Steering Wheel isn’t straight

[OldButStillJeeping]

When you adjust the drag link while the vehicle is on the ground, the tires don't turn, the steering wheel does. That's how you adjust the steering wheel to center.
If the vehicle is off, and the steering wheel locks the steering wheel as you adjust the drag link, you will break the steering wheel lock inside the steering column.

I've done alignments for decades, the wheels can turn. I did it on my own vehicle and measured how much they moved. Mine moved, nothing broke.
It won't break the steering wheel because the front wheels are totally free to turn. What's stopping them???
Nothing. If they were not able to turn what stops them? They sure moved on my garage floor when I did it.
IT takes more than you moving that drag link a little bit to break anything. I adjusted mine twice with the engine not running. I've adjusted many vehicles that way. To center the wheel, I start it, move the steering wheel to straight, shut it off, then adjust - and see the tires move in the process.

Is that video produced by FCA/Jeep, or a DIY youtuber?

This is getting silly.

The Force of turning your front tires with the weight of the vehicle on the ground, verses turning a steering thru the pitman, steering gear and steering wheel column all of which have bearings.
You'll break your steering wheel lock inside the steering column before you'll turn the front wheels.
Research it online. You'll see many people have destroyed steering columns in doing it incorrectly by NOT unlocking the steering wheel lock...

I won't waste anymore time, I'm just trying to help the OP.

I've done a few lifts in my my time, maybe 15 or so, on Ford's, Dodge's, Toyota's.. but mostly Jeeps.

Anyway..

Keep the vehicle's steering column. unlocked when you adjust the drag link.

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[ShadowsPapa]

This is getting silly.

The Force of turning your front tires with the weight of the vehicle on the ground, verses turning a steering thru the pitman, steering gear and steering wheel column all of which have bearings.
You'll break your steering wheel lock inside the steering column before you'll turn the front wheels.
Research it online. You'll see many people have destroyed steering columns in doing it incorrectly by NOT unlocking the steering wheel lock...

I won't waste anymore time, I'm just trying to help the OP.

I've done a few lifts in my my time, maybe 15 or so, on Ford's, Dodge's, Toyota's.. but mostly Jeeps.

Anyway..

Keep the vehicle's steering column. unlocked when you adjust the drag link.

Sorry, there is no lock on these Jeeps.
Yeah, it's getting silly because you can come to my garage now, tonight, and turn the steering wheel on my JT and on my wife's Jeep -there is NO LOCK. They stopped using steering column locks.
Go check the instructions on the wrangler forums and other videos - no one else mentions having it running. In fact, nothing I looked up mentioned it.

Found the info - steering wheel does NOT lock and hasn't for years - Wrangler or JT - so no worries, can center with the engine off and it can't hurt a thing. More proof that just because a youtuber says it, doesn't make it true -

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...g-not-locking-when-ignition-turned-off.19767/

Does Steering Wheel of 2020 Jeep Wrangler JL Need to Be Unlocked When Flat Towing
Question:
Does the steering wheel of the Wrangler JL not lock into position with the vehicle turned off? I cant find where this is addressed in the manual, or on line.

asked by: Rick R

Expert Reply:
The 2020 Jeep Wrangler JL does not have a steering wheel lock. In 2008 Jeep did away with that function so if your plan is to flat tow your JL you do not need to worry about the steering wheel being locked. There are very specific instructions in your owners manual about flat towing though that you need to follow.

 

[OldButStillJeeping]

Sorry, there is no lock on these Jeeps.
Yeah, it's getting silly because you can come to my garage now, tonight, and turn the steering wheel on my JT and on my wife's Jeep -there is NO LOCK. They stopped using steering column locks.
Go check the instructions on the wrangler forums and other videos - no one else mentions having it running. In fact, nothing I looked up mentioned it.

Found the info - steering wheel does NOT lock and hasn't for years - Wrangler or JT - so no worries, can center with the engine off and it can't hurt a thing. More proof that just because a youtuber says it, doesn't make it true -

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...g-not-locking-when-ignition-turned-off.19767/

Does Steering Wheel of 2020 Jeep Wrangler JL Need to Be Unlocked When Flat Towing
Question:
Does the steering wheel of the Wrangler JL not lock into position with the vehicle turned off? I cant find where this is addressed in the manual, or on line.

asked by: Rick R

Expert Reply:
The 2020 Jeep Wrangler JL does not have a steering wheel lock. In 2008 Jeep did away with that function so if your plan is to flat tow your JL you do not need to worry about the steering wheel being locked. There are very specific instructions in your owners manual about flat towing though that you need to follow.

Thank you. I didn't realize that steering wheel locks were eliminated. I just wanted to save the OP the grief associated with a damaged steering column.
I appreciate your input.

 

[Mind Left Body]

Anybody have any idea how much this should cost to have someone adjust the drag link? I don't trust myself to do it right.

 

[Gvsukids]

Anybody have any idea how much this should cost to have someone adjust the drag link? I don't trust myself to do it right.

call around to off road shops or contact your local Jeep Club.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

call around to off road shops or contact your local Jeep Club.

Yeah, this is something that's not easy to mess up unless you fail to retorque the clamp bolt and drive it.
If you get it wrong, go back and do it again, maybe the other direction.
But any truck shop can do this quickly and easily, even a fellow Jeep owner who does a lot of their own work.....

 

[Gizmo]

3 pages to explain adjusting the drag link to correct the steering wheel position . That could possibly confuse someone who knows how

 

[ShadowsPapa]

3 pages to explain adjusting the drag link to correct the steering wheel position . That could possibly confuse someone who knows how

Someone who knows how will be explaining how, not reading how.
All bets are off for those who think they know how, but not really.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I know exactly how, and have done it on mine bunches of times. I sent @Mind Left Body a message with my contact info. I’ll explain it verbally. It’s very easy.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

It’s really
I know exactly how, and have done it on mine bunches of times. I sent @Mind Left Body a message with my contact info. I’ll explain it verbally. It’s very easy.

My point exactly - none of this, or any other "steering wheel is off" thread baffled or confused you for even one second.
I figure it's one of those things where if a person lived close, I'd say bring it over and I'd do it because doing it is easy and takes less time than explaining in some cases.
I've done it multiple times as well - every spring change, (even going back to stock springs on my 2020 for trading - did it then as well), every time I mess with the height, I am picky and center that wheel.
Just did it on my 73 as well but then that's a different animal - 4 clamps, 2 sleeves, loosen them up, turn one shorter and the other longer.... now THAT will confuse people LOL (but likely not you)

 

[WILDHOBO]

My point exactly - none of this, or any other "steering wheel is off" thread baffled or confused you for even one second.
I figure it's one of those things where if a person lived close, I'd say bring it over and I'd do it because doing it is easy and takes less time than explaining in some cases.
I've done it multiple times as well - every spring change, (even going back to stock springs on my 2020 for trading - did it then as well), every time I mess with the height, I am picky and center that wheel.
Just did it on my 73 as well but then that's a different animal - 4 clamps, 2 sleeves, loosen them up, turn one shorter and the other longer.... now THAT will confuse people LOL (but likely not you)

The older stuff is definitely more work, but the same concept applies, as you know better than all of us. The thing about these new vehicles that makes it tougher is the steering pump and it’s associated electronics. It got me the first several tries before I realized what was happening. You can’t just straighten the wheels visually anymore, you need to drive like 50’ with the wheels straight on a level surface, ignoring the wheel straightness, which can be tough to do. Then stop and adjust the drag link. Obviously every drag link style is a little different.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Oh I wish I would have used the phrase “pretty straight forward” when describing the process. I missed the low hanging fruit.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The older stuff is definitely more work, but the same concept applies, as you know better than all of us. The thing about these new vehicles that makes it tougher is the steering pump and it’s associated electronics. It got me the first several tries before I realized what was happening. You can’t just straighten the wheels visually anymore, you need to drive like 50’ with the wheels straight on a level surface, ignoring the wheel straightness, which can be tough to do. Then stop and adjust the drag link. Obviously every drag link style is a little different.

You hit on one of the points to these (and others for that matter) - it can be trial and error.
Find a flat/level spot and drive it. Make note of steering wheel position needed to make truck track straight on a level surface with no road crown.
One could even put a piece of tape at that new 12:00 position.
What I do personally is park the truck in my garage, maneuver until the spot on the steering wheel is at the top, then get under and turn the draglink sleeve until the steering wheel is now level.
One can also use JSCAN and watch for the steering column to hit 0 degrees while under the truck turning that sleeve.
Back to my point - cinch things up, take it and try it. If you nailed it, great, if not - go back and figure how it's off and do again.
I paid for part of my college doing alignments in the 70s (among a ton of other automotive things to make a buck) and found that it's not always perfect first time - a test drive is needed. Then when I got to college, guess what the college teacher said about steering wheel centering - do it on the rack, drive it, check for steering wheel centering and other factors, and if off, come back and readjust.
Today, though, it's on the rack, check the computer, off the rack, to the parking area with no test drive. My teachers would be having a cow seeing how it's done these days. No one does test drives. No one double-checks their work.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Ow I wish I would have used the phrase “pretty straight forward” when describing the process. I missed the low hanging fruit.

Brilliant!

 

[WILDHOBO]

You hit on one of the points to these (and others for that matter) - it can be trial and error.
Find a flat/level spot and drive it. Make note of steering wheel position needed to make truck track straight on a level surface with no road crown.
One could even put a piece of tape at that new 12:00 position.
What I do personally is park the truck in my garage, maneuver until the spot on the steering wheel is at the top, then get under and turn the draglink sleeve until the steering wheel is now level.
One can also use JSCAN and watch for the steering column to hit 0 degrees while under the truck turning that sleeve.
Back to my point - cinch things up, take it and try it. If you nailed it, great, if not - go back and figure how it's off and do again.
I paid for part of my college doing alignments in the 70s (among a ton of other automotive things to make a buck) and found that it's not always perfect first time - a test drive is needed. Then when I got to college, guess what the college teacher said about steering wheel centering - do it on the rack, drive it, check for steering wheel centering and other factors, and if off, come back and readjust.
Today, though, it's on the rack, check the computer, off the rack, to the parking area with no test drive. My teachers would be having a cow seeing how it's done these days. No one does test drives. No one double-checks their work.

Exactly. I have had to readjust the wheel each time it’s been aligned. I’m pretty much done even paying for alignments now. With 8 adjustable control arms, and adjustable track bars, all installed by measuring, it’s not going to fall out of spec very much, except for with the drag link and tie rod. The drag link takes a beating off road. I tiny bend in it can happen easily, and throw the wheel of by 15 degrees pretty fast.

Edit: I’m correcting myself. Worn ball joints will throw it off quickly.

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