Can the steering wheel be removed, turned and re installed?

**danjo11** · 07-27-2011, 03:49 PM

Heres my issue. 1997 Camaro. I have figured out the car i bought has been hit in the front end at some point. I put new wheels and tires on the car two days ago and went to have it aligned. Problem is, when the steering wheel is strait, the driver wheel is towed out .70 degree with no more adjustment left to tow it in.

Im thinking turn the steering wheel so the left wheel is strait and tow in the passenger wheel so the car is aligned but the steering wheel will be cocked 1/4 turn.

Is it possible to remove the steering wheel and put it back on straight?

**cammed goat** · 07-27-2011, 04:10 PM

If there is a keyway made into the wheel and steering shaft, then no. Is there any residual frame damage, as in, anything still slightly bent under the car?

**danjo11** · 07-27-2011, 04:28 PM

Im sure there has to be. The camber is off as well and the adjustment is all the way in. Then I have this tow issue. Something has to be bent. However with the 16 in salad shooters, the car was perfect. I had no probs until I installed the 17x9 ss spoke rims.

**cammed goat** · 07-27-2011, 04:47 PM

Are the tires directional? If not, cross-rotate the front wheels/tires and see if the steering wheel centers. You might have radial pull.

**M-1000** · 07-27-2011, 11:39 PM

the steering wheel has a master spline, so no you cant re index the wheel to re-center it. dont forget that the clock spring fits in to all of that too.

if you cant get the toe adjusted to spec id check to see if maybe the inner tie rods or the rack is damaged. you said the camber also wont come to spec either so id also check the upper and lower control arms for damage. if everything there is okay (basically any component that gives you an adjustment point) itd be safe to say that the frame is bent

**danjo11** · 07-28-2011, 06:40 AM

Thank you all for the good info. Im going to look at it again today. Worst case senario, im going to turn the steering wheel to the right until the driver tire is straight then adjust pass tire in. Prob is the steering wheel will be cocked to the right, but at least it will be driveable. Thanks again guys.

**cammed goat** · 07-28-2011, 04:34 PM

Keep us posted. Hopefully the frame isn't badly bent.

**danjo11** · 07-28-2011, 07:14 PM

I adjusted the camber back out to where it was and got the tow back in. The car still pulls a little to the right im guessing because the camber is wrong. I may need a new rack, or the frame / mounts are bent. Im going to have a pro look at it. Thank you all for the help!

**danjo11** · 07-28-2011, 07:15 PM

Originally Posted by cammed goat

Are the tires directional? If not, cross-rotate the front wheels/tires and see if the steering wheel centers. You might have radial pull.

Tires are directional, but same size. Theyre brand new. Im gonna move the front to the back.

**cammed goat** · 07-29-2011, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by danjo11

Tires are directional, but same size. Theyre brand new. Im gonna move the front to the back.

OK. Keep us posted. Hopefully that is ALL that is wrong.

**danjo11** · 08-12-2011, 11:36 AM

Finally got it sorted out. I took it to an old school alignment shop about 20 mins from my house. The guy said 7 angles were off from the last hooligan that fooled around with it. He was able to get me rollin straight down the road. $50 saved me a ton of headaches and a brand new set of 275/40/17's. Thanks for all your help guys!