Just installed my Power Steering Rack

[Graphfixz]

Hi Guys and Gals,

I just installed my power steering rack and my steering wheel is not centered like it should be. It is no big deal but it sure is annoying. Is there a trick to center the steering wheel without having to go under the car again?

If not, then what exactly do I have to play with to get it centered?

Thank in advance.

[DammitBobby]

You have to get a alignment. The shop should be able to adjust the steering wheel to center by adjusting the tie rods.

[Graphfixz]

Does it matter how crooked the steering wheel is?

if not... Great! I will have my Nissan 240sx on the roads by early next week!

[gumby]

well alignment is commonsense. maybe they tweak the gear housing a little while theyre at it. otherwise you gotta pull the steering wheel off and put it back on, but i cant see that being necessary with a new rack. could something have not been lined up right when you installed it?

[DammitBobby]

No he did not install it wrong. I did one this summer and my wheel was way off. I took the dam thing apart several times to try and get it to align the steering wheel right and could never get it close. I then gave up and took it to Ingrams Alignment shop. I personally talked to the mechanic and told him how bad my steering wheel was off. He lauphed and said he could get it aligned by adjusting the tierods. My steering wheel is now aligned perfectly. Now only problem I got is I need to replace the bushings on my rear sway bar!!

[chandler]

they center the steering wheel and then they adjust the tie rods to specs, its not that hard just tell them up front what is wrong it will help a whole lot

[hybrid_flyer]

curious....how hard is it to do the rack, if you plan on using aftermarket tie rods. From what I have read to can really screw things up if you dont do the inner tie rods right

[PGBrian]

i just swapped out my whole rack.

here is how we did it.

i had Tein tie rods on my old rack so we disconnected those fron the rack.then we took out the rack, which was kind of hard actually.installed new rackinstalled power steering coolerattached tie rods to it.done.

just make sure you center the rack and wheel before you bolt it all together.

[hybrid_flyer]

somebody mentioned something to me once about it being crucial for the gearing in the rack and the inner tie rods, he also mentioned that it was kinda easy to damaged the rack teeth?? Any comments??