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Alignment

Tiny
WILLIE26
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER
  • 2.4L
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 160,000 MILES
Hello, wondering if I can get assistance with an alignment. I would like to get my alignment good enough to make it to a professional shop. As to my current situation being my steering wheel is quite crooked.
Sunday, March 11th, 2018 AT 9:27 PM

14 Replies

Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
What happened to cause this in the first place?
If you had any sort of impact to trigger this condition, then you have bent parts somewhere and it would need to be towed to a competent shop for diagnosis.
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Monday, March 12th, 2018 AT 2:25 AM
Tiny
WILLIE26
  • MEMBER
  • 26 POSTS
Hello, I actually hit a pothole. I have more detail under the suspension subject. But I have one a lot since the initial pothole incident in regards to changing, checking, and replacing suspension and drive train parts. Now trying to set alignment toe correctly.
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Monday, March 12th, 2018 AT 3:56 AM
Tiny
PATENTED_REPAIR_PRO
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,853 POSTS
Adjust both front tires until the both point straight forward when the steering wheel is in the center. To see if the wheels are pointed straight forward, look down the edge of the tire to see if the tire is as close as possible to pointing straight forward by comparing to the rear tires which should be pointing straight forward.
As long as you get it close you should be able to drive it.
To adjust the toe on each, loosen the out tie rod jam nut and turn the inner tie rod to adjust toe. Remove the clamp from the boot so the boot does not get messed up.
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Monday, March 12th, 2018 AT 7:55 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
There is a second way to do that also. If you have two straight edges at least four feet long and put them against the sidewall of the tire, propped up about six to eight inches off the ground on cement blocks or something similar. Now you can measure the distance between the edges both in front and back of the tire. When they measure equal, you are at zero toe. That will not center the wheel but that is not important until you get to the real alignment.
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Monday, March 12th, 2018 AT 8:20 AM
Tiny
WILLIE26
  • MEMBER
  • 26 POSTS
Okay, thanks a lot gentlemen. I definitely will try them out once I am back home from work.
Will give update.
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Monday, March 12th, 2018 AT 10:24 AM
Tiny
WILLIE26
  • MEMBER
  • 26 POSTS
Hello my tie rod end is actually on top off knuckle. So the stem from tie rod is on the bottom facing the ground. I cant place a jack on tie rod end bc it would only hit the stem! So im going through the process of trying to tighten my nut onto my new tie rod end but the stem moves with the nut. Spinning.
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2018 AT 6:06 PM
Tiny
WILLIE26
  • MEMBER
  • 26 POSTS
Do all of these model cars have camber and caster? Because I did the CV axle replacement. And of course I had to take the two top bolts and nuts off of the knuckle from strut. Would that do something to my camber. Reason I am asking is because the two bolts broke initially in half. I went to my local scrap yard. And got two from the same exact year and make of my vehicle and used them. Now from up top looking towards the ground my tire appears to be more inward on the bottom and outward on top.
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2018 AT 6:08 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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  • 20,761 POSTS
If one of the bolts is slotted, then yes, the camber is adjustable.
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2018 AT 6:20 PM
Tiny
WILLIE26
  • MEMBER
  • 26 POSTS
Both bolts are identical.
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2018 AT 9:57 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
It is not the bolt. It is the bolt hole I am talking about.
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Wednesday, March 14th, 2018 AT 4:37 AM
Tiny
WILLIE26
  • MEMBER
  • 26 POSTS
Okay, I will have to take a look at the inside of the hole. And the previous bolts that I took out are the same as my new bolts. And do not look too fancy from any other bolt you will find! I am also trying to put my nut onto my tie rod end but the nut and stem spin. Any help.
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Wednesday, March 14th, 2018 AT 5:00 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
If you have the wheel off and the bolts loosened up simply grab the top of the rotor and push hard in and out and see if it moves to answer you question.
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Wednesday, March 14th, 2018 AT 5:04 AM
Tiny
WILLIE26
  • MEMBER
  • 26 POSTS
Wonderful will do if it moves. Try to center it correct?
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Wednesday, March 14th, 2018 AT 10:44 AM
Tiny
PATENTED_REPAIR_PRO
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,853 POSTS
You should not have to worry about camber and caster in order to just get the steering wheel centered in order to get it to a shop to get aligned, just get the toe close.
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Thursday, March 15th, 2018 AT 8:13 AM

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