Steering Angle

NOTE: Perform the steering angle check before toe-in measurement (if any steering angle corrections have been made).

Check the wheel steering angles at full right and left positions. If the angles are not within specification, the tie rod ends must be adjusted to the right or left until the steering angles are equal.

Front wheel spindle connecting rod or end adjustment affects the centering of the steering wheel in the straight-ahead position. Adjustments can be fine-tuned by shifting the tie rod ends a small amount away from the equal angle setting. If the steering wheel cannot be centered with the steering angles within specification, check for improper assembly or installation of the following steering components:
^ Power steering short rack,
^ Steering column tube,
^ Lower steering column shaft couplings or
^ Steering wheel.

Adjust the steering angles as follows:
1. With paint or marking pen, mark both tie rod ends and jam nuts in their original positions. These reference marks will help in equalizing right and left adjustments.
2. Remove the front wheel suspension steering ball stud dust seal clamps and free front suspension steering ball stud dust seals to prevent them from being twisted when the front wheel spindle connecting rods are turned.
3. Loosen and back off the front wheel spindle connecting rod or end jam nuts.

4. To avoid a change in the toe setting, turn one front wheel spindle connecting rod into, and the other out of, the steering gear by equal amounts. This shortens the effective length of one front wheel spindle connecting rod and lengthens the other, shifting the steering gear rack right or left until the steering gear rack teeth are centered on the pinion, and steering gear rack travel from the centered position is equal in both directions. This equalizes the wheel steering angles, but also rotates the pinion and steering wheel.

NOTE: This step is preferable to attempting an overhaul of the steering gear and steering column tube, which may have been previously disassembled without marking for correct assembly.

5. Position the wheels straight ahead and check the steering wheel centering. If close to correct, shift the tie rod ends left or right without turning the wheels to center the steering wheel. A shift to the left will turn the steering wheel clockwise, and a shift to the right will turn it counterclockwise, as seen from the driver seat.
6. Verify that the wheel steering angles are still within specification. If not within specification, the steering wheel can be removed and shifted on the steering column tube to center it.