Hey all,<P>Question for ya: My 99 SR5 steering wheel is a little off center. Is it easy to center it? I know a little thing such as this is pretty minor but it drives me nuts.<P>Thanks in advance for any tips on how to resolve this!<P>Bob

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by bob_99SR5:<BR><STRONG>Hey all,<P>Question for ya: My 99 SR5 steering wheel is a little off center. Is it easy to center it? I know a little thing such as this is pretty minor but it drives me nuts.<P>Thanks in advance for any tips on how to resolve this!<P>Bob</STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Well...once I had alignment service on my car. I found that my steering wheel was way off....so I went back to the store and I asked them why.......manager told me that when his employee did that he didn't lockup the steering wheel at centre.<P>So What I wanna suggest u is go to local tire shop and ask them wheel alignment And tell them " make sure that my steering wheel in centre. " [img]images/icons/smile.gif" border="0[/img]<p>[ 18 October 2001: Message edited by: mkool ]

Same thing happened to me after my alignment. Took it back to the shop and they said it wasn't a big deal except that he couldn't get the tie rod loosened up. I'm not at all mechanical, but maybe that will help you.

It needs to be aligned with the steering wheel first centered and then aligned to it. Make sure the service writer writes to center the wheel on the paper work or the mechanic may not do it.<P>Pete

It involves loosing the tie rod adjustment and taking turns (or more likely fractions of a turn) out of one side and adding the corresponding amount to the other side.

Or the less likely possibility is if you've done some off-roading and you bent one of the rear lower control arms over a rock. That'll do it, too. [img]images/icons/grin.gif" border="0[/img] [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif" border="0[/img]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jeff the marmot:<BR><STRONG>Or the less likely possibility is if you've done some off-roading and you bent one of the rear lower control arms over a rock. That'll do it, too. [img]images/icons/grin.gif" border="0[/img] [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif" border="0[/img]</STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><BR>hehe... do I sense experience talking here?!

Ya know, mine has never been center and I have never even been in a toyota whose steering wheel was centered perfectly. My 4runner wheel is about 1 degree off to the left and my Tacoma is about 2-3 degrees off. Mine has been aligned but even when brand spankin new it was off jsut a little. It has never really bothered me but I have a good friend whose 99 4runner steering wheel not on perfect center has driven him nutz and its still not perfect!

just a thought<BR>i wouldnt start to play with your Tie rod ends unless you plan on getting an alignment. that will cause more wear and possible pull to the left and right ....unscrewing you tie rod ends to correct for the stearing wheel being out of center will cause you to have incorrect "Toe in or toe out" i suggest taking a look under you dash ...there shoud be a spline with a bolt through it that you can unbolt to allow you to correct this prblem ....hope i have been some help

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Rich M:<BR><STRONG>there shoud be a spline with a bolt through it that you can unbolt to allow you to correct this prblem ....</STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>I seen service manuals state specificly to not do this (or loosen and reposition and the steering wheel on the steering shaft.. as these were originally set up with the steering rack in the perfectly centered postion. <P>This is adding a second error to offset the original error. The tie rod ends is where these adjustments were intended to take place. Get an alignment shop to do it right....<p>[ 18 October 2001: Message edited by: Dandeman ]