Steering Wheel Centering?

[bruker]

I've had my `03 Ranger for about ten years now and as long as I've had it the steering wheel has been off a few degrees from center. It doesn't pull to the left or right and the tire wear has been great but yet the steering wheel is off a bit. Is it a matter of pulling the wheel and centering it or is there another adjustment that can be done.

 

[91stranger]

A $50 alignment will fix that.

 

[Denisefwd93]

It's one of the first things that is done if any kind of alignment is being done. If you never had an alignment in 10 years it probably wouldn't hurt to have it checked out no you don't take the steering wheel off you adjust the tie rods which affects toe in toe out .
steering wheels, to my knowledge from other vehicles can only go in one position on the shaft

 

[2trux]

You can adjust it with the tie rod adjustment. Just turn them the same amount to retain your toe-in adjustment.

 

[adsm08]

Either your truck was aligned with the steering wheel off-center, your area has really crowned roads, or you weigh a lot.

Given the state of American infrastructure and obesity all three are equally likely for any random set of truck, road, and owner.

I'd say get it aligned. If you want it to be as close to perfect as possible convince the shop to let you sit in the driver's seat and hold the steering wheel centered while they do it.

I once saw the same van get aligned for the steering being off three times in one month, by the best alignment guy I know. Here the owner thought that extra weight would throw our machine off (sorta right) and was removing almost 500 lbs in tools and equipment before bringing it in. When he put all that stuff back it changed the way the van sat, and thus the alignment, making the wheel off-center.

 

[Dirtman]

If the shop wont let you sit in the truck making vroom vroom noises while they align it (some wont for insurance crap) just bring a few 50 pound bags of sand or horse manure and throw them on the drivers seat.

 

[adsm08]

If the shop wont let you sit in the truck making vroom vroom noises while they align it (some wont for insurance crap) just bring a few 50 pound bags of sand or horse manure and throw them on the drivers seat.

The one place I worked we would have particularly picky customers sit in the driver's seat and hold the wheel where they wanted it, not only for accuracy with having their weight in the vehicle, but then if they came back later saying the wheel was off we could tell them that it was where they put it, so it wasn't our fault.

 

[Ranger850]

I had this problem. A simple alignment fixed it. I didn't have to sit in it either. Walked across the street to get a milkshake and it was done before I finished. To this day my steering get well is still straight.

 

[adsm08]

I had this problem. A simple alignment fixed it. I didn't have to sit in it either. Walked across the street to get a milkshake and it was done before I finished. To this day my steering get well is still straight.

Most of the time it isn't necessary. It is mostly for very picky or very overweight customers.

 

[Curious Hound]

If the shop wont let you sit in the truck making vroom vroom noises while they align it (some wont for insurance crap) just bring a few 50 pound bags of sand or horse manure and throw them on the drivers seat.

I often see vehicles driving around here that still have big bags of horse manure in the driver seat.

Also, it's not impossible to center the steering wheel yourself by adjusting the tie rod ends. There is an excellent alignment article in the tech section of this site. Just make sure you read it several times and understand the geometry of what you're messing with or you could throw the alignment off.

This message composed solely of recycled electrons. Go green!

 

[Shran]

No harm would come from adjusting the tie rod ends an equal amount on an IFS truck like the OP has. That's exactly how the alignment shop would do it and it just changes the toe...nothing else.

A TTB truck would be a totally different story and large adjustments there would affect geometry on everything... but even there, the steering wheel centering is still adjusted at the tie rod ends.

Ranger steering wheels and columns are keyed so that they only go together one way thus simply removing the steering wheel and clocking it is not an option... at least that is the case from 83-94, can anyone confirm that on the newer trucks? Kinda unfortunate that it was designed that way, it was real handy when I put a Grant steering wheel in my F150 and could just clock the adapter till I got it straight.

 

[RonD]

Prior to Locking steering wheels alignment guys had to tie off the steering wheel so it was Centered and then did the alignment

Now a days they just put steering wheel at "closest to center" lock and then do alignment, which is usually just off center

Just ask them to do it the "old way" and tie it off, one extra step
And you will have a centered steering wheel

Yes, you can do it yourself, tie off the wheel(Centered) then adjust tie rod ends equally

 

[adsm08]

Prior to Locking steering wheels alignment guys had to tie off the steering wheel so it was Centered and then did the alignment

Now a days they just put steering wheel at "closest to center" lock and then do alignment, which is usually just off center

Just ask them to do it the "old way" and tie it off, one extra step
And you will have a centered steering wheel

Yes, you can do it yourself, tie off the wheel(Centered) then adjust tie rod ends equally

A reputable shop that is worth even half of what you pay them won't use the steering wheel lock, they will have a holding device.