97 855 tie rod ends

dairyqueen814 · Post by **dairyqueen814** » 21 Oct 2014, 05:44

Hey guys
I've got a free day today and last week I replaced both control arms with the FCP ones (great quality BTW) to pass inspection (when I returned for re-inspection they didn't even jack up the car... go figure)
The control arms are great but now my steering wheel is crooked just enough to bother me. I'm going to be getting an alignment as soon as funds come in but until then is it a horrible idea to adjust the tie rod ends as long as I do it equally on both sides? or should I just leave it alone for now? On previous cars when I got an alignment the steering wheel was still crooked. It seems pretty straight forward... take off both wheels and ust make sure the distance from tie rod end to tie rod end stays the same just moving it left or right accordingly.

Thoughts?
Thanks
Nick

Post by **erikv11** » 21 Oct 2014, 07:26

You don't have to measure anything per se, rather by making exactly the same number of rotations with each tie rod, one rotates shorter and one rotates longer, you can definitely straighten out the wheel yourself while doing no harm. Loosen lock nut, rotate tie rod to lengthen on side wheel is tilted towards, tighten, go to the other side do the same but shorten, then check the wheel. If it isn't straight yet, repeat ...

If you want to take it one step further and do some DIY alignment, again you can make small adjustments yourself that will get it pretty darn close until you can pay for a proper 4 wheel alignment. Do some searching, there are a few methods out there.

dairyqueen814 · Post by **dairyqueen814** » 21 Oct 2014, 13:41

Done and done
My steering wheel is straight as can be!

Post by **rspi** » 21 Oct 2014, 14:56

Is the car still tracking straight?

dairyqueen814 · Post by **dairyqueen814** » 21 Oct 2014, 15:38

yes more or less