So i went airborne off an unseen speed ramp last weekend (exaggerating a bit but I landed pretty hard). Car went straight into my garage and hasn't moved since.
midweek I got my retrimmed steering wheel so I fitted it ASAP. Old one came off and new one went on "sraight".
Or so I think.

Driving it for the first time last night since both things , the wheel sits slightly left, but the car feels like it's pulling slightly to the left.
I'm swaying more towards it being alignment but it also might all be in my head and there's nothing wrong with either.

As it's easy for me to re-do the steering wheel, is there an easy way to determine the car is pointing 100% dead ahead while in the driveway so I'm not relying on wheel alignment/road camber/tracking etc. to get it straight before getting wheel alignment checked ?

Thanks in advance.

 

First off get the front suspension checked for any misalignment, breakages or bending.

Oncew done, set front wheels dead ahead by driving car in staright line, then remove and replace steering wheel if necessary.

 

to get the front suspension set up correctly, would the steering wheel not need to be straight in the first place ?

 

Try winding the steering lock from side to side to see how many rotations the steering wheel makes and then reposition half way and see how the wheel sits wrt being straight. Then you can remove and reposition. However you could still be half a spline out depending upon how the splined insert in the wheel is positioned.

Once that's established you know the rack itself is central and aligning the front wheels will give equal length track/tie rods.

 

Tried putting steering wheel one notch right. Sits to the right now. So must have had it fitted correctly first time and it is the tracking at fault.
will get it booked in and cross my fingers.

I can change the steering wheel in the dark now

 

take it up to Ivan Kerrs in Carrick - theyll do the job on it for not a lot of money its just the front you looking assessed and adjusted potentially - only £24 or thereabouts, give him a shout on RMS

wouldnt say youve bent something, more likely just knocked the camber if come down hard enough

 

I've a 4 wheel alignment voucher for Magowans so it'll be done "free" by them. It's booked for Saturday and I'll see what's what then.

 

o aye forgot you won that lol!

 

didn't think I'd be the one using it but it's comming in handy now.

 

Got the 4 wheel alignment done today and wheel is now sitting straight which I'm happy with. Still felt like it was pulling slightly to the left but it's blowing a gale here so hard to tell.