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.
^ Intermediate shaft universal joints.
^ 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 spindle connecting rod end boot clips and free the boots to prevent them from being twisted when the tie rod ends are turned.
3. Loosen and back off the front wheel spindle connecting rod or end jam nuts.
4. To avoid toe-in change, turn one tie rod end into, and the other out of, the tie rod ends by equal amounts. This shortens one tie rod end 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 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 shaft to center it. This procedure is preferable to attempting an overhaul of the steering gear and steering shaft which may have been previously disassembled without marking for correct assembly.