mom'sZ Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 Well I feel really dumb asking this but, I do my own alignments and can get everything really close. How do you center the steering wheel on our cars? (77 280Z) After it's aligned do you thread one side in and the other side out an equal amount until it centers the wheel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastzcars Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 Yup;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 If the steering wheel points right turn the wheels to the right, if it points left turn the wheels left. If it's just a gnat's ass off, go 1/4 turn or 1/8 turn on the tie rods. Doesn't take much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PUSHER Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 Point wheels straight, take off steering wheel+hub, put on steering wheel centered. You'll be able to turn your wheels slightly more in one direction than the other but who cares about that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 Or you could do it the right way... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cygnusx1 Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 Cool, something that I learned and now I can divulge my method for alignment. -Put the car on level ground -Put the steering column on center steering lock (key in the off position) -Remove steering wheel and put it back on perfectly straight. -Make sure the steering rack is centered in its travel range according to the manual measurements. -Loosen both lock nuts on the outer tie rods. -Press a broom-stick or straight edge to the front wheel and run it along-side the rocker panel checking for parallel. -Adjust each front wheel until the stick seems parallel to the rockers on both sides. -Roll the car back and forth about 2 feet by hand afer EACH tie-rod adjustment. -Measure toe with a tape measure between the front and back of the front wheels. (Usually need two people. Sometimes I use duct tape to tape the end of the ruler to the rim or tire if I am alone). -Adjust both wheels IN or OUT by the same amount to get the right toe. -LOCK THE LOCK NUTS. -Test drive. -If the steering wheel points left, turn both front tie rods to the left. -If it points right.......both tie rods adjust right. -LOCK THE LOCK NUTS. -Test Drive again for steering wheel straightness. -Repeat if necessary. -Re-Check Toe setting. (adjust both sides evenly to keep steering wheel straight) This method requires patience and care but it works and it's free. MAKE SURE YOU LOCK THE NUTS BEFORE YOU DRIVE!! One is left-hand thread and one is right-hand thread. It helps if you make the adjustments without lifting the car. Reach under the nose with a wrench to make the fine adjustments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom'sZ Posted October 13, 2006 Author Share Posted October 13, 2006 If it's just a gnat's ass off, go 1/4 turn or 1/8 turn on the tie rods. Doesn't take much. Yeah it sure doesn't does it. Figured that out real quick setting the toe. At first I told myself it didn't bug me, but this last time I put it back together, it came out really close to centered and I really liked it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom'sZ Posted October 13, 2006 Author Share Posted October 13, 2006 This method requires patience and care but it works and it's free. It sure does cygnusx1.. hours... sometimes momma gets a little tired of holding the tape. But as often as this thing ends up apart, I'd be at the alignment shop every other week. Heck, it needs to come back apart now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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