Does anyone else have poor steering wheel/tie rod alignment?

[PatrickGT]

OR maybe just run one by and have them deduct the $52 from your alignment:

https://www.amazon.com/Specialty-Products-Company-77938-Steering/dp/B000SIAOUA

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[15GTBEN]

2015 GT/PP. 9,600 miles. I've had this issue since 7,700 miles and it's worse now than ever. I've never hit any curbs or potholes (the roads where I live are actually rather decent, and without winter frosts we rarely get heaves/holes).

A while back my steering wheel was offset by about 1.5 degrees to the right; I noticed this when I replaced my rear tires at 7,700 miles. At that point I went to Firestone and purchased a lifetime alignment package, and they did an alignment; my steering wheel went from about 1.5 degrees off-right to perhaps .25-.5 off-left. Since then I've returned a couple times more and they've confirmed that my alignment is good, but the steering wheel is increasingly off-centered to the left and it's driving me nuts.

The car tracks straight but, as you can see, the steering wheel is a fair bit off-center.

Am I missing anything here? Any suggestions are appreciated, as I'm still a neophyte when it comes to automotive suspension (which, as it turns out, is way more complex than motorcycle suspension).

My steering wheel has been like this since new. I had the dealer check the alignment and they said it was perfect. Very annoying issue! :frusty:

 

[brandonsmash]

I'm glad I'm not alone here!

Also, yes, I do have the enhanced security package. Good call on having the ESP lock the wheel; that's a great idea, and will definitely mention it when I go back this weekend.

Thanks a ton so far for the advice.

 

[keltymd]

If firestone centers the wheel and locks it in place properly when they do the alignment and set the toe, not just the total toe, the wheel will be straight. Trust me I had that issue with them and I actually centered my wheel when they pulled it on the rack and locked it in place. They aligned it and problem solved. What happens is they center the wheel by putting their head in the window and if they dont look exactly right it will be a little off after the alignment.

 

[NowhereFast]

This thread should have one answer and one answer only. They didn't do the alignment properly. Never before have I seen people coming up with such total nonsense as a means to fix a simple issue.

The wheel must be straight, and held straight with a tool, when the tie rods are adjusted. If it isn't, when they set the toe, it's going to be off. You're alignment could be dead on balls, everything within spec, but if the wheel wasn't straight when it was done, it's not going to be.

When I do them, I set the wheel straight, make the adjustments, then straighten the wheel again, before I fine tune it. Take it to a competent shop, and you'll have no problems.

 

[brandonsmash]

I jacked the front of the car up today to take a look at the tie rods. Neither look bent. The only suspect thing I can see at all is that the boot on the right tie rod kinks a bit -- I don't know if that's a reason to be worried, but it didn't seem obviously damaged.

Left:

Right:

Do I have cause for alarm?

 

[tom_sprecher]

I jacked the front of the car up today to take a look at the tie rods. Neither look bent. The only suspect thing I can see at all is that the boot on the right tie rod kinks a bit -- I don't know if that's a reason to be worried, but it didn't seem obviously damaged.

Left:

Right:

Do I have cause for alarm?

Quit wasting your time and go get it properly aligned with the steering wheel centered. You could do it yourself if Mustangs had tie rod and drag link steering, but with rack and pinion you have to adjust toe once you center the wheel.

 

[NowhereFast]

Quit wasting your time and go get it properly aligned with the steering wheel centered. You could do it yourself if Mustangs had tie rod and drag link steering, but with rack and pinion you have to adjust toe once you center the wheel.

Word. Like I said, in the post right above his:

This thread should have one answer and one answer only. They didn't do the alignment properly. Never before have I seen people coming up with such total nonsense as a means to fix a simple issue.

The wheel must be straight, and held straight with a tool, when the tie rods are adjusted. If it isn't, when they set the toe, it's going to be off. You're alignment could be dead on balls, everything within spec, but if the wheel wasn't straight when it was done, it's not going to be.

When I do them, I set the wheel straight, make the adjustments, then straighten the wheel again, before I fine tune it. Take it to a competent shop, and you'll have no problems.

Why bother asking questions if you're not going to read the answers?

 

[tom_sprecher]

Word. Like I said, in the post right above his

You mean like this?

It's not the wheel nut and there is not enough clearance in the hex to allow the offset the OP is showing. The car just needs the TRE's to be adjusted with the steering wheel locked down in the proper position. Does the car have the Enhanced Security Package? If it does you can keep the wheel locked in position with it or have someone sit in the car keeping the wheel straight while the TRE's are adjusted.

I do alignments at home with a racing buddy's Dunlop Optical Alignment Gauge to set toe and a Longacre caster/camber gauge. Once you know how to do them alignments are easy.

Actually I sold the Longacre to him when I got out of racing. ;)

 

[brandonsmash]

Quit wasting your time and go get it properly aligned with the steering wheel centered. You could do it yourself if Mustangs had tie rod and drag link steering, but with rack and pinion you have to adjust toe once you center the wheel.

Oh, for sure -- I just grew antsy and wanted to check to make sure there wasn't hidden damage. My next opportunity to have an alignment done will be this weekend, and I've been paranoid that I had a bent TRE or some other nastiness.

It's more than a little frustrating that I can't really do this at home. I'm so familiar with building motorcycle engines, suspensions, etc. and yet this stupid alignment issue is driving me batty.

 

[Earlj]

The rear suspension alignment will cause this as well.
I replace all the bushings in the rear suspension and when done I had the same issue.
It was the rear toe.
Set it to 1/8 to in on each side, problem solved

 

[brandonsmash]

I took it back in today. This time it came out tracking straight with the wheel not befuckered. Hooray!

 

[Clink]

LOL at signature :lol:

 

[NightmareMoon]

The steering wheel has some alignment play, but not as much as the OP is showing. Its not too bad to remove the airbag if you want to check that nut. I think its unlikely thats the issue.

Actually I think this is your issue right here:

At that point I went to Firestone and purchased a lifetime alignment package

... Firestone :frusty:

Ask your local guys for a quality shop to do the alignment and I bet your issues will be solved.

 

[brandonsmash]

Well, it's back at it again. I had it re-re-re-aligned at 9,600 miles and a few hundred miles later it was back to being 2-3 degrees off.

This is 100% fresh from yet another alignment -- less than 2 miles. This time I took it into Ford (a different dealership) and paid them $100 to do the alignment, and they said it was perfect.

It's not friggin' perfect, the steering wheel is cocked to the left by 3 degrees. If I hold the steering wheel straight, the car turns into the right lane. THAT'S NOT PERFECT.

So now the car has 10,300 miles. It has had 5 alignments, for which I've paid roughly $300.

And it still rattles too, of course.

My next new car will not be a Ford.

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