Steering Wheel Off Center..........

[SLX5]

I just replaced my ball joints, lower control arm and the tension arm bushings. When driving today, I noticed the steering wheel is at 11.00 clock (turned to the left) when going straight. Steering is responsive. I checked all the suspsnsion components, they are all tight and snug.

Is this just a matter of getting an alignment done?

[jst2878]

uhhhhhhhhhhhhh YEAH! get that alignment done right away.

[SLX5]

so does everyone think its only an alignment issue?

[Repoman]

That is my opinion as well. Anytime I touch anything suspension or steering related my next stop is the alignment shop. Sometimes there is no adjustment needed, sometimes it is needed. Better safe than sorry though. It doesn't take very long for a botched alignment to ruin expensive tires. Even if it feels like it drives OK, it can still be far off.

[Weasel]

Also, did you have the X5 sitting on it's wheels when you tightned the bolts through the bushings? If so and it is all straight then yes it should just need an alignment.

[coffeesnob]

I had ball joint replaced last week on my X5, had same problem, alignment did the trick.

[SLX5]

Originally Posted by Weasel

Also, did you have the X5 sitting on it's wheels when you tightned the bolts through the bushings? If so and it is all straight then yes it should just need an alignment.

Man, it always a pleasure to see your comments Weasel. I did bounce the car a couple of times before I tightened the bolts of the bushings. Will get an alignment done tomorrow. Thanks again.

[Weasel]

[nom3rcy]

There is a quick and easy way to do this in your driveway if you want.

Park with the steering wheel straight and the car on a level surface.

Grab a 2x4 that is long enough to cover the track width of the vehicle.

Lay the 2x4 on the 2" side so that it is at it's tallest and place it in front of the car, just touching the front of the tires.

Find a common point of measurement on each tire, and measure the width.

Now lay the 2x4 behind the tires and take the same measurement.

Subtract the rear measurement from the front and that will tell you if you are positive or negative, and a little bit of geometry will give you the actual angle.

[Repoman]

Originally Posted by nom3rcy

There is a quick and easy way to do this in your driveway if you want.

Park with the steering wheel straight and the car on a level surface.

Grab a 2x4 that is long enough to cover the track width of the vehicle.

Lay the 2x4 on the 2" side so that it is at it's tallest and place it in front of the car, just touching the front of the tires.

Find a common point of measurement on each tire, and measure the width.

Now lay the 2x4 behind the tires and take the same measurement.

Subtract the rear measurement from the front and that will tell you if you are positive or negative, and a little bit of geometry will give you the actual angle.

. . . are you serious? I think I would advise leaving the protractor in your school supply bag and take it to the professionals with the $10,000 machine. Close is good with horseshoes and hand granades but not alignments.