Centering Steering Rack

[The Critic]

I just installed an aftermarket leather-wrapped steering wheel onto the Prius.

Unfortunately, the splines are not quite identical to the original steering wheel. The steering wheel ends up either slightly off-center to the left or to the right; there is no way to center the steering wheel.

At this point, my only option is to adjust the tie rod ends to center the steering wheel. However, wouldn't this make my steering rack go off-center?

The steering wheel is not off-center by a lot, but I think it's a good 1cm away from the center.

Per the FSM, you can have a 1.5mm difference (1-turn of tie rod) between the length of the left and right tie rod and still be OK.

Thoughts? Do you guys think adjusting the toe will be OK, or should I just return the wheel?

Thanks.

 

[RiceCake]

If you adjust both tie rods at the same time, you can change the position of the steering wheel without effecting the toe. Turn the left side in a quarter of a turn, turn the right side out a quarter of a turn, your steering wheel will be turned more to the right (clockwise) then before. Repeat for either direction until perfect.

 

[Smoky14]

Just don't exceed the 1.5mm and you shouldn't run into trouble.

 

[Vikas]

1.5mm? What is the total travel of the rack? That number sounds off by an order of magnitude to me.

 

[mechtech2]

If your toe is perfect, then the in one side/ out the other will work fine [rack and pinion].

 

[The_Jeff]

Does your original airbag fasten into this wheel? Look like it belongs? Are the horn buttons etc in a similar getup?

You can mess with the tie rods to the extent you say you need. Or take it to firestone where you prepaid your alignment.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
1.5mm? What is the total travel of the rack? That number sounds off by an order of magnitude to me.


Not sure, but this is the wording from the service manual:


"One 360 degree turn of rack end (1.5 mm (0.0591 in.) horizontal movement) equals to 12 degrees of steering angle."

"Make sure that the difference in length between the RH and LH tie rod ends and rack end screws is within 1.5 mm (0.0591 in.)."

Prior to the adjustment, my toe read -0.21 left and +0.23 right (with the wheel centered). After the adjustment, I was at 0.09 for both sides.

Originally Posted By: eljefino

Does your original airbag fasten into this wheel? Look like it belongs? Are the horn buttons etc in a similar getup?

You can mess with the tie rods to the extent you say you need. Or take it to firestone where you prepaid your alignment.


Yes - the clock spring, airbag and trim pieces all fit together as expected. I did end up taking it to Fartstone for my prepaid lifetime alignment and they adjusted the tie rods. As it turns out, each tie rod needed a bit less than a full turn.

In addition, the rack wasn't centered properly before this ordeal - the car turned a bit more to the right (on lock-to-lock). After the adjustments, it turns almost the same...so I'm better off than before.