wanabe

my steering wheel seems to have moved from its original perfectly straight position to being off center (at least an inch, maybe two)- the steering wheel is not at all straight- up and down- when the car is going straight.
i cant imagine that they did not properly tighten it during manufacture...
i assume that the dealer can easily fix it-
has anyone else experienced this?

cthree

It's an alignment thing. The dealer can fix it.

nibble

Have you removed steering wheel before? If not, possible causes are, alignment & tire pressure. There are other thread I've seen talked about it. I hope it helps..

cheers,

wanabe

thanks-
i assume that they just loosen it, move it and retighten it (with a torque wrench)?
why would it happen (why would it change position)?
cant imagine that i crank the wheel too hard... didnt know you could do that!

joe_s2k

Have you hit a pothole or lightly ran into a curb? I hit a large pothole while at the S2kdays event and bent my lower control arm. I noticed that my steering wheel was way off after that event.

I would think that something on your suspension/steering components have loosened and made your steering wheel slightly off center. Take it to the dealer for a front-end alignment and insist that the steering wheel be level when the car is aligned. That is one of my pet peeves.



[Edited by joe_s2k on 06-08-2001 at 10:10 AM]

Prolene

By alignment, I think front end alignment was meant. Front alignment probably way to go, imo, then if needed, steering wheel adjustment can be made via steering linkages, rather than at the steering wheel itself.



[Edited by Prolene on 06-08-2001 at 09:18 AM]

1Y2KS2K

Remember you hit the curb with your rear wheel back in April? It may have something to do with your misalignment. You're going to need a 4-wheel alignment for sure.

Make sure they don't physically reset the steering wheel to center. It's fitted on a multi-splined shaft, and therefore cannot move all by itself. (I assume no-one had previously removed the wheel for some reason, and reinstalled it a couple of notches out). Something else has caused the offset - probably the linkage or wheel misalignment. If it was simply due to uneven tire pressure, you'd probably feel the wheel pulling in the direction of the tire with the least pressure (especially at low speeds) - so it's probably not that.

I'd recommend taking it back to the dealer for a look-see. They'll check the linkage, whereas a tire shop will probably only do the alignment, and may (wrongly) make an adjustment to compensate.

huyto

My sterring wheel has been off a tick to the left ever since the day I got the car, just a hair but it is noticeable, and annoying

I'll probably have the dealer straighten it when I get the TSB's done.

stocks2k

My wheel was off center after the transmission was pulled for TSB's 54 and 55. It tood the dealer 3 tries to get it straight again. If you have had any of the TSB's done that deal with pulling the tranny they have to remove the steering box so it can get out of line. That is my understanding at least.

wanabe

[QUOTE]Originally posted by 1Y2KS2K
[B]Remember you hit the curb with your rear wheel back in April?