I'm in the middle of trying to adjust a slightly off center steering wheel and I understand it should be possible by loosening one of the steering rack joint bolts.

I've tried loosening both bolts but I'm not able to get the steering wheel to turn independently from the rack/wheels. It looks like the connections on the joint have splines on both sides that are preventing this adjustment.

Is there a trick to this or something that I'm missing?

 

You have to back the bolt way off and move the shaft one spline at a time.

 

Hrm. I'll give it another shot.

 

I removed the bolt furthest from the steering wheel, put some PB Blaster on those splines and tried tapping it with a hammer. Still can't get it to move. Any suggestions?

 

I suggest you not do that to center your steering wheel. If its off center, the alignment is off, go get an alignment.

 

Ok, I got it. Had to have my lovely assistant turn the wheel while I spread the clamping part of the joint.

Mrfixit687 - I hear what you're saying, but the car drives and tracks well and I'm happy with how the tires are wearing. I'll get an alignment at some point this year, but for now I just wanted to see if I could tackle the steering wheel centering.

 

Moving the spline will change the torque/neutral position of the angle sensor in the rack. It is very likely you will get EPS codes down the road.

If the wheel is off, you can bet the bank at least one wheel on the car is out of alignment.

Now you are driving with an un-centered rack.

 

Ah crap. I moved it one spline. Is this likely to screw up my rack?

Would resetting the torque sensor neutral position correct the problem from the rack's point of view and prevent an EPS light?

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=462816

 

this is what should have been done.

as for the rack, it will be fine. it will just turn slightly more in one direction than the other.

as for EPS light, i have no idea. why would you ever want to try and turn it a spline. the only reason to ever adjust that would be if you put in a new rack and didn't put it in right.

 

Too many times it is simply lack of attention when reassembling after clutch / transmission work that allows the wheel to be a little off.

Loosening both bolts on the coupling will make it easier to adjust.

I have not seen an issue with EPS codes on the few cars I have worked on.