Steering Angle

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

DESCRIPTION
Check the wheel steering angles at full right and left positions. If the angles are not within specification, the tie rods must be adjusted to the right or left until the steering angles are equal. Tie rod adjustment affects the centering of the steering wheel in the straight-ahead position. Adjustments can be fine-tuned by shifting the tie rods 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:
^ Steering gear.
^ Steering column.
^ Intermediate shaft universal joints.
^ Steering wheel.

PROCEDURE
Adjust the steering angles as follows:
1. With paint or marking pen, mark both tie rod end, front wheel spindle tie rods, and jam nuts in their original positions. These reference marks will help in equalizing right and left adjustments.
2. Remove the tie rod boot clips and free the boots to prevent them from being twisted when the front wheel spindle tie rods are turned.
3. Loosen and back off the tie rod end jam nuts.
4. To avoid toe-in change, turn front wheel spindle tie rod into, and the other out of, the tie rod end, by equal amounts. This shortens front wheel spindle tie rod and lengthens the other, shifting the steering gear rack right or left until the rack teeth are centered on the pinion, and 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.
5. Position the wheels straight ahead and check the steering wheel centering. If close to correct, shift the rack and front wheel spindle tie rods left or right without turning the wheels, to center the steering wheel. A shift to the left will turn the wheel clockwise, and a shift to the right will turn it counterclockwise, as seen from the driver seat.

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

6. Verify the wheel steering angles are still within specification. If not within specification, center the steering wheel.