Got alignment twice, still have a crooked steering wheel!

[lucky phil]

take it to another alignment shop

Yea I tend to agree.
Phil

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[razorlab]

It depends on what criteria you are using to establish "straight" Is it the wheel spokes and flat base OR the centring stripe? I mentioned I've seen aftermarket wheels where it appears to be just the stripe thats slightly out not the wheel structure itself. If the splines are cut fractionally out of "clock" then it's obviously a "wheel" issue but if it's the stripe then it's paint issue and then you'll only be able to correct one or the other unless you modify the stripe. The splines would only need to be out a degree or 2 to make the wheel itself misaligned at the circumference a noticeable amount.

Phil

Bro, you are just talking gibberish bullshit. Say less.

I know you are trying to help, but just stop. Very little moments where you have actually helped in a situation like this, other than wax poetic about something theoretically that you might have done in some past moment that may or may not happened in reality.

Lock the wheel straight, do the alignment correctly, done.

 

[lucky phil]

Bro, you are just talking gibberish bullshit. Say less.

I know you are trying to help, but just stop. Very little moments where you have actually helped in a situation like this, other than wax poetic about something theoretically that you might have done in some past moment that may or may not happened in reality.

Lock the wheel straight, do the alignment correctly, done.

I get paid by the word

Phil

 

[Eastwood]

This is the steering wheel in question. Just a basic OEM wheel with a flat bottom, and added magnetic paddles with custom paddle shifters (exactly what I wanted) I love the wheel a lot so I’m really hoping it’s not an issue with that and I can just fix it adjusting the tie rods

You're in California?

If you're in the LA OC area, go to Chewerks. Robert will let you drive up on the rack and straighten the wheel to your liking. You sit in the car while he does the alignment and has you confirm your wheel is straight.

At the end, he let's you drive off to test the alignment and steering wheel straightness and you drive right back to the shop to confirm everything is okay, or if you need adjustments.

 

[Kujiwara]

There is manufacturing tolerance differences between even oem steering wheels. The mark on the steering shaft is created during the steering wheel installation process, an automated tool turns to both full locks and identifies true center, then the operator hammers a mark at where that tool indicates. May also want to check steering angle thru obd, to see if it's the wheel misplaced or if that mark is really that off

Regarding alignment, when I go to my usual shop, they know Im pretty picky, so they always ask me to center the steering wheel after they set the car on the rack, because people have different definitions of what's centered. Shops should also offer minor front toe adjustment to center the steering wheel if you find it off of your preferred center, yes in theory it will have a small influence on the camber due to caster/kingpin angle, but the toe alignment shouldn't be so off that it requires that much adjustment. It should be less than 0.1 deg of camber when you're just slightly centering the steering wheel, and on the road 99% of people can't feel -1.8 and -2.0 deg

 

[Alex117]

I have also used a lock tool in the past but locked it out myself when sat in the car. Then just make sure it doesn’t shift during the alignment.
Also to note without the stripe your prob less sensitive to it.
Also don’t forget to reset the steering angle sensor if you adjust it lots

 

[puzzled]

The race car alignment shop I take my fun cars to has always come back with a perfectly straight steering wheel. You shouldn't have to do that DIY.. unless you're doing like a string alignment at home where everything is eye balled to the best of your eyeballz.

 

[shaaans]

You're in California?

If you're in the LA OC area, go to Chewerks. Robert will let you drive up on the rack and straighten the wheel to your liking. You sit in the car while he does the alignment and has you confirm your wheel is straight.

At the end, he let's you drive off to test the alignment and steering wheel straightness and you drive right back to the shop to confirm everything is okay, or if you need adjustments.

Unfortunately I'm in Bakersfield ;( so Its a few hours way

 

[shaaans]

Hard to find a proper alignment shop here. I'm gonna do some more looking around to see if theres any more. Also a lil worried I'm gonna pay for another alignment and its not going to help :/ But I'll give it another shot. Instead of holding my steering wheel at a 9-3 position, I'm pretty much holding it at a 10-4 position whenever driving. Almost 2 months now with this issue, so I'm getting tired of it lmao.

 

[iLaugh]

Did they give you a print out of the alignment data? I struggled with alignment issues especially the steering wheel being crooked. I was assured it was put to "Corvette spec" whatever that means and that the alignment was spot on (it wasn't).

But usually, they give you a sheet with all the numbers. I'm wondering if something is bent in your suspension or if you are just going to shops that have no idea what they are talking about, as was my case for like 3-4 different places.

 

[lucky phil]

There is manufacturing tolerance differences between even oem steering wheels. The mark on the steering shaft is created during the steering wheel installation process, an automated tool turns to both full locks and identifies true center, then the operator hammers a mark at where that tool indicates. May also want to check steering angle thru obd, to see if it's the wheel misplaced or if that mark is really that off

Regarding alignment, when I go to my usual shop, they know Im pretty picky, so they always ask me to center the steering wheel after they set the car on the rack, because people have different definitions of what's centered. Shops should also offer minor front toe adjustment to center the steering wheel if you find it off of your preferred center, yes in theory it will have a small influence on the camber due to caster/kingpin angle, but the toe alignment shouldn't be so off that it requires that much adjustment. It should be less than 0.1 deg of camber when you're just slightly centering the steering wheel, and on the road 99% of people can't feel -1.8 and -2.0 deg

What "mark" do you mean? There is no alignment mark on the Supra steering shaft I'm aware of, at the steering wheel end anyway. The Supra uses a "master" spline.
Phil

 

[BackToBlack]

Front toe is pretty easy to adjust. You can check it with some basic tools.

https://nasaspeed.news/tech/suspension/setting-toe-with-a-laser-level/

I tried this method on two of my cars, steering came out straight and car drives straight.

 

[Evolution]

Unfortunately I'm in Bakersfield ;( so Its a few hours way

spend the time to make the drive and go to Monrovia alignment. Probably 2 hours from you but 100% worth it. He took about 2.5 hours on my car to ensure it was perfect. Even had me sit in it so it was extra perfect. You would be surprised how much the alignment changes with you in the car.

 

[shaaans]

Did they give you a print out of the alignment data? I struggled with alignment issues especially the steering wheel being crooked. I was assured it was put to "Corvette spec" whatever that means and that the alignment was spot on (it wasn't).

But usually, they give you a sheet with all the numbers. I'm wondering if something is bent in your suspension or if you are just going to shops that have no idea what they are talking about, as was my case for like 3-4 different places.

These are the alignment specs they gave me. Top pic is before and bottom is after. I have no clue if these are “good” alignment specs or not, or if that’s even a thing lol. I have nothing done to my suspension or w/e. Car is pretty new still, it’s a 2024 with 1600 miles. Only thing I’ve done to wheels is add spacers. No lowering springs, no aftermarket wheels/tires, etc

 

[shaaans]

I ended up caving and going the diy route I posted. It actually helped so much, needs a minor adjustment and then I think it’ll be perfectly straight. I really wanted to do it the proper way and get an alignment to fix it. But with no trustworthy alignment shop close to me I feel like I couldn’t justify taking a couple hour drive for an alignment, and ngl was kinda worried I’d get the same result/told the same thing.

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