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Steering wheel off centre
Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 7:42 pm
by CoachOz
My steering wheel is a bit off centre when the wheels are straight ahead. This has been the case ever since I bought the car. Do I rectify this with a wheel alignment or by taking the steering wheel off and resetting it?
Re: Steering wheel off centre
Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 10:37 pm
by PaulF
Unless you've taken the steering wheel off recently, I'd say wheel alignment.
Re: Steering wheel off centre
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 10:22 pm
by CoachOz
I haven't taken the wheel off, but the previous owner might have
Re: Steering wheel off centre
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 10:41 pm
by NitroDann
Id bet one of your REAR wheels is not aligned.
Dann
Re: Steering wheel off centre
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 10:44 pm
by PaulF
This post is based on general rather than practical knowledge. If anyone sees a flaw in my logic then feel free to point it out.
If the steering wheel is misaligned, then when the wheel is centred it won't be in the centre of the rack. This means that it will be further towards full lock one one side than the other. Pull the wheels to full left lock and take note of the position of the steering wheel, then go to full right lock and look again at the position of the steering wheel. Full right lock should be the exact mirror image of full left lock. If it isn't the exact mirror image, then that would suggest that the steering wheel is not properly aligned. If it is the exact mirror image, then that would suggest that the issue is in the suspension alignment.
Re: Steering wheel off centre
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 10:50 pm
by NitroDann
paul, correct.
Dann
Re: Steering wheel off centre
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 10:51 pm
by PaulF

Do I get a gold star?
Re: Steering wheel off centre
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 11:05 pm
by NitroDann
No, you do however get an na6, when you have saved up enough.
Dann
Re: Steering wheel off centre
Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:18 am
by cojack
Turn your steering wheel lock to lock (from left to right) and note down the position of the when the wheel is full lock. Eg: 10 O'clock or 2 O'Clock. If they are even then the steering wheel was not straight when you had alignment done. Otherwise you could remove the steering wheel and re centre it.
Re: Steering wheel off centre
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 11:09 am
by CoachOz
I tuned the wheel and yes it is off centre when I compare full lock to full lock
Re: Steering wheel off centre
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 11:40 am
by PaulF
Sounds like you've got your answer then.