Steering wheel slightly off center

[BB125]

I have noticed that my steering wheel is slightly (and I mean very slightly) right of center when driving straight. I have gotten an alignment and verified the same air pressure in all tires. I probably wouldn't notice it except for the fact that I have a GT350R steering wheel and the red band at the top is approximately 1/2 in to the right of center. If it weren't for that red band I probably wouldn't notice it.

It has gotten to the point where it is hard for me NOT to notice it. I have done a lot of work on my wife's Jeep and those have something called a "drag link" that can easily be adjusted to center the wheel. I don't think there is such a thing on these cars though. What is the best way to adjust back to center?

Sponsored

 

[o-man]

I have noticed that my steering wheel is slightly (and I mean very slightly) right of center when driving straight. I have gotten an alignment and verified the same air pressure in all tires. I probably wouldn't notice it except for the fact that I have a GT350R steering wheel and the red band at the top is approximately 1/2 in to the right of center. If it weren't for that red band I probably wouldn't notice it.

It has gotten to the point where it is hard for me NOT to notice it. I have done a lot of work on my wife's Jeep and those have something called a "drag link" that can easily be adjusted to center the wheel. I don't think there is such a thing on these cars though. What is the best way to adjust back to center?

If it was that way when you got it back from alignment, I'd go back and have them re-adjust it so steering wheel is straight. I do have one question. does car track straight or do you have to "hold" it to the right? If so, you might want to rotate or swap tires to see if you have a tire pull. hope this helps some

 

[BB125]

If it was that way when you got it back from alignment, I'd go back and have them re-adjust it so steering wheel is straight. I do have one question. does car track straight or do you have to "hold" it to the right? If so, you might want to rotate or swap tires to see if you have a tire pull. hope this helps some

The car tracks great. I don't have to hold the wheel at all, it goes straight. All is well as long as I don't look at the wheel.

 

[Norm Peterson]

I have noticed that my steering wheel is slightly (and I mean very slightly) right of center when driving straight. I have gotten an alignment and verified the same air pressure in all tires. I probably wouldn't notice it except for the fact that I have a GT350R steering wheel and the red band at the top is approximately 1/2 in to the right of center. If it weren't for that red band I probably wouldn't notice it.

It has gotten to the point where it is hard for me NOT to notice it. I have done a lot of work on my wife's Jeep and those have something called a "drag link" that can easily be adjusted to center the wheel. I don't think there is such a thing on these cars though. What is the best way to adjust back to center?

That sounds like you've got a small "steer-ahead" issue, which can happen even when both toes are equally 'in' or 'out'.

All it takes to fix it is to lengthen one tie rod and shorten the other by the same amount. For a front-steer car (steering rack ahead of the front axle centerline)
you'd want to shorten the right-side tie rod and lengthen the left side one. It should be DIY-able; I've been through this numerous times.

I'd start by carefully loosening and turning only one flat of adjustment. Bes to bottom the rod end at the steering arm end first to avoid unwanted accidental adjustment just getting things loose even if you're using two wrenches. Retorquing isn't as critical because you're starting with small torque and ramping that up, as opposed to starting out at max torque plus a little just to break things loose.

Go for a test drive to determine if you need more adjustment, or perhaps have to back off what you did down to half a flat. Go for another test drive.


Norm

 

[NightmareMoon]

Norm is right, its DIYable.

Basically the wheel wasn’t perfectly centered when they did you alignment.

Seem intimidating to adjust your own alignment? Well this really ian’t bad at all. The tie rods and jam nuts are pretty accessible (no need to remove the belly pan or wheels) and you just need to make an equal shift on both sides to preserve your toe in/out from your last alignment. I rcommend marking the current positions of those nuts and rotations of the rod/nut with a sharpie so you don’t get lost and forget where they started.

Doing it yourself you’ll save some money and you can get that wheel as perfectly centered as your OCD needs it to be.

Sponsored