Correcting Steering wheel after rack install

srdcarolina · #1 (**permalink**) 02-07-2007, 09:47 AM

I just replaced the steering rack in my '98 Sienna. My only screw up was the position of the steering wheel after the install was complete. I had it locked straight but I must have had my dimensions off a little for the tie ends. When it was done, the wheel was about 90 degrees off, or 3:00 when driving straight. I didn't think much of it, thinking they could correct it when they did the alignment. I specifically told them of the issue when I dropped it off. When they called me to tell me it was ready, they said that the wheel was now closer to 180 degrees from normal and that I would have to pop the U joint and adjust it on the rack itself.

Based on the searches I have done here, I would have thought they could correct this by running one of the tie rod ends in and backing off the other by the same amount, but they said no, it has to be adjusted at the rack/U-joint interface. Is this accurate or do I have a lazy technician? If I need to correct it on my end, is there enough play in the steering U joint to pop it off, adjust the wheel and pop it back on? Everything was loose when I took it off before, so I'm really not sure. I guess another option would be to keep things as they are but pop the steering wheel off to correct the orientation. Would that option be opening a new can of worms?

DJ · #2 (**permalink**) 02-07-2007, 10:48 AM

Installing a steering rack is a bit tricky. You must have the rack centered in its mounts and the rack mechanism centered in its left-right travel, and then you must center the steering wheel on its shaft. Only after all this is correct can you align it to set toe (and you should not have to adjust camber or caster, as this procedure should not have changed them). The result is a rack that steers symmetrically left and right.

srdcarolina · #3 (**permalink**) 02-07-2007, 02:15 PM

DJ,
Thanks for the reply, but I'm not sure how to proceed with your input. I am confident that I have the rack centered in it's mounts. I am also confident that I had the steering wheel locked straight ahead. I believe my problem was the rack not being centered in it's left to right travel. What is the best remedy to the situation I am in now? The shop adjusted the alignment after my install and the van tracks very nicely, steers very nicely, no longer leaves puddles of fluid, but the steering wheel is nearly upside down when driving.

If I lock the steering wheel in its current straight position, disconnect the U-joint from the rack, turn the steering wheel to the correct position and re-attach the U-joint, will that now affect the toe? I will not be changing anything on the tie ends with the above provedure.

srdcarolina · #4 (**permalink**) 02-09-2007, 09:36 AM

Without any additional input to go on, I went ahead and popped the U joint off the steering rack, adjusted the steering wheel and re-attached the U joint. Everything seems to be fine now, the biggest challenge was getting the U joint back on. I could push it on part way by hand but could not get it to go down the rest of the way. The best solution I could come up with was to slide a long, narrow bar in form above and tap it on the rest of the way with a mallet.

DJ · #5 (**permalink**) 02-09-2007, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srdcarolina

[...]

The shop adjusted the alignment after my install and the van tracks very nicely, steers very nicely, no longer leaves puddles of fluid, but the steering wheel is nearly upside down when driving.

[...]

That amazes me. A routine part of every alignment job is setting toe such that the steering wheel is level and not upside down when individual toe is correct and symmetric.

I don't know that I can suggest a proper remedy without being there to measure things, so I won't try. It appears you've already fixed it.