Steering wheel wonky after lowering

[trojanhawrs]

After lowering my car and re-aligning the wheels (roughly, until the suspensions bedded in) my steering wheels about a quarter turn from centre when the wheels are straight.

Ive counted the exposed threads at the track rod ends and they seem roughly identical :/

Do I just remove the wheel and reseat it, or is this a tracking issue?

[meritlover]

it's a tracking issue.
have them track it with the wheel straight and all will be fine unless you have split the column or removed the rack. In which case, centralise the rack so you have equal turns left and right. dont get them to track it with the wheel clamped straight. when you get home you will need to remove the wheel (or UJ) and move the steering wheel to the straight ahead position.

xx

[conza123]

if you have lowered it your suspention gonna be out so i would get it tracked up personaly as you will prods have weried tyre wear later on

[chrisd1986]

i had this when i lowered my saloon and i just took the steering wheel off and put it on strait, i done 4k and my tyres were fine

[meritlover]

i had this when i lowered my saloon and i just took the steering wheel off and put it on strait, i done 4k and my tyres were fine

simple geometry would suggest that although your tyres may be fine, your tracking will be out and not as good as it should be.

I still recommend getting tracked after removing replaceing ANY suspension component. You can try counting threads and turns each time you take off a TRE, but if you've ever tracked a car you will know that even 1/4 turn will make a huge difference on the toe.

its not exactly expensive.

[trojanhawrs]

simple geometry would suggest that although your tyres may be fine, your tracking will be out and not as good as it should be.

I still recommend getting tracked after removing replaceing ANY suspension component. You can try counting threads and turns each time you take off a TRE, but if you've ever tracked a car you will know that even 1/4 turn will make a huge difference on the toe.

its not exactly expensive.

Yeah, my plan was to get it tracked anyway, but ive been told to hang off until ive done a few miles so the suspension wears in - saves having to get it done twice.

Was just out in it and it does seem to want to centralise (despite the wheels being straight)

Think youre right

[meritlover]

Check ALL the ball joints and track rod ends first then if you havent already. No point in spending £40 on tracking and then stripping the suspension the following week just to replace a BJ.

[Stuart]

Suspension is 'bed' in after sitting overnight ffs.

infact it dosent even need to be overnight, just a 5 min drive.

[trojanhawrs]

yeah, got new ones to slap on anywho, just waiting to give it a lick o paint

[chrisd1986]

i done all mine and it was out like mentioned in last post and my way of checking is letting go of the steeri g wheel whilst driving at speed and if it dosnt pull left or right then its fine imo

[meritlover]

i done all mine and it was out like mentioned in last post and my way of checking is letting go of the steeri g wheel whilst driving at speed and if it dosnt pull left or right then its fine imo

how did you reach that conclusion?

it might have 0 toe, but it doesnt mean the alignment is correct.

[chrisd1986]

how did you reach that conclusion?

it might have 0 toe, but it doesnt mean the alignment is correct.

if it passes that test and dosnt wear the tyres unevenly then im happy and my cars have always handled well when i tbrough them into corners and roundabouts

[meritlover]

if it passes that test and dosnt wear the tyres unevenly then im happy and my cars have always handled well when i through them into corners and roundabouts

just because you might be happy enough, doesn't mean that its acceptable to live with mediocre handling or neglect proper wheel alignment.

simply saying 'its fine' is misleading to the OP.

[Rage]

I don't know about all novas but my 1.5 diesel van should have -05 minutes toe so a slight bit of toe out. i have found that front wheel drives handle better with a slight bit of toe out. i can only put it down to the fact that its the front wheels that drive so as you drive forwards the wheels get pulled to near on straight ahead and so are less skittish with a little toe out compared to dead straight or slight toe in