So Fix it

Depending on your perspective, an off-center steering wheel can be a truly infuriating experience, all the more so when the car doesnt pull to either direction. Theres something about this condition that just seems to baffle the human mind; how can the car be going straight when the wheel is turned? But the reason for a steering wheel turn, and the subsequent fix, is actually pretty simple once you understand what went wrong.

Steering Basics

Your steering wheel connects to a steering column. At the end of that column is a gear called a pinion, and that pinion meshes onto matching teeth on top of a flat bar called a rack. When you turn the pinion, it pushes the rack to the left or the right. The ends of the rack connect to tie rods, which in turn connect to arms extending backward from the wheel hubs. On the tie rods youll find a threaded collar; turning it makes the tie rod longer or shorter, angling the wheel inward or outward. Of course, this describes only a rack-and-pinion system, but most steering systems are functionally identical where the steering linkage is concerned.

Rear Toe and Steering

Most cars also have a second bar running from side-to-side in the rear, and those that dont typically have some provision to turn the axle one direction or the other. While it may seem a bit strange, the rear axle and its tie rods are just as responsible for steering your car as the front. The difference is that the rear axle only turns the rear of the car. If your rear alignment settings -- via the tie rods or axle alignment -- are off, youll have to turn the wheel in the same direction as the rear tires to keep the car pointed down the road. This alone will cause your steering wheel off-center, because the car is actually going down the road slightly sideways.

Alignment Problems

An off-center steering wheel is, paradoxically, a pretty common complaint following a front-wheel alignment. During an alignment, the technician will adjust your front tie rods to whatever degree necessary to remove any pull on the steering wheel. In the course of doing so, hell end up changing the position of the wheels relative to the steering column just to keep them pointed in the same direction as the rear tires. While this does eliminate that sideways pull, itll also permanently cock your car sideways. This "off-tracking" or "dog-tracking" is dangerous because it changes your cars low and high-speed handling characteristics, and itll kill your fuel economy by exposing the broad side of your car to the wind.

Dialing Out the Turn

Since this is essentially a problem with rear wheel angle, you need to adjust that first. The simplest way is to take your car to an alignment shop and have them perform a four-wheel alignment. If youre doing it yourself -- which you shouldnt unless youve got the right equipment -- then you need to get the rear wheels pointed perfectly straight first. Then, youll need to start the engine, turn the wheel a couple of times to relieve pressure from the power steering system. Shut the car down with the wheel locked in a straight-ahead, 12-oclock position. Finally, adjust the front tie rods to get the wheels straight. At this point, the problem is essentially fixed and your car is once again pointed straight, but youre not quite done yet.

Setting the Toe

While it might sound odd, most cars arent going down the road with all four wheels pointed straight forward. Many have a certain degree of front or rear "toe." Toe-in means the front of the wheels point inward, or sort of cross-eyed. Toe-out means they point slightly outward. Different manufacturers and drivers per different degrees of toe-in or -out for a given car. Toe-in makes that axle more stable on the highway and under braking by causing the wheels to constantly try to turn toward each other. Toe-out causes that axle to change direction more quickly at the expense of stability. A zero-toe setting does nothing for directional stability either way, but is the hypothetical optimum for fuel economy. Setting toe is vital for your cars performance and safety, and its somewhat difficult to measure without the right equipment. So, unless you really know what youre doing, these sorts of alignment settings are best left to professionals.

You can shut off the seat belt chime on your Chrysler 300. It is there to remind you to put on your seat belt but many people find it very annoying. When you turn off the bell, the seat belt light will still illuminate on your instrument panel. If you turn off the seat belt bell and later change your mind, you can always turn it back on. Keep in mind, however, that in many states it is illegal to drive your vehicle without having your seat belt fastened.

Instructions

1

Get into the drivers seat and close the door. Fasten your seat belt and pull a lot of seat belt slack forward with your hands.

2

Put the key into the ignition and turn it to the "on" position, but dont start the engine. Watch the instrument panel for the seat belt warning light to shut off.

3

Unfasten the seat belt and the seat belt warning light will turn on. Fasten the seat belt and wait for the light to shut off.

4

Repeat Step 3 two more times, making sure you end the process with the seat belt unfastened. Do this whole process within one minute but also make sure the seat belt light turns off each time. If the seat belt bell turns on while you are doing this procedure, shut off the vehicle and start the whole process again.

5

Turn the vehicle off. As you do this, you will hear one final bell to let you know youve done it correctly.

A 2003 Ford F150 is equipped with a seat-belt warning sound that reminds you to fasten your seat belt. This chiming turns on when you start the car, and the quickest way to stop it is to fasten your seat belt. You can disable this sound if you want. Just keep in mind that in many states its illegal to drive without your seat belt fastened.

Instructions

1

Get inside the drivers side of the truck and make sure all doors are closed. Set the parking brake. Make sure the headlights are off, and your seat belt is unbuckled.

2

Put the key into the ignition and turn it to the "off" position. Next, turn the key to the "on" position and wait about two minutes or until the seat-belt warning sound shuts off.

3

Fasten and unfasten the seat belt three times, making sure that you end with the seat belt unfastened.

4

Turn on the headlights for three seconds then shut them off.

5

Repeat the step of fastening and unfastening your seat belt three times. Wait for the seat-belt warning light to illuminate and then disappear. When it turns off, fasten and then unfasten the seat belt one more time to disable the seat-belt warning sound.

The front wheels on a 2005 F250 Super Duty truck are designed to withstand heavy duty work. Because the F250 is a heavy duty truck, the wheels have eight lug nuts, instead of the usual five or six lug nuts found on light duty trucks. The lug nuts are a special swivel-type nut, designed to stay tight in situations where normal fixed nuts can loosen. Its also important that you never apply any lubricant such as engine oil to the wheel studs or lug nuts, because this could also cause them loosen under certain circumstances.

Instructions

Removal

1

Park the F250 on a flat, level surface and turn off the engine. Shift the transmission into park, or first gear for F250s equipped with a manual transmission.

2

Press the parking brake pedal down to engage the parking brake. Place one wheel chock behind each of the rear wheels. Pry the hub cap loose, if equipped, with a large flat-head screwdriver.

3

Break each of the eight lug nuts loose with a lug nut wrench. This is important, because if you try to loosen the nuts when the vehicle is lifted, the wheel will spin and you wont get any leverage.

4

Lift the front of the truck with a jack and place a jack stand under each side of the front frame. Lower the truck onto the jack stands and make sure theyre secure.

5

Remove the lug nuts with the lug nut wrench and pull the tire off of the truck.

Installation

6

Set the wheel onto the studs and reinstall the lug nuts. Snug them tight with the lug nut wrench while holding the wheel to make sure it doesnt turn.

7

Lift the truck with the jack, then remove the jack stands and lower it back to the ground.

8

Tighten the lug nuts to 165 foot-pounds with a torque wrench an metric socket in an alternating, criss-cross pattern.

9

Place the hub cap onto the wheel and tap it down into position with a rubber mallet.