Such a simple procedure. Unbolt the old rack, bolt in the new one. Steering wheel was locked down and did not move when I reattached it to the new rack, wheels still pointed in the same direction as before, but now, driving straight, the steering wheel is almost 90 degrees to te right (1/4 turn). WTF? Can I just remove the air bag and unbolt the steering wheel to put it back straight? I'm going to have it aligned next week, but I just don't understand how it could be off by that much now....

 

No, you don't want to "tune" the steering wheel. All you need to do is pop off your outer tie rod ends, crank in one side by a number of turns, and back out the opposite side by the same amount. That's likely why your steering wheel is off to begin with.

 

I don't know why this just popped back into my head, but if your rack is like others I've messed with, you don't need to knock the tie rods off the spindle to be able to turn them on the shafts. Try loosening the jamb nuts, and adjust the shaft in or out as needed.

 

are you sure you got the coupler back on the same way and how did you disconnect the rack from the steering shaft.

 

When you replace the rack you need to get the car aligned. Due to manufacturing variation there is no other options. Whatever your garage offers for aligning cars you can get the cheapest one. If you are only worried about the rack then you can tell them they just need to "set toe and let it go".

What will happen on the aligment rack is they will set your toe with the wheel straight. Your overall rack is a little shorter or longer and the relationship between the mounts and the position of the gear teeth is a little different. This is 100% normal. I have installed 50+ racks and done the align right after. Sometimes they are close sometimes not so much but all of them need adjusted to be right.

Edit: was the rack a remanufactured? I have seen a rack one time that was not manufatured right. Once I centered the wheel I had less turnes in one direction then I had in the othere direction. If that is a case the whole thing is a do over. Problem is it is tuff to check this with the rack installed untill you center the wheel.

Your steering wheel in keyed with teeth. it is designed on only go on one way. Besides there is a good chance your toe is off and that will kill your tires fast.

 

1) The racks come pre-centered and ready to install. Unless somebody was messing with it (turning it with some pliers), that shouldn't be the issue.
2) Even if you put the new tie rods on with the same number of turns as the old ones, don't expect the outcome to be the same. That's where the adjustment is going to be made to straighten out the steering wheel.
3) All will be right again once you get it aligned next week.
Here's a question for you: do the front wheels go full lock (hits the bump stops) in both directions? If so, get a good nights sleep and wait till the alignment.

 

Yes, both wheels hit the stops. Getting it aligned right now.

 

Ball joints bad too.

 

I took the pinch bolt out at the lower steering shaft u joint. That's what the manual said to do and it can only go back one way.

 

Are they doing the ball joints or are you?