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steering wheel alignment 2001 gu patrol

Submitted: Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 10:50

palmerson

hello everyone top idea this forum [question] after fitting new tyres bridgestone dueller a/ts and getting a wheel alignment upon driving i see the steering wheel centre line points at 1 oclock after going back to the tyre retailer and asking why i was told that just take off the steering wheel and put it back at 12 oclock ok simple i thought except for air bags how do you remove it without it going off in my face any thoughts thanks palmerson
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ThreadID: 26062 Replies: 3
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AnswerID: 127899   Submitted: Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 11:22

GUPatrol replied:

Tell them to go an learn how to do wheel alignments!!!

The steering wheel is adjusted at the time of the wheel alignment and can/should be done without removing the steering wheel otherwise the steering box will not be centered which is bad because the gears in it are not linear, it needs to be centered.

Steering wheel can be repositioned if it is slightly off centre.
You would not be qualified to dissasemble the air bag component but you can do it, it needs to be decommisioned first by removing the power to it and discharing the capacitor, all air bag circuitry is labelled yellow.
Take it to someone who knows what they are doing (wheel alignment wise).

Will
Reply 1 of 3
FollowupID: 382531   Submitted: Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 13:18

hl posted:

Hi,

Actually, there is NO adjustment on the GU Patrol to centre the wheel!
The relay rod used to be adjustable in the first series, and that got changed as there was a recall for loosening nuts. Ever since, the only adjustment possible is toe-in.
If the steering wheel is out, it usually means something is bent.
Makes you wonder why they often double the price for a wheel alignment because it's a fourby!
You may want to try swapping the front tyres. I have noticed a difference with some tyres, don't know why.
Cheers

FollowUp 1 of 3
FollowupID: 382538   Submitted: Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 13:39

GUPatrol posted:

Hl,

You are right to some extent.
If they adjusted the toe in via just one side then the steering goes out...

So adjusting the right paramenters on the side that matters adjusts the steering wheel...

Exactly the same as when something is bent which has the same result...
FollowUp 2 of 3
FollowupID: 382561   Submitted: Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 15:25

hl posted:

Hi Will,

Well, there is no seperate adjustment for each side. You loosen the locknuts on both sides and turn the whole bar to either make it toe in or out. Mine was slightly off centre for a while. Until about 2 months ago when I had to replace the front tyres... Now it is straight! I don't know why, the alignment was not touched.

Cheers
FollowUp 3 of 3
AnswerID: 127930   Submitted: Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 14:44

Member -Dodger replied:

My wheel alignment exspert says that he sets the steering wheel to straight and adjusts the wheels accordingly with the correct alignment and that you cannot alter the steering wheel due to centering as previously stated. So go back and get them to do it CORRECTLY.
Parked at Boroka Lookout
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Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
Regards Dodg.
Reply 2 of 3
FollowupID: 382570   Submitted: Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 16:02

GUPatrol posted:

That's exactly right!!
FollowUp 1 of 1
AnswerID: 127960   Submitted: Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 16:52

Tuff60 replied:

Dodger and GUPatrol.
This is exactly how Owner Experts piss off mechanics, wheel aligners and the like.
I've been under more GU patrols than the pair of you have had hot dinners. HL is dead RIGHT, there is NO (read NONE) adjustment on GU's except for a total toe bar that connects both front wheels.
The only exception is early GU I's that did not go back for the recall. The recall was to remove the adjustable bar which connects the pitman arm to the left hand steering knuckle, and replace it with a solid shaft. The same solid shaft fitted to GU's ever since.
Nissan's reason given was that over time the adjustment nuts became loose and then the bar could over time unwind and then disconnect causing loss of steering completely. So as there is only a total toe adjustment, any big enough adjustment will result in a crooked steering wheel. So as I said before HL is dead right.
Palmerson, please don't go in to the place to tell them they got it wrong, go in and ask the wheel aligner to show you where the adjustment was before nissan removed it, I am sure if he as been doing it long enough he will know.
I write this because there is not a mechanic or wheel aligner out there who is not tired of owner experts coming in telling them how to do their job on the say so of somebody’s brother, friend, neighbor, cousin, hairdresser, boyfriend, father or even forum buddy on a website.

Do you like being told how to do YOUR job?????
Reply 3 of 3
FollowupID: 382612   Submitted: Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 20:24

120scruiser posted:

Here Here Tuff 60.

The adjustment is only made on the one drag link which will drag the steering wheel off line.

To straighten the wheel, disconnect the battery and then turn on the headlights for 5 minutes. Remove the horn pad, you will need a special type of torx fitting and then remove steering wheel as normal. Refit horn pad and then reconnect battery. If you don't have the air bag torx fitting you won't be able to remove the securing screws so take it to some body who knows what they are doing.
The GU is like doing a wheel alignment on the old Sigmas. One adjustment only.
FollowUp 1 of 3
FollowupID: 382651   Submitted: Saturday, Sep 03, 2005 at 00:47

Tuff60 posted:

120scruiser, exactly as i was saying, only removing the steering wheel will straighten it. Nissan were doing them free of charge for a while but don't know about now. Tyre shops/mechanics don't remove air bag wheels as the VACC insurance does not cover it unless you are certified, not worth the money for most. When needed to I use to use the local locksmith, as he had done his airbag deactivation course, so he could remove key barrels. And everytime he came by he had another great story. Why does a Cruiser owner( I assume) know about nissan alignments?? Just curious.
FollowUp 2 of 3
FollowupID: 382680   Submitted: Saturday, Sep 03, 2005 at 11:56

120scruiser posted:

This cruiser owner is a licenced mechanic who has his own workshop with others working for him. Our shop has been around in the same family for 20 years.
DON'T TELL ANYBODY ELSE ABOUT US
FollowUp 3 of 3

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