40 Frontend Alignment:

[40ford]

I had my 40 frontend checked and aligned and car drives a lot better but the steering wheel is off center going down straight road.Is the steering wheel on shaft with key way or splines?How can this be corrected?

[SUHRsc]

You can adjust the drag link between the pitman arm to the right front spindle, to align the steering wheel.

[JSeery]

Yes, the wheel is keyed to the shaft. Adjust the drag link as SUHRsc posted.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by 40ford

I had my 40 frontend checked and aligned and car drives a lot better but the steering wheel is off center going down straight road.Is the steering wheel on shaft with key way or splines?How can this be corrected?

How can this be corrected? Bring it back to the alignment shop. Having the steering wheel straight is the absolute FIRST thing done when aligning the front chassis on any vehicle.

[48 coupe]

Right. the steering gear has to be centered on the high spot the first thing. If not the steering wheel will have slop. car will wonder.

[ford38v8]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by Kube

How can this be corrected? Bring it back to the alignment shop. Having the steering wheel straight is the absolute FIRST thing done when aligning the front chassis on any vehicle.

This is true.

[19Fordy]

Mike "Kube" has the best answer. Take it back and have it done correctly unless you don't mind doing it yourself. Sadly, this is just another example of "quality of work ain't what it use to be." He should not be charged extra.

[40ford]

OK,I took my car back today to get it rechecked.I had the spec sheet And wrote down and explained to the mechanic how he had to center steering wheel.We drove my car twice until he got the steering wheel pretty much centered.I am pretty much again back to "square one".The steering wheel is close to centered and the car still feels like it pulls to the right.letting go of the wheel on straight road it goes to the right fairly quick.I don't know/maybe I am just to "Picky".

[Kube]

Originally Posted by 40ford

OK,I took my car back today to get it rechecked.I had the spec sheet And wrote down and explained to the mechanic how he had to center steering wheel.We drove my car twice until he got the steering wheel pretty much centered.I am pretty much again back to "square one".The steering wheel is close to centered and the car still feels like it pulls to the right.letting go of the wheel on straight road it goes to the right fairly quick.I don't know/maybe I am just to "Picky".

You are not too picky. The car should track straight. Period.
It sounds as if the front end alignment was not done correctly. The car should not pull.
Now, a couple of caveats:

Are you driving on a flat surface, IE a flat parking lot when you witness this pulling? Or, are you on a typical roadway wherein the pavement is crowned to the right? If you are on a roadway, go to a flat parking lot and see how it pulls (or does not).
Are the front tires properly inflated? If so, I'd suggest swapping side to side and see if the pull goes to the opposite side. If it does, you have a bad tire.
Is the front chassis in good shape? If the guy aligned it with worn parts, no matter how good of a job he did, that won't compensate for worn parts. A good serviceman will inspect the entire front chassis and if parts are worn, will inform you of such. A very good mechanic won't align the vehicle if the worn parts are not serviced. He would tell you "sorry, I won't do the alignment".
A bit of advice? I always set the toe-in to the maximum specification. yes, the tires will wear just a tad quicker but not noticeably. By setting the toe to the maximum, the car will center itself easier / quicker and will tend to stay "straight" a bit better.

Bottom line remains: the tires must be good, the chassis parts good and the steering gear good. If not, you will never get a properly "tuned" front chassis.

[cmbrucew]

40ford
Are you testing on a crowned road?
Bruce
Sorry I type and think slowly

[WestCoast]

you found a second rate alignment shop, take it back and have them do it right, no self respecting shop would never have let the car leave the shop that way

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

It sounds to me like the job wasn't done right. First I would set the toe in, then unhook the drag link. Turn the wheel all the way to the right or left, count the turns all the way the other way, now turn the wheel half way back, now the steering box should be in the middle, now adjust the drag link so it hooks up. If the box is adjusted right it should go straight. My 40 goes straight as an arrow. Walt

[Capt Kirk]

All good advice here. Most roads are crowned for drainage reasons and will tend to pull a car to the right depending on the amount of crown. Is there any slop in the steering system? If so, shouldn't have been aligned till corrected. I've had some shops refuse to align some of the modern crap I've pulled in there....that's fine and the way it should be.

[WestCoast]

the car should never pull hard to either side, if on a crowned road it may wander to the low ide, but it should never pull, go back and get your money back and find another alighnment shop, even if you have to drive 30 miles, a half ass job is not good enough

[Lanny]

As suggested, first, make sure tires are all inflated properly. If it still pulls, then, swap the
front tires side for side, as I have seen tires with a bad cord that will cause it to pull










.