Did something dumb....best way to align steering wheel?

OK so I have both LJB's out.....for some reason only another noob fool would understand....I go and forget I have the passenger side tie rod unhooked aaaannnddd turn the steering wheel.

Before I put the new outer tie rods on (which I got yesterday from Toyota) how do I make sure the steering wheel is centered?

Do I measure how far the tie rods move left or right when I turn the steering wheel and try to center it based on those distances?

Just get it "close enough" and let the shop align things? It's still going into the shop for a new radiator and timing belt.

 

If the outer tie rods are still in place mark the threads on the inner tie rod with a paint marker before removing the outers. Then just simply install the new outers up to the paint marks. that should get you close enough to get to the alignment shop.

The Left and right outer tie rods should be adjusted so that they are within 1.5mm of each other from side to side. Counting/matching the number of exposed threads on each side will get you within this spec.

If necessary you can rotate the steering wheel lock to lock to find the center of the rack. Turn the wheel full left until you touch the steering stop while counting turns. Return back the number of turns to your starting point, and repeat with full right counting turns until you encounter the stop. The number of turns should be equal in each direction.

This is all you are after.
BUT
Set the alignment guy up for success by handing it over with the rack centered, and the outer tie rods within that 1.5mm spec even if the steering wheel is off a few degrees.

 

You can just loosen the clip on the boot, count the threads, set the passenger side up to match the driver side, and put the clip back on the boot. Should get you close enough to drive to get an alignment.

Alternatively, you could center the steering wheel, attach some angle irons to your steering hubs, level them out, figure out how you want to set your toe, do some math, then using a tape measure adjust your tie rods until it matches the measurements you came up with. That's a lot more work though. I'd let the alignment guy do it.

 

We call that a "toe and go" lol

 

Ironically I just got my truck aligned this morning after I replaced LBJs and outer tie rod ends. Shop sent me down the road with the steering wheel a few degrees off center.

I trusted the toe angle was at least set correctly (but measured to be sure) and spun each tie rod end the same distance to center the wheel, took less time than driving back to the shop let alone waiting on it.

 

Put steering wheel to center, put tie rod on and get it close. And if you want to get closer, take a piece of string and wrap it around the back of the rear tire at hub level and pull the string to the front of the front tire, and then move the string inboard/outboard and you'll see how far the steering is off depending on where the string touches first on the tire. If your front end and rear axle are out of alignment (so the string doesn't sit flat on the front and rear halfs of the rear tire at the same time) then just match the angle (string offset) of the rear with the front and you'll get a straight alignment.

 

Tie rod lock nut not coming loose.....heat required?

 

I had to use heat on mine. MAP gas took care of it.

 

MAP gas?

I guess I'll go out and buy a MAP gas torch kit tomorrow.

 

I used one of the yellow MAP cans with a torch on it. I suppose I could of tried propane, but didn't. I keep stuff like that on hand.

If you have propane certainly worth trying before you buy anything.

 

MAPP burns at 3730F vs Propane 3600F. Either will work.

 

I did manage to align the steering wheel....so another "win" today.

Dad has a portable propane torch---we'll try that tomorrow.

 

How were you able to align the wheel if you had not yet gotten the tie rods loose?

 

I think your numbers are a little off.
Mapp burns at 5300F.

 

MAP-Pro gas burns at a temperature of 3,730 degrees Fahrenheit, while propane burns at 3,600 F. Map pro is usually more than double the price for 100 degrees that you will never notice. MAPP gas hasn't been available since like 2007. MAPP gas burns at 5300 degrees. The gas company is riding MAPP’s coat tails at the expense of our wallets.

Just check my gas stock and appears I have 3 remaining cylinders of vintage MAPP.

 

What's a tie rod?

Both tie rods were off the LBJ's.

Not sure if the wheel really is aligned though! Messed with it today and I don't think it is. It doesn't matter, leave that for the shop when it goes there for timing belt replacement, parking brake fixed, new radiator.....laundry list of stuff!

 

Uh, it's the part you were trying to get the "tie rod lock nut" loose from? My question was based on - to my knowledge - there is no way to adjust/center the steering wheel without adjusting the tie rod lengths, which must be adjusted equally on each side to keep the toe alignment in tact. So if you were never able to break the tie rod lock nut loose, you wouldn't have been able to adjust the tie rod lengths, and thus adjust the steering wheel.

Good idea to leave it for the shop if it's that stubborn.

 

I think I had it right UNTIL trying to get the new tie rod to go into the new LBJ (on driver's side). That's when things got screwy..... LOL

You are doing fine Auburn....my threads are a bit chaotic even for me to follow.

I don't have the time, weather, or temperature to work on it anymore. Getting just the LBJ's in was a challenge that cost me 4 days of mowing and odd jobs.

 

Gotcha. That’s really good to know.