My steering wheel needs to be turned slightly to the right for my car to go straight. i wasnt sure if it is a wheel alignment problem or if the steering wheel can be adjusted. what can/should be done and what will it cost?
It could be alignment, which is about $75-$125, OR it could be something as simple as one tire may have less air than the other. Make sure both, actually ALL tires have the proper and same amount of air, and try it again. It could also be a factor of wheel balance, which is about $7 per wheel, but it sounds more like one of the previous issues. Start with the cheapest!
well did u get new tires or something because it can be the wheel alignmentbut um maybe you need a new steering box for ur car?
Actually if you're handy, you can fix this yourself. The problem is the front sum toe isn't centered correctly on your steering rack. A front toe set will fix this if it is done correctly. Or, if you want to get adventurous, you can correct this yourself. You need a couple wrenches, two jack stands and a paint pen or a soft crayon. Jack up the front of your car. Crawl under it and find your tie rods. In most cars they will be the long thin rods with a nut on them on the back of the front knuckles. Mark the bottom of the inner and outter tie rods (one straight line across both so you can see how far you turn them). Loosen the jam nuts. Put your hand on the inner tie rod and turn it 1/8 to 1/4 turn. If you're under the car in front of the front wheels, you'll want to reach over and twist it to you. This will shorten the left tie rod slightly, and lengthen the right one. This will have the effect of keeping the front of your front wheels the same distance apart (sum toe) but rotate your steering wheel about 2 to 4 degrees. If this all sounds clear as much, take it to a technician who really knows what he (or she) is doing, and pay him about $50.
