. I may just adjust the tie rods as best i can and get an allignment

You can misalign it by a millimetre or so, and thats what makes your steering wheel off.

Dann

Oh okay. That makes sense I suppose. I think I'll end up just adjusting the tie rods. Thanks for shedding some light.

Pull the steering wheel nut and pull the wheel off. Re-adjust to taste.

We do this all the time if both the tie rods are equal along with camber being the same.

Do this. It's pretty much standard proceedure at any decent alignment shop.

You probably put it back in the wrong spline. It's easy to do.

The rack is splined the same all the way around with no way to clock it. Listen to me, fix the issue, and move on with life.