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wheels not aligned

E

endo

New CEG'er
Joined
Jun 13, 2007
Messages
6
Location
Omaha, Nebraska
well i was driving on the interstate yesterday and all the sudden i noticed that my steering wheel was turned to the rite but i was going straight.

i get to where i was going and pull into the parking spot and turn the wheel straight and when i got out the wheels were turned to the right.

well it has the same problem on the way home but when i get out of the car with the steering wheel straight the wheels are straight so i thought it was fixed some how. but on my way to work the steering wheel is still turning rite a little while im going straight and when i got out i turned it straight and the wheels are straight again.

does anyone know why or what has caused this. i didnt hit any bumps or anything and from what i can tell it happened while i was driving.

*edit* by the way i drive a 95 v6
 
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Well if your steering wheel was turned to the right going straight and you straightened the steering wheel, your front wheels would be pointing left, not right. Are you sure this isn't in your mind? :confused: :laugh:
 
rollinstylee said:
Well if your steering wheel was turned to the right going straight and you straightened the steering wheel, your front wheels would be pointing left, not right. Are you sure this isn't in your mind? :confused: :laugh:
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thats true but that was only the first time i got out so maybe it got offset the other direction when i stopped some how.

but now i am positive that the steering wheel is turned rite while i go straight driving but when i stop and center it the wheels go back straight for some reason.
 
You need an alignment asap! I had the exact same problem after I had some work done on my Mystique a few weeks ago. The car drove straight while the steering wheel was turned to the right, and if I turned the wheel to the straight position, the car would veer left. That's because they needed to do an alignment after replacing the front axle and some other stuff, but the guy who does alignments wasn't in that day. It was a pain in the ass, too.

I'd get it done before my tires wear out.
 
satur9poet said:
You need an alignment asap! I had the exact same problem after I had some work done on my Mystique a few weeks ago. The car drove straight while the steering wheel was turned to the right, and if I turned the wheel to the straight position, the car would veer left. That's because they needed to do an alignment after replacing the front axle and some other stuff, but the guy who does alignments wasn't in that day. It was a pain in the ass, too.

I'd get it done before my tires wear out.
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thats what i was kind of thinking but i dont know why it suddenly happened while i was driving.
 
Lower ball joint (or tie rod) about to go. Get it checked immediately. If it breaks, your wheel will really be at an angle and you won't be able to drive the car.
 
are those hard to replace because i know a guy that works on cars out of his house but ill need it fixed quick so im not without a car.
 
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Tony2005 said:
No.

Autozone or Advance Auto has how tos.

Lower ball joint
http://www.autozone.com/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/1b/d7/31/0900823d801bd731/repairInfoPages.htm

Tie Rod
http://www.autozone.com/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/1b/d6/4b/0900823d801bd64b/repairInfoPages.htm

Advanceauto videos
http://www.advanceautoparts.com/english/youcan/knowhow.asp
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thank you for all the help but it turns out that i just needed a front end alignment. they said that the ball joints were fine. however they said that my wheel bearings are going bad and that is going to cost $700 for all 4 wheels.
 
Wheel bearings are one of the few items where you wait until it breaks before replacing. You will know when it breaks. But as posted by Big Jim. They don't all break at the same time.
 
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endo said:
thank you for all the help but it turns out that i just needed a front end alignment. they said that the ball joints were fine. however they said that my wheel bearings are going bad and that is going to cost $700 for all 4 wheels.
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Sounds like BS. If the bearings are so bad the wheel is shifting there is no way they can align the car and any attempt was just to take your money. In fact if the steering is shifting any attempt to align the car is a waste of money until the problem is found and fixed. Bottom Line something is shifting and needs to be fixed.
 
im sorry i said it wrong. they are going bad but are not causing any problems at this time. but still $700 seams like a lot. they said i could do the front and rear at separate times but can anyone explain what makes it cost so much and if there is a how to guide to do it your self. its a 95 contour v6.
 
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