Just changed my steering rack, but the people who recon'd my rack never centred it, so now when my wheels are straight, my steering wheel is not, well, centred... The car's an MR2 MK2.
How do I centre my steering wheel?
I had this problem with my nova, now I didn't have an air bag so it made things a little easier for a novice like me. I took the car to an empty car park where the road was straight and level. Took the cap off the steering wheel, undone the nut, removed the wheel and SLOWLY drove forward a few yards. This centred everything for me, I then replaced the steering wheel.
How do I centre my steering wheel?
Front end alignment
Take the cover from the centre of the wheel, unscrew the fixing bolt and pull the wheel off. Then simply put it back on as you like.
get them to fix it. It is part of %26quot;their%26quot; job. Their adjustments are out.
do as marty says, and stop kerbing your tyres too.
Take it back to them and they should do it for you for free, after all they never finished the job properly.
if its only out a little it can be correcter be tracking ( clamp the steering wheel in the straight ahead poss and track the the road wheels to this) if its out say half a turn adjustments must be made on the steering column, if an air bag is fitted don't attempt to remove the steering wheel, look for a splinned joint down the steering shaft and make the adjustments there
The best way to center it is to take it to a tyre place and they will adjust your track control arms which will center the steering wheel.
Alot of times i see this in shops that offers really low hourly rate..they suck you in ..then you have to go to another garage to get an alignment..you usually have to wait a while..they give more priority to people who get the work done at there own shop...anything to do with the rack or inner and outer tie rods requires an alignment..If you are at a shop and they do not have an lignment machine..maybe look to a shop that does..If the job was done,and they did an alignment..AND CHARGED YOU FOR AN ALIGNMENT..you usually have a 90 day warranty on labour ..take it back for the adjustments you need..
you need a alignment
As the other chap said just take out the centre grommet (where the horn used to be) you'll find a large nut, either use a ring spanner or socket and unscrew. However many a mechanic as lost teeth and even broken there nose doing this so gently does it.
ANYTIME any front end parts are replaced THAT DISTURBS THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE VEHICLE'S ALIGNMENT SETTINGS, YOU NEED TO HAVE IT RE-ALIGNED!!! DO NOT attempt to remove the steering and reposition. Steering wheels on most vehicles will only install ONE way onto the steering column shaft. Take it back to the shop to have an alignment done (which should have been done in the first place!!!), or take it to a place that is equipped with an alignment rack to have it done without delay.
