I'm still poking around about getting new tires or new tires and rims (can't remember the tire size, but rim was 17") or trading in the prius. (I can not get the seating and steering wheel to a comfortable position) Then I ask, how do I get it aligned? I heard something about the Steering wheel having to be centered specially at a Toyota dealer? Thanks, Higgins909
The steering wheel is not centred with wheels straight ahead? If so, could maybe be corrected with equal-but-opposite rotation of the tie rod adjustment nuts.
It's fairly straight. But in order to drive straight, I might have to turn left ever so slightly. It likes to pull right after I hit a pothole quite a while ago. I was trying to look into it once and read something about the electronic power steering center having to be programmed.
Try switching left and right wheels first. It's relatively easy, so worth a try. There's a thing called conicity that might be fixed by this action.
I finally did this. I've only put maybe 20 miles on a couple roads but I think it's fixed it for the most part. It might pull left ever so slightly. Need to drive it more to see. Does this mean my tire and or wheel is messed up?
We had this on a previous vehicle, with tires about half-worn. I'm not sure of the root cause, just that it's a wear condition called "conicity" (google for more explanation). Swapping the wheels side-to-side can kinda fix it. Eventually the tires wear to where they're replaced, and maybe time to switch brands, I'm not sure though.
If the car pulls, or drifts to one side, say right, and you switch the front tires and it now pulls left, it means you drove that way long enough that the tires are unevenly worn, because of the caster being out of alignment. If it still pulls right, it just means you have not driven it long enough that the tires have worn yet. Either way, you need an alignment. Maybe even have some worn bushing. You should check, or have the bushing, and suspension parts checked for wear, and replaced if needed. Then have an alignment.