Off-center steering wheel
11-13-07, 09:20 AM
#1
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Off-center steering wheel
Anyone else have this? I noticed that in order for my car to point straight, the steering wheel has to be turned slightly to the right. It is irritating. What causes this and what can be done to remedy it?
Last edited by jpvarghese; 11-13-07 at 09:30 AM.
11-13-07, 09:27 AM
#3
Yea could be you just need an alignment. I have a similar issue where my steering wheel has to be a tad to the left to drive straight. I got an alignment done and it didn't fix it. I am looking into the tie rods, but haven't had a chance to jack the car up to test them yet.
Is you car lowered? Any camber wear on your tires?
Is you car lowered? Any camber wear on your tires?
11-13-07, 09:30 AM
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Actually good thing you mention that because I do have some camber wear on my tires, a little bit of negative camber, but my struts/suspension is stock.
11-13-07, 09:38 AM
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The key is to trouble-shoot. You should change your tires if tread is lower getting low, or if your tires are old. Get an alignment which should fix the problem. A lot of people are saying that even after their alignment, their wheels keeps resetting and moving off center.
That is when you know you should change your power steering bushings. I'm pretty sure TMengineering sells them. I would change my tires and PS bushings and then do an alignment.
That is when you know you should change your power steering bushings. I'm pretty sure TMengineering sells them. I would change my tires and PS bushings and then do an alignment.
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11-13-07, 05:03 PM
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Hmm, that would be my first thing to change on a high mileage car. But since you already changed them, I would check the inner tie rods (like you said). I'm sure you know about the test when you raise the car, and try to move the tire from side to side. If there is play, then you should change them.
11-13-07, 06:40 PM
#10
i have brand new tires all around, daizen steering rack bushings, and mine does the same thing, slightly to the right to go straight. i am gonna try an alignment, but the car goes way to straight for that to fix it. old cars tend to settle in to the side i hear, i am gonna take the steering wheel off and make it straight post alignment
11-14-07, 07:42 PM
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there is a lot of frustration with this steering wheel not being in the center issue.
my experience:
I've got new steering rack bushings, doens't help.
new outer tie rods because the old one was slightly popped and the grease was oozing, doesn't help.
took it to two different lexus dealers to get it 4 wheel aligned $99bucks each time, doesn't work.
what i ended up doing:
find a frame and alignment shop, take your car in there, have them check your rear track. rear track is important in a RWD car, if its off it will push the car off center. have them diagnose your problem, the place i went to diagnosed it for free. they said to me it was my front tires that were pulling cause they flipped the front tires around and it pulled the other way. they said new tires would correct the problem.
I ended up getting an alignment done there and they helped me counter the tires problem by compensating thru alignment so that it drives straight. they said when i get new front tires it will start to pull again.
my experience:
I've got new steering rack bushings, doens't help.
new outer tie rods because the old one was slightly popped and the grease was oozing, doesn't help.
took it to two different lexus dealers to get it 4 wheel aligned $99bucks each time, doesn't work.
what i ended up doing:
find a frame and alignment shop, take your car in there, have them check your rear track. rear track is important in a RWD car, if its off it will push the car off center. have them diagnose your problem, the place i went to diagnosed it for free. they said to me it was my front tires that were pulling cause they flipped the front tires around and it pulled the other way. they said new tires would correct the problem.
I ended up getting an alignment done there and they helped me counter the tires problem by compensating thru alignment so that it drives straight. they said when i get new front tires it will start to pull again.
11-15-07, 10:31 AM
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I've had the same problem, and I've replaced the steering rack bushings, tires, wheels, and had my car aligned and corner balanced. I also had the tie rods checked during the alignment and he said everything was in good shape. My car drives perfectly straight, and handles wonderfully, but the steering wheel is slightly to the right to drive straight. I think I'll correct this when I change out the steering wheel. I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one.
11-15-07, 10:45 AM
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I know mine showed up right after I put in the daizen steering rack bushings, it's off just a tad... maybe 5° or so. My old bushings weren't that bad, I tore them up a lot getting them out, but they weren't horrible to begin with.
11-15-07, 12:44 PM
#14
lol.. mine is 5° to the right too, seems like this for most people.
does anyones go further or to the left?
**oh yeah im pretty sure the problem is directly related to how your steering rack settles over time. our cars have such high powered PS, makes this more common.
i used to be able to turn my wheel a whole 10° left and right without my wheels moving when i purchased my car originally, the rack would just push side to side before it moved the wheels. talk about loose steering. immediately changed bushings after i bought it and it is solid now, but with the 5° problem
does anyones go further or to the left?
**oh yeah im pretty sure the problem is directly related to how your steering rack settles over time. our cars have such high powered PS, makes this more common.
i used to be able to turn my wheel a whole 10° left and right without my wheels moving when i purchased my car originally, the rack would just push side to side before it moved the wheels. talk about loose steering. immediately changed bushings after i bought it and it is solid now, but with the 5° problem
Last edited by Ali SC3; 11-15-07 at 12:49 PM.