Steering wheel not centered

akura

Hey,

So my steering wheel when driving in a straight line is slightly off center, and if i center it the car pulls to the right

so i was wondering could this be a tracking problem?

Thanks

Nissan doctor

akura wrote: »

Hey,

So my steering wheel when driving in a straight line is slightly off center, and if i center it the car pulls to the right

so i was wondering could this be a tracking problem?

Thanks

Its a wheel alignment problem alright.

What type of car is it?

akura

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Its a wheel alignment problem alright.

What type of car is it?

2001 saxo

Nissan doctor

akura wrote: »

2001 saxo

They only have front wheel adjustment so likely these are off. You should ideally have a proper 4 wheel alignment check though as issues with the rear axle can cause the wheel to be off center too.

How long has it been like that? Has it only happened after a bad pothole/impact?

piston

More than likely, whoever last did steering alignment didn't bother to centre the wheel before starting.

rebel.ranter

piston wrote: »

More than likely, whoever last did steering alignment didn't bother to centre the wheel before starting.

Would the fact that the car is also pulling to the right indicate that the tracking is out as a result of some impact like a pothole rather than a lazy alignment?
Either way OPs car needs the tracking to be done.

The Tyre Dude

Years ago when I didn't know any better a backstreet mechanic fixed my off centre steering wheel by taking the wheel off and re-centering it...:rolleyes:

Nissan doctor

The Tyre Dude wrote: »

Years ago when I didn't know any better a backstreet mechanic fixed my off centre steering wheel by taking the wheel off and re-centering it...:rolleyes:

That was the norm for pre airbag cars.

Many older cars(mk1 golf being an example) only had toe adjustment on one side, so you had to line up the fixed wheel to straight ahead, then adjust the other wheel to match, then remove and refit the steering wheel in the straight position.

Mr.David

I've come across lazy garages that will adjust the tracking by changing on one side only, the result being an off centre steering wheel. Highly irritating!

T-Maxx

The Tyre Dude wrote: »

Years ago when I didn't know any better a backstreet mechanic fixed my off centre steering wheel by taking the wheel off and re-centering it...:rolleyes:

If it's only the steering wheel that's off it could very well be that a previous owner took it off for some reason and didn't put it back on again properly. You need to check that the steering well is centered correctly and then have the wheel alignment done.

akura

Nissan doctor wrote: »

They only have front wheel adjustment so likely these are off. You should ideally have a proper 4 wheel alignment check though as issues with the rear axle can cause the wheel to be off center too.

How long has it been like that? Has it only happened after a bad pothole/impact?

Thanks, I only have the car a few month's and it was like that when i got it, it's not massivly off centre just a little, but wee things like that annoy me:P

im in donegal and alot of the roads are horrendous so maybe the previous owner had a bad encounter with a pothole

sundodger5

Its been awhile but as per previously mentioned some older cars had adjustment on one side only.
I think the saxo was one of those cars, are they not the same as a peugeot 106 underneath?

Nissan doctor

sundodger5 wrote: »

Its been awhile but as per previously mentioned some older cars had adjustment on one side only.
I think the saxo was one of those cars, are they not the same as a peugeot 106 underneath?

They are the same but they have adjustment on both sides, its a bit awkward though as you have to adjust the track rods from inside the engine bay.

Jimbob 83

Had a new steering rack put in recently, wheel is 20-30degrees out of alignment, abit annoying but meh

Nissan doctor

Jimbob 83 wrote: »

Had a new steering rack put in recently, wheel is 20-30degrees out of alignment, abit annoying but meh

That would drive me up the wall!:eek:

Jimbob 83

Nissan doctor wrote: »

That would drive me up the wall!:eek:

If i drove with the wheel straight that is highly possible :pac:

Where To

I've had to get a car realigned nine times in the last 40000 miles.

Probably explains why I'm more sympathetic to Chinese tyres than most

Nissan doctor

Where To wrote: »

I've had to get a car realigned nine times in the last 40000 miles.

Driving with your eyes open would prevent that:P:D


Honestly though....how?

Where To

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Driving with your eyes open would prevent that:P:D


Honestly though....how?

A combination of things. Bad roads, heavy loads and worse roads mainly.

Plus the fact that it's a Superb and some garages may have been less than enthusiastic about doing a thorough job.

Nissan doctor

Where To wrote: »

A combination of things. Bad roads, heavy loads and worse roads mainly.

Interesting to see one major factor missing from that list.:P

Where To

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Interesting to see one major factor missing from that list.:P

Ahh the nut behind the steering wheel?

Nissan doctor

Where To wrote: »

Ahh the nut behind the steering wheel?

Or as we say in work(when the customer might hear:P), I recon the organic relay is at fault:D

sundodger5

Nissan doctor wrote: »

They are the same but they have adjustment on both sides, its a bit awkward though as you have to adjust the track rods from inside the engine bay.

i knew they rang a bell for some reason. anything with "overhead" adjustment was a pain. they were extra painful.