Crooked steering wheel after alignment

[huskyfargo]

My RR is at about 18k miles. I took it in last week for an alignment after experiencing a little uneven wear on the outside edges of the front tires. It was still tracking straight, but I figured the wheels must have been toed in a little.
A couple miles down the road I realized the steering wheel was off by about an inch. I sent a pic to the service advisor and I took it back in yesterday to get it fixed.
Looking at the paperwork, the alignment was now off more than it was when I originally took it in, and after a couple miles after the correction, the steering wheel is crooked again.
Has anyone else experienced this?
I’m supposed to meet with the service manager Monday.
1” progressive springs in the rear, stock up front, stock tires on Method wheels with +25 offset.

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[Aemonn]

They must have the new guy doing the alignment. I haven't gotten my ranger aligned, but had this happen with an older vehicle. It's fixable, and should be easier for them considering there is a center line on the steering wheel.

 

[Bushmechanic]

Looking at the paperwork, the alignment was now off more than it was when I originally took it in, and after a couple miles after the correction, the steering wheel is crooked again.

Do you mean to suggest that the steering wheel was not crooked, and then after a few miles became crooked, or am I reading that wrong? That wouldn't be good, at all.

 

[superj]

Ford did mine a few weeks back and steering wheel is perfect and the truck rides straight with no pulling. I have a 2.5 spacer on the to level it, too.

I think they need to work on your's some more

 

[huskyfargo]

Do you mean to suggest that the steering wheel was not crooked, and then after a few miles became crooked, or am I reading that wrong? That wouldn't be good, at all.

That’s correct. It was straight when I left the lot. There’s no slack…doesn’t feel like anything is loose, but now it’s off about an inch to the right again, and pulling slightly to the left.

 

[ChronciallyChronic]

My RR is at about 18k miles. I took it in last week for an alignment after experiencing a little uneven wear on the outside edges of the front tires. It was still tracking straight, but I figured the wheels must have been toed in a little.
A couple miles down the road I realized the steering wheel was off by about an inch. I sent a pic to the service advisor and I took it back in yesterday to get it fixed.
Looking at the paperwork, the alignment was now off more than it was when I originally took it in, and after a couple miles after the correction, the steering wheel is crooked again.
Has anyone else experienced this?
I’m supposed to meet with the service manager Monday.
1” progressive springs in the rear, stock up front, stock tires on Method wheels with +25 offset.

Remember, wheel alignments have a component of subjective input from the service tech. In other words, if the service tech didn't center the wheel BEFORE doing the alignment it will appear to you the truck will pull to one side when YOU center the wheel while driving.
In other words, it's likely your alignment is good, the steering wheel wasn't centered when they did it. Yes, service screwed up and they need to fix it.

 

[Aemonn]

Yup. On my old vehicle they ended up having to have two people, one person in the vehicle centering the steering wheel and the other snugging up the bolts. Not sure if that was totally necessary, but that's the attempt where it came out straight.

Keep in mind, now that you're sensitive to it, you'll notice it even when it's not an issue. If a road has a proper crown, it will cause the steering wheel to be slightly off center, etc. Stuff you normally don't notice, but when a shop screws up like this and you become aware, you'll notice these tiny details.

 

[huskyfargo]

Remember, wheel alignments have a component of subjective input from the service tech. In other words, if the service tech didn't center the wheel BEFORE doing the alignment it will appear to you the truck will pull to one side when YOU center the wheel while driving.
In other words, it's likely your alignment is good, the steering wheel wasn't centered when they did it. Yes, service screwed up and they need to fix it.

The crazy thing is, it’s now pulling to the left when the wheel is still crooked to the right.

 

[Dhass68]

Possibly a cam bolt on the lower control arm came loose?

 

[Bushmechanic]

That’s correct. It was straight when I left the lot. There’s no slack…doesn’t feel like anything is loose, but now it’s off about an inch to the right again, and pulling slightly to the left.

My suggestion is to immediately take it to another alignment shop for inspection.

 

[huskyfargo]

Got it fixed!
The service manager personally did the alignment and found a loose bolt that was the culprit.

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