As in, the car tracks straight down the road, but the steering wheel isn't straight. Can you just turn each tie rod an equal amount in opposite directions so one is a little shorter and the other gets a little longer? Thats all that it seems it is, the wheels are turned a hair when the wheel is straight.

 

Alignment maybe...The turning of the tie rods seems like a lot of work for trial and error.

 

It was just aligned. It was then taken back twice, but these idiots don't seem to know what they're doing. if its just a simple fix like it sounds like it should, then I'll just tinker it straight in my garage. If all I have to do is set some strings and turn the toe straight, its fine by me. I guess the other question is, which end and how do you change the tie rod length?

 

yeah sounds like they're screwing up. That's one thing that is adjusted during an alignment, so they're obviously not getting it straight.

 

Is it being done at a dealer or not, Are they using good/new equiptment, Are they locking the wheel down to center...Thats what we do first thing is lock the wheel center with a device that sits on the front edge of the drivers seat and holds the wheel.

 

If you just install those JICs then go back and take off the front two wheels, check the two strut bolts, and give it more torque. Most likely those are loose and it's messin with your steering (If you steering tilts one way and then another way when you turn).

Also check the rings on the spring and height adjuster, if those come loose, they can also mess up steering.

Unless your alignment man just don't give a damn, he should of straighten the steering when he performed the alignment.

Helps to have toe plates, then you can do your own alignments.

 

Everything's torqued and locked down.
Obviously these guys aren't the sharpest tools in the shed.... we've established that already. I'm sick of taking it back just so they can not correct it.

now.... do you adjust the tie rod length while until the steering wheel is straight, with toe strings on both sides of the car so toe reads 0 or not?

 

Just turn both tie rods exactly the same amount, in the same direction (towards the front, or back).
A little trial and error, and you'll learn something.
You definately should be able to do this yourself.

 

I can promise you that you won't get your toes right if you just adjust the toe without a frame of reference. If you autox, you should really go back and ask them to fix it. Toe out or toe in 1/8in will destroy your tires a lot faster.

 

^^^^Im with him man
I doubt that you'll get it in spec without the right equipment

 

Seems like they are forgetting to lock the steering wheel while they do the aligment.
You can eye ball it yourself for a temp. fix, by jacking up the front of the car and having the steering wheel straight.
While having the steering wheel straight, you will see where the toe needs correction from the tires, so then adjust.

You should still take it back and tell them to put the steering wheel straight while they are adjusting the toe.