Hi folks, first post here. I replaced inner and outer tie rod ends on Beth sides of the truck and could not get the truck back in alignment spec after( home and shop). Both wheel bearings replaced as well. When steering wheel is straight, I have about 1/2" of threads engaged on driver's side tie rod. Passengers side has half or more threads engaged. All new parts matched all old parts. I'm wondering if the caster angle on the passengers side being too positive is keeping my steering rack too far away from driver's side for the tie rod ends to properly engage each other. Alignment shop only messed with toe and could only get toe in close without running shy on threads( driver's side). I've messed with it myself and if I have enough threads on both side, the wheel is cocked way off. Truck also has touchy steering that wanders if not constantly adjusted. I'll try to include alignment shop print out.

 

Is the steering rack properly centered?

 

Yes I believe so. When roughing in the alignment I turned wheel both ways counting turns to find center

 

I don't think the caster being off less than one degree is going to make any difference at all on the tie rods. A half inch of thread engagement simply is NOT enough in my book. I would suggest wrong parts, but, if they match the old parts....... how did things look before you took the old ones off?

 

The old tie rods were relatively even with thread engagement on both side. Maybe favored one side a turn or two. I measured new and old parts with a tape and caliper before install and made sure left is on left right is on right. Even swapped them to be sure. Everything is the same. Passenger wheel bearing was a terrible mess. Both sides replaced during tie rod replacement. Ball joints are good. The only thing I can think of by this point is that out of wack caster number possibly holding the rack too far right. It seems ridiculous but I can't think of another lead to follow. New tires also. I agree 1/2" engagement is not good enough. With the jam nut loose I can wiggle threads around inside the outters sleeve.

 

Has the rack moved in its mounts by some chance??? Might have someone try turning the wheels, while you watch the rack, and see if it moves in its mounts......

 

Just rechecked the rack. Not seeing any movement in either direction. Could a combination of positive camber and too positive caster on passenger side creep the rack that way enough to cause this issue? The truck ran good down the road before the wheel bearing got too bad. Now with new parts its way out. I don't mean to beat the caster angle thing to death bit I'm out of other options

 

I don't think any of the minor differences in suspension angles would make very much, if any, difference..... Something else is going on there, and we just haven't found it yet.

Maybe try and re-center the rack again, with the tie rods disconnected?

 

I recentered the rack multiple times when I dug into the tie rods and bearings. I'm 100% sure it's centered unless there's another adjustment involved. I know the steering shaft has a flat side that fits into a matching profile so no adjustment there except for a full turn which would mess up rack travel and turn signal switches. Could a previous owner have moved the actual steering wheel to be centered around a crooked front end and putting new parts on is now showing this. I assume the wheel is indexed to only fit one way and that any adjustment to it would affect turn signal switches

 

If you count the turns lock to lock, divide by two, and turn the wheel to that position, is the steering wheel straight? Or is it cocked to one side or the other?