Steering Alignment

[MEOIT]

So I fucked up yesterday and ran my right passenger tire into a barrier when I was taking a turn onto a street. Now my steering wheel is off-center when I drive straight and cannot get full lock when turning left. I think that when I hit the barrier it moved the pitman arm on the steering box. Does this sound correct to anyone else?

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[sass JT]

So I fucked up yesterday and ran my right passenger tire into a barrier when I was taking a turn onto a street. Now my steering wheel is off-center when I drive straight and cannot get full lock when turning left. I think that when I hit the barrier it moved the pitman arm on the steering box. Does this sound correct to anyone else?

It’s not the pitman arm unless your nut came loose and the arm magically fell off.

more than likely your adjustment sleeve on the drag link skipped a few threads though. But it’s easy to fix with some wrenches and a extra person.

get your wheels straight. Find the adjustment sleeve on your draglink and loosen the bolts on the end. Then while someone is in the drivers seat, spin the sleeve till the steering wheel is straight. Make sure you tell the person in the seat which way you want the steering wheel to move to get it straight. When it is, tighten the adjuster bolts down and go for a ride… if you need to make an adjustment, repeat the steps till it’s back to your liking.

I hope this helps.

 

[Rusty PW]

How far off is the steering wheel? If it's a little bit. You can do as the above post. IF it's more. Start checking for something bent. And maybe a trip to an alignment shop.

 

[IanNubbit]

While it COULD be it skipped a thread or two, almost guaranteed to have some slightly bent parts

 

[ShadowsPapa]

And I had similar happen to a different truck and it was a BENT part.
If that's the case, watch out for toe out on turns to be off, bad control on tight or wet turns or exits, etc.
I'd be surprised if it "skipped a few threads". Anything is possible, but don't assume, either.
Typically, those parts bend before the threads cut loose.
Steering arm/knuckle, that sort of thing - I'm betting on bent part.

 

[MEOIT]

It was about 180 degrees off, I have adjusted the drag link all the way and it is now 45 degrees off. Now the jeep thinks it is sliding anytime I turn llright and the wheel is straight. Waiting for new wheel and tire then going to take it to the tire shop and get it realigned and see what they find.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

It was about 180 degrees off, I have adjusted the drag link all the way and it is now 45 degrees off. Now the jeep thinks it is sliding anytime I turn llright and the wheel is straight. Waiting for new wheel and tire then going to take it to the tire shop and get it realigned and see what they find.

Bent parts. You don't get that far off otherwise.
Trouble is that most alignment people only read numbers on a screen like toe, caster, camber, etc. and have little to no idea as to the things to truly look at, or the angles and thing to check that aren't on the printout.
Hope you find a good one.............

 

[seven30]

Bent parts. You don't get that far off otherwise.
Trouble is that most alignment people only read numbers on a screen like toe, caster, camber, etc. and have little to no idea as to the things to truly look at, or the angles and thing to check that aren't on the printout.
Hope you find a good one.............

What is this Fup week? I just did the same thing to a lesser degree. bumped curb coming around turn and wheel is off about 15-20. I dropped it off at alignment shop cause its 105 and I dont feel like messing with it. But, its very possible your drag link is bent. My sons 2000 GC got smacked on the front wheel and it kinked his drag link big time. Wheel was at least 180 off. We just replaced drag link and trimmed wheel center ourselves. Been perfect for 10k miles so far. I suspect these links are designed to absorb impacts and save the knuckles.

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