CONTROL ARM HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[liamcartwright]

Last week I changed the anti-roll bar links (sway arms) & the track control arms. The job itself was not a problem but now to drive in a straight line I have to turn the steering wheel to approx 30 degrees

Does anybody have any ideas why this has happened??

Thanks.

[Isambard]

Hello Liam, I'd suggest you go to a good indy garage, or even a decent kwik-fit if you know of one and get it fixed there. The control rods will need adjusting which will put your steering wheel back in its proper position, plus you'll probably need your alignment (may as well get 4-wheel alignment if you can) and geometry set up again anyway... Should cost no more than £40...

[anerbe]

agreed - an alignment is definitely needed after changing out control arms. part of an alignment is centering of the steering wheel.

[amacman]

you will need to reprogramme the steering angle sensor , i read posts where people turn steering all the way left then all the way right to re-set. if that don`t work then go to dealer .

[flyingmachine]

an alignment should be called after the job you performed(control arm. not sway bar link.)

[flyingmachine]

Originally Posted by amacman

you will need to reprogramme the steering angle sensor , i read posts where people turn steering all the way left then all the way right to re-set. if that don`t work then go to dealer .

reprogramming steering angle doesn't straighten the steering wheel. it only makes car think it's driving straight and not giving you OBD error.

recalibrating steering angle sensor is actually a part of the alignment procedure after the control arms are replaced. but if computer isn't showing error, they might skip it.

to OP, did you tighten bolts when the car was loaded? (meaning the wheels are on the ground(or ramp). those bolts are not supposed to be tightened while wheels are off ground.

[liamcartwright]

Originally Posted by flyingmachine

reprogramming steering angle doesn't straighten the steering wheel. it only makes car think it's driving straight and not giving you OBD error.

recalibrating steering angle sensor is actually a part of the alignment procedure after the control arms are replaced. but if computer isn't showing error, they might skip it.

to OP, did you tighten bolts when the car was loaded? (meaning the wheels are on the ground(or ramp). those bolts are not supposed to be tightened while wheels are off ground.

Yes the car was off the ground when they were tightened.

I'm also going to get the torsion/pull bars changed in the near future as there is still a knock on the front end and during a recent inspection II I was informed that the bushings had split.

Should I wait to have this work complete before have the alignment done, or does that matter??

[flyingmachine]

Originally Posted by liamcartwright

Yes the car was off the ground when they were tightened.

I'm also going to get the torsion/pull bars changed in the near future as there is still a knock on the front end and during a recent inspection II I was informed that the bushings had split.

Should I wait to have this work complete before have the alignment done, or does that matter??

you need to untighten the control arm bolt(subframe side) and re-tighten them when car is loaded(front wheels on ramp)

then get the tension strut(torsion/pull bars you said?) replaced. after it's all done, get the alignment.

[liamcartwright]

Originally Posted by flyingmachine

you need to untighten the control arm bolt(subframe side) and re-tighten them when car is loaded(front wheels on ramp)

then get the tension strut(torsion/pull bars you said?) replaced. after it's all done, get the alignment.

Sorry if this is a silly question, but, which side is the subframe side?? The ball joint bolt or the bolt that goes through the bushing??

Also what will doing this rectify??

Thanks.

[amacman]

Originally Posted by flyingmachine

reprogramming steering angle doesn't straighten the steering wheel. it only makes car think it's driving straight and not giving you OBD error.

recalibrating steering angle sensor is actually a part of the alignment procedure after the control arms are replaced. but if computer isn't showing error, they might skip it.

to OP, did you tighten bolts when the car was loaded? (meaning the wheels are on the ground(or ramp). those bolts are not supposed to be tightened while wheels are off ground.

yeah i should have said reprogram after alignment but that`s what happens when i`m in a hurry . LIAM subframe side has bushes