Alignment / Steering Wheel Centering Issue

[Carbon87]

So my 2020 pulled to the left from the day I left from the day I got it. Finally got it in to the dealer, and they got everything aligned properly. They told me the toe was off. But now the wheel is a solid 3 degrees ****ed to the right. Drives straight as an arrow now with no hands on the wheel. They’re not sure what to do to fix it other than pull the steering wheel and trying to reattach it. Attached is a picture of how bad it is. Anyone else with issues with this?

 

[RickyG]

So my 2020 pulled to the left from the day I left from the day I got it. Finally got it in to the dealer, and they got everything aligned properly. Told me the toe was off. But now the wheel is a solid 3 degrees ****ed to the right. Drives straight as an arrow now with no hands on the wheel. They’re not sure what to do to fix it other than pull the steering wheel and trying to reattach it. Attached is a picture of how bad it is.

View attachment 177914

Here you go.

 

[Carbon87]

Here you go.View attachment 177915

Thanks! (I adjusted it right before you re-uploaded it - great minds think alike.)

 

[druck52]

Have them do the alignment again. They set the toe with the steering wheel off center. It is a very simple fix.

 

[Carbon87]

Have them do the alignment again. They set the toe with the steering wheel off center. It is a very simple fix.

They have now done it three times. They showed me the picture with all the parameters green - although I can't say I know what they all mean. But they have aligned it three times now. Does the 2020 have steer-by-wire?

 

[buzzard302]

They have now done it three times. They showed me the picture with all the parameters green - although I can't say I know what they all mean. But they have aligned it three times now. Does the 2020 have steer-by-wire?

Pawning off an alignment because the parameters are in the "green" is poor workmanship. If the shop can't center the wheel during an alignment, that is a poor technician. A competent alignment guy can center the wheel easily. I would take it to another dealership and leave poor reviews with Ford for your current dealership.

 

[Carbon87]

Pawning off an alignment because the parameters are in the "green" is poor workmanship. If the shop can't center the wheel during an alignment, that is a poor technician. A competent alignment guy can center the wheel easily. I would take it to another dealership and leave poor reviews with Ford for your current dealership.

Boy do I wish I could. The nearest other dealership is an hour and a half away on a good day. Although it might come down to that...

 

[Spacey]

Do you have a good suspension / alignment shop near you? That dealer doesn't seem to understand the basics of wheel alignment. As the previous reply said, they adjusted the toe settings with the wheel ****eyed. Of course it never should have left the factory that way, and if they can't get it right perhaps there is something else messed up with the suspension.

 

[SWEET ST]

They need to center the steering wheel. Then they need to put the steering straight and use the steering wheel bracket that hold the steering wheel. it's a tool that looks like a Y with two hooks. Then is when they can do the alignment an it will be on center. I had a 2017 Platnium and they had to do the alignment and it was dead center..... That dealership has bad tech.

 

[peterk9]

.................. Does the 2020 have steer-by-wire?

The Explorer uses EPAS
The EPAS acronym stands for electric power assisted steering system. This system replaces the hydraulic pistons and pump with a motor to push the steering rack as drivers turn the wheel, effectively eliminating the problem of uneven pressure. This motor can be column mounted or positioned on the rack itself.

Peter

 

[buzzard302]

With electronic steering, some modern vehicles can actually command a center position in a service mode, for purposes of an alignment and a perfectly centered steering wheel. I don't know if the Explorers have this service capability, but either way a tech should be able to successfully align your steering wheel. Truth be told, I have done home alignments for about 15 years now and can center my steering wheel perfectly with some basic measuring tools in my garage. A dealership tech that can't do this should sort of be embarrassed.

 

[Hntr45]

I am an alignment tech at my work, one thing that every tech should know is green does not mean good. Parameters can be green but cause pulls, i have seen it myself. And something as simple as adjusting toe to center the steering wheel is super easy, sounds like they have a load of dumbasses working there.

DO NOT let them pull your steering wheel and attempt to recenter it, that is the WORST idea I have ever heard. I would take it somewhere else for sure

 

[Hntr45]

You think you can post a picture of your spec sheet? Id be curious to see it

 

[Carbon87]

Are you referring to the build sheet? What portion of it? It's a mile long.

Or are you talking about the alignment sheet? If so, I don't have it, they just showed me on a screen.

 

[peterk9]

Are you referring to the build sheet? What portion of it? It's a mile long.

Or are you talking about the alignment sheet? If so, I don't have it, they just showed me on a screen.

Alignment sheet. I always get a copy of it every time they check it. They should have given it to you.

Peter

 

[Carbon87]

Alignment sheet. I always get a copy of it every time they check it. They should have given it to you.

Peter

They actually declined to print it since it was warranty work. Who knew.

 

[blwnsmoke]

They actually declined to print it since it was warranty work. Who knew.

Just when you think you have heard everything a dealer couple possibly say.. They cant get it aligned... and refuse to print the sheet.. I definitely smell an odor at that dealer..

 

[Carbon87]

Just when you think you have heard everything a dealer couple possibly say.. They cant get it aligned... and refuse to print the sheet.. I definitely smell an odor at that dealer..

I definitely don't disagree. I wish upon a shooting star that there was a second dealer within reasonable driving distance.

 

[blwnsmoke]

I definitely don't disagree. I wish upon a shooting star that there was a second dealer within reasonable driving distance.

Honestly, take it to a good alignment shop and just pay the $60 +/- for a front wheel alignment. It just isn't worth your time to keep going back... there is a point when you need to ask, what is my time worth?

 

[Car-guy]

@ blwnsmoke, thats probably what the dealer is hoping you’ll do. IMO, bad idea.
OMG did you speak to the service manager? If that is what he told you he is blowing smoke up you ass. I’d be on the the phone to Ford Corporate Customer Service ASAP to correct this issue. The dealership service department must be a bunch of morons. If they can’t do a simple alignment correctly what else are the f-cking up? Ford needs to know this so the dealer gets its act together, especially since you have no other close option for warranty work.