Community Forums

danleininger · 10-23-2017, 01:38 PM

I just had the Ball Joint Recall completed on our '13 Essex. While there, I took the opportunity to have the full chassis aligned. The coach came back with the Steering Wheel about 15 degrees to the Right. So now the Comfort Drive seems to be fighting me in order to straighten the Steering Wheel. So I have had to turned down the sensitivity to minimize the "fight".

So I'm assuming I need to return the the Alignment company to get them to adjust the Steering Wheel angle.

Anyone else have this experience???

LJowdy · 10-23-2017, 02:34 PM

If they replaced the ball joint then they should have done an alignment and not charged you. Make sure the front tires are pointing straight ahead then have them center the steering wheel and once that's done have them turn the steering wheel fully right then left and make sure you're getting the full spectrum of left and right angle from the tires.

I removed the universal joint that couples the steering shaft to the steering mechanism and moved it one tooth to center up my wheel which was to the left about 1 1/2 inches.

KenSherwin · 10-23-2017, 05:59 PM

Does the CD try to pull the steering wheel back to the spokes-level position as it did before the alignment? Does the pull stop after a couple of minutes of driving?

If so, the timing between the CD and the steering wheel is correct. Most likely the timing between the CD and the steering gear is also correct. They changed the relationship between the steering gear and the wheels so that is what needs fixed.

If they just pull the steering wheel, the steering gear will still have the off-center lash close to center and the CD will still try to pull the system back to where center used to be.

danleininger · 10-23-2017, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenSherwin

Does the CD try to pull the steering wheel back to the spokes-level position as it did before the alignment? Yes it does. Does the pull stop after a couple of minutes of driving? Not sure? I will check this out when I drive home this Thursday.

If so, the timing between the CD and the steering wheel is correct. Most likely the timing between the CD and the steering gear is also correct. They changed the relationship between the steering gear and the wheels so that is what needs fixed.

If they just pull the steering wheel, the steering gear will still have the off-center lash close to center and the CD will still try to pull the system back to where center used to be.

If you pulled the Universal Joint on the bottom of the Steering Column and moved it one tooth as the above poster suggested, wouldn't that possibly correct the steering relationship with the wheels.