Alignment problem after doing tie rods, balls joints...

[Afboy143]

Well last weekend me and my dad did the upper and lower ball joints as well at my tie rod ends. The very next day I went and got my truck aligned at the local Tires Plus and in order to go straight I have to turn the wheel to the right a bit. It goes dead straight when I do this but still I have to turn the wheel right to do it.

I then rotated my tires (never have for the year I had my truck) and it did the same thing. I went back to the alignment shop and they said the alignment was perfect and showed me the computer.

So if its not the tires, not the alignment...wat could it be?

The only thing I can think of is I didnt screw the tie rod ends on enough or too much? I really am not a mechanic so I dont know what to do. Any help?

 

[00sport4x4]

It could be that the shop didnt set the steering wheel straight when they did the alignment.

 

[Glacier991]

The alighment process is supposed to start with the steering wheel in the neutral position. There's nothing wrong, the shop just screwed up. Take it back and have them fix their mistake.

[It's as simple as unscrewing one tie rod end a specified number of turns and tightening the other side similarly]

 

[Afboy143]

damn that shop man. They even showed me on the computer how it was so straight and they said it was "tire pull" which is bs.

So what should I do now? Is there anyway I can tackle this myself somehow

 

[boominXplorer]

take it back to the shop. I am in a Ford ASE class in alignments now and in the procedure you have to lock the steering wheel which they obviosly didn't.

 

[Afboy143]

So what do i say, Do i go in there and tell them their computer is freaked up? Sorry if I sound like an ass here, I am just really mad cuz i spent all this money on the parts and alignment and its still messed up. (40$ alignment)

 

[smiley1]

Tell them to test drive the thing. They should before and after if they know what they are doing. Have them fix it right then dont go back there again. If you have problems, talk to the manager if that dosnt work talk to the owner, if that dosnt work go to the BBB.

 

[Afboy143]

nope they never test drove it before or after

Im going in there complaining tomarrow with my pops hopefully to get them to do the damn thing right

then i am contacting BBB and telling them how much that place sucks

 

[Glacier991]

And you COULD do it yourself, as I stated above... put the steering wheel in a neutral (stright) position, loosen the tie rod clamp bolts and see which side needs to come "in" and which side needs to go "out". start with 2 turns IN on the "in" side, and loosen the "out" side 2 turns. Tighten the clamp bolts and test it.... repeat until you have it right. If you have a Harbor Freight in your town, they sell a tool for adjusting tie rods very cheaply..just make sure you adjust each tie rod equally.

 

[Glacier991]

Doesn't Florida have something akin to California's "Bureau of Automotive Repair" ?

 

[Afboy143]

dont i have to uncotterpin and unbolt that castle nut then take off the tie rod end to adjust it to spin it on and off?

 

[KPT]

Nope, just loosen the bolt thats on the tie rod up against the end. Tie rod will spin freely then. Tie rod is also notched for a wrench towards the inner side.

 

[00sport4x4]

If you take it back to the shop dont tell them their computer is wrong because its not. The computer sets the toe in/out, caster and camber the Tech himself is the one to hang he should of set your steering wheel straight right after he drove it on the lift.

 

[Afboy143]

thanks sport, I will just call and tell them set the steering wheel more straight and do it.

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

Yea, that is just laziness on the tech's part. Sounds like since you did the majority of the work yourself, they just half assed there end. It's an easy fix for them if you can just get them to take the time and admit there mistake and make it right. Your Dad should be able to help in this as sometimes it takes an elder voice of reasoning with some companies. The worst thing you can do right now is to freak out on them. Just be calm and and talk right and tell them you know it is not right and want it corrected. Talk to the main dogs of the company and tell them, you are sorry for being a pain in the butt, but you really want your Explorer fixed right without any hassles and tell them what should have been done and that the Tech did not do it so now it is not right and even ask them to test drive the vehicle and point out to them you know what is wrong and they should fix it now so you don't have to keep coming back. But don't be an ass and threaten them and stuff, you catch more bees with honey than with vinegar.

 

[Moses]

I've got a similar problem, except the shop did the ball joints. (upper and lower).

my question is how exactly is the tech supposed to 'lock' the wheel in the nutral or straight position? does he eye it up? is there a steering wheel straightening / level type of device?

details!

Thanks