I just got my car back from the shop a while back and it needed a new drivers air bag. well now my wheel is turned to the left when the car goes straight. can this be fixed by geting the car aligned again or do I have to pul the wheel off and do it that way? if so how hard is it to pul off?


We Ride Together, We Die Together...... J-Bodies For Life!
SPONSORED BY: Showstopper Tuning, JM Graphics
2003 Cavalier LS Sport "SHOCKWAVE"

Yes, this will be fixed when the car is aligned.

Be sure to tell the alignment shop that you had the air bag replaced though, just in case that's relevant. I seem to recall the steering column being keyed so the wheel can't be put on off center, but I'm not positive about that.

Generally, they'll straighten the wheel first, then make sure the alignment is proper.

i believe the steering wheel is splined, not keyed (dont quote me on that). if your wheel was straight going in, it should be coming out. take it to the shop that did the air bag and make them straighten it. it is true that an alignment does straighten the wheel, you just have to realize that tie rods only have so many threads, and they are made to adjust a normal amount from suspesion wear, hitting all those wonderful potholes, etc. when you throw in a non-centered steering wheel, you will have to shorten one tie rod, and lengthen the other to get the wheel straight, so you are automatically at an alignment disadvantage.

Wild Weasel wrote:

Generally, they'll straighten the wheel first, then make sure the alignment is proper.

Usually we do it the other way at my shop, we align it first and then straighten the wheel. Because alot of times straightening the wheel before you align the vehicle is like wiping your ass before taking a crap. The wheel generally does move when the vehicle is being aligned..

If you have had the car recently aligned once already, take it back and make them straighten it.. you made it sound like you may have had it aligned once already. If not, just get it aligned, it probably needs it anyway.



1983 Camaro Z28

i don't believe it was aligned already i hit a deer and blew the bag but i don't think anything needed replaced that may mess up alignment. its been buggin me it bein tilted so hence my question. thanks.


We Ride Together, We Die Together...... J-Bodies For Life!
SPONSORED BY: Showstopper Tuning, JM Graphics
2003 Cavalier LS Sport "SHOCKWAVE"

It would bug the hell out of me too.

It can definitely be fixed, so don't worry too much.

Be careful you don't break the airbag clockspring, putting the wheel on offcenter could cause you to do exactly that at one lock or the other.

To the person above.

How do you straighten the wheel after the alignment.

You need to center the wheel, put the thing to lock it in place, and then the brake pedal depresses.

Secondly if you try to adjust the tierods, with the wheel unlocked, you wont be able to, due to the fact the rack isnt being held, because the sterring wheel isnt


- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new

When I adjust toe I use Wintoe (Assuming you are using a hunter DSP-XXX) no lock required.. You adjust toe on each side, jounce it, if its still in specs hit finish and then as long as the line graph indicateds the wheel is centered than you're golden.


------------------------------------------------------------