Will an ALIGNMENT make my steering wheel STRAIGHT?

[bungsai]

quick question guys...

I got some new tires today, and got a full alignment.

Before i did this my steering wheel had to be turned slightly to the right to go straight...

i have that same issue now...i have no idea as to whether or not my wheels have been alighed...

this is a big deal for me cos today my tyre ripped open due to crappy alignment/toe and camber settings.

SO my question, will a will alignment make my steering wheel straight?

[JasonGilholme]

Yes it should be set up so that when the wheel is straight the car goes straight.

Just remember tho that the road usually has a slight camber of its own for water runoff meaning that you will normall need to angle slightly tot he right to be going straigh (due to the camber in the road.)

[bennjamin]

if ur wheel has never been taken off ( or taken off but put on exactly the same) - dont simply adjust the wheel to compensate for straight line driving . The more you turn the wheel either way , there will be a big difference in steering wheel play / degrees
and it will be totally off.
Possibly will cause an accident ~ Get the problem fixed ! and all ur sussy components straight :)

[bungsai]

I do believe my car has been in an accident before, as to whether the steering wheel was removed im not 100% sure.

I'll take it back to the shop tomorrow and get them to do the alignment again.

Cheers

[destrukshn]

if they didn't do it right the first time, bring it to another place.
btw, what car is this for?

[bungsai]

I'll have to check, they might not have done it due to the power outages around melb.

99 DC2 with GAB Coilovers.

[EuroDude]

When the car is jacked up, doesnt the rack and pinion come apart, causing the steering wheel to be off a few teeth if the wheels or steering wheel are turned?

Or is that not how it works?

[JasonGilholme]

Only if you undo it.

It won't come apart on its own accord.

[panda[cRx]]

yeah they should have straightened the steering wheel for you, but to make sure i guess you should have told them about it.

what was the original concern with the car? like what with the deal with the tyre 'ripping open' ??

[mrwillz]

yea
tell them that the wheel isnt str8
wen i got 2 tyres put on and a wheel alignment the wheel is slightly off
if the alignment been done then they shudnt charge nething more

[bungsai]

poor alignment mean that my toe + camber settings were way off, i got uneven wear to the point where i had very weak sidewalls...

i ran over something on the m1 on the way to work and it was all over.

[DamienS]

On one of my cars I had, I got an aftermarket steering wheel put on, didnt realise till I was driving that it was totally stuffed in being straight, but I was driving to get an alignment done anyway.

I told the guys doing the alignment and they fixed it all up for me for no extra charge.:D