# Alignment? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [March 19, 2009, 3:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alignment/27988 "2009-03-19T15:12:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![betsyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@betsyr](https://community.cartalk.com/u/betsyr)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 3:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alignment/27988/1 "2009-03-19T15:12:49Z")
97 Lincoln Town Car. I recently got a Front End Alignment…“noting broken” they said…just needed an alignment. When i took the car in, i told them that the steering wheel “doesn’t return to center” after i make the turn. Someone said i might need a new “gear box”. Can anyone help me so i don’t sound too stupid when i bring the car in to a new mechanic? ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alignment/27988/2 "2009-03-19T16:21:37Z")
First we need to know what the problem is. Do you mean the steering wheel does not return to center when you let it go after a turn or do you mean the car does not drive straight when the wheel is centered? In either case they should not have returned your car in that condition after an alignment unless they explained why it was doing it. ---
**Author:** ![betsyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@betsyr](https://community.cartalk.com/u/betsyr)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 5:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alignment/27988/3 "2009-03-19T17:27:01Z")
Hi. The wheel does not return to center when i let it go after a turn. In addition, i got my alignment at pepboys…i didn’t think it would’ve been a big deal for them to align my tires. i did get a 90 day warantee with it. If it’s a bigger problem, gear box???, i don’t know if i’d trust them to fix it. Any more insight? ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alignment/27988/4 "2009-03-19T17:34:10Z")
Let’s just say that the better mechanics do not usually work for chain operations like Pep Boys. You should seek a well-reputed independent shop, and avoid all chains for your future car-care needs. ---
**Author:** ![betsyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@betsyr](https://community.cartalk.com/u/betsyr)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alignment/27988/5 "2009-03-19T17:36:45Z")
I now understand that!!! I really didn’t think an alignment would’ve been a big problem. This was my second (first was tires) and LAST time i’m going to Pep Boys. Do you feel there’s a bigger problem with the car, or just a schmoe behind the computer at pep boys? ---
**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alignment/27988/6 "2009-03-19T18:07:54Z")
Yes, a really bad alignment can cause the steering wheel to not self-center. When did this problem start? (After what event in your car’s life?) I have my own Pep boys horror story. Never, ever, go there. ---
**Author:** ![betsyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@betsyr](https://community.cartalk.com/u/betsyr)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alignment/27988/7 "2009-03-19T18:30:46Z")
Hi. I got hit by an acura on the right front corner (right light area). Pushed in my fan shroud, messed up the spoiler. I really didn’t notice anything after that. I then got hit while my vehicle was parked. He hit my drivers side rear. They “totalled” the car…said my frame was bent (it wasn’t according to my body work man…adjuster didn’t put car up on lift to see any damage/nor did he drive it). I would have to say after that 7/07. But…wouldn’t an alignment problem show up on my tires? There’s no significant wear. ---
**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alignment/27988/8 "2009-03-19T20:26:03Z")
You can have a correct wheel & frame alignment and still have an off-set steering wheel. How? If the steering wheel has been removed (perhaps for some repair to the steering column) and not set in line when reassembled. ---
**Author:** ![betsyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@betsyr](https://community.cartalk.com/u/betsyr)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 8:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alignment/27988/9 "2009-03-19T20:29:44Z")
Hi. I know you can h ave a correct wheel & frame alignment and not have the steering wheel off set. That did happen to me before. The steering wheel does not come back to center after i make a turn. it doesn’t pull to one side or the other. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 12:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alignment/27988/10 "2009-03-20T00:42:21Z")
The wheel does not return to center when i let it go after a turn. Does it come most of the way to center? If you turn it manually to center does it fell like it is resisting at some point? ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 6:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alignment/27988/11 "2009-03-20T06:18:21Z")
It would help to know the alignment specs. Were you given a printout? If so, pay close attention to the caster specification. If the caster is out of spec (too much negative caster) the steering wheel will not return to center after making a turn. To understand caster, think of the front wheels on a grocery cart. Notice how they pivot and the grocery cart will straighten itself out when pushed? (Or at least a decent cart will!). Same thing with a car. If the caster is within specifications then about the only other thing it could be is the steering gear. If someone has been dinking around with the pinion gear adjustment on the box and overtightened the adjustment screw the steering may also not return to center as it should. Before purchasing a steering gear determine somehow if someone has tinkered with this and adjust it properly. ---
**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 10:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alignment/27988/12 "2009-03-20T10:16:40Z")
When you have a vehicle in for wheel alignment, the mechanic needs to know of the accidents. A body shop does not have wheel alignment expertise. The body may be straightened; and, the wheel control attachment points still be a tweak off (slight distortion). The alignment specialist, if he’s skilled, can compensate, to a degree, for some factor being a little bit off. You may, indeed, need to replace the steering rack; or, decide to “live with it” (the poor return to center). ---
**Author:** ![betsyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@betsyr](https://community.cartalk.com/u/betsyr)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 1:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alignment/27988/13 "2009-03-20T13:45:11Z")
Hi. Your comment was very insiteful…thanks. I’m trying to be better educated about my car. Is the pinion gear adjustment on the box mear “tire arms/tire rods” (i may have butchered the term). They were replaced approx. a year ago. ---
**Author:** ![betsyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@betsyr](https://community.cartalk.com/u/betsyr)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 1:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alignment/27988/14 "2009-03-20T13:46:19Z")
Hi. It does not resist. I just have to manually turn it to center. ---
**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 2:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alignment/27988/15 "2009-03-20T14:10:13Z")
No, it is on the gear box. ---
**Author:** ![betsyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@betsyr](https://community.cartalk.com/u/betsyr)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 2:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alignment/27988/16 "2009-03-20T14:36:23Z")
Thank you ALL for trying to help me better understand. I’m going to take it back to Manny, Moe and Jack…tell them that it’s not correct, tell them that they said that there was nothing “broken”, and tell them that the steering wheel STILL doesn’t return. I’ll let you know on Monday how i work out. Thanks to all. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 5:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alignment/27988/17 "2009-03-20T17:17:09Z")
As I said, the caster specification has something to do with steering wheel return. With the info now provided about the car being hit and declared a total this only reinforces my opinion about caster being off. I would also point out that caster is the one spec that has zero or near-zero affect on tire wear. It’s entirely possible for the caster to be off a mile with no obvious tire wear. ---
**Author:** ![betsyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@betsyr](https://community.cartalk.com/u/betsyr)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 5:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alignment/27988/18 "2009-03-20T17:52:59Z")
Allright…so, is the caster something that gets adjusted when one does an alignment? If not, is replacement expensive? Next…is this a hazardous thing for me not to get fixed if it’s gonna cost an arm and a leg? Thanks… ---
**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alignment/27988/19 "2009-03-20T18:30:13Z")
The return-to-center requires a hands on feel to decide whether it is acceptable, from a safety standpoint, or not. WE can’t do a hands on, can we? The alignment specialist is the one you need to talk to about castor and other alignment factors. ---
**Author:** ![betsyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@betsyr](https://community.cartalk.com/u/betsyr)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 7:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alignment/27988/20 "2009-03-20T19:43:42Z")
ok…but…is the castor something that’s “part of the alignment”? [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alignment/27988.md?page=2)