Why is steering wheel off center

If components of the suspension or steering system are damaged or severely worn on one side, it can alter the wheel angle on that side. Vehicles are carefully designed from the factory to behave in a certain way with the parts they are manufactured with. If one component is changed, related parts often need modification as well so the whole system still works right. If the vehicle is lowered or lifted, the suspension alignment needs to be modified to accommodate that difference.

This can be tricky to do correctly, so either do a lot of research for your specific vehicle or get help from a professional. Almost all the time, a crooked steering wheel is caused by misalignment.

In that case, getting a complete alignment done by a mechanic should fix the problem. Sometimes an alignment alone cannot correct the issue. This may be a result of a collision that has bent one or more suspension components, such as a tie rod or control arm.

At the end of a professional alignment , the steering wheel should be centered. Small tweaks in the steering system can have dramatic results. If the vehicle just had an alignment and the steering wheel is still off-center, it should not cost anything to take the vehicle right back to the shop and have them fix it.

Most modern vehicles come with two different types of steering systems and these systems help the driver control the movement of the vehicle. Vehicles like cars, SUVs, and small trucks have what is known as rack and pinion steering while larger vehicles come with recirculating ball steering. These systems have parts that eventually fail or become worn over time and this can result in a loose steering wheel. When rectifying a bent wheel, you have to work on three angles, such as caster, camber, and toe.

It refers to the forward or backward tilting of the top of the steering axis. It regulates the directional control of the steering. It has control over the tire wear and the directional operation. The angle has something to do with the bending of the wheels from the upright position. It will be negative when it angles inward. It has to do with the extent of the angle the front or rear wheels are turned in or out. The two most common ways to mend steering wheel off center problem are:.

While it is the easiest method, you still need to have some technical knowledge about the mechanism of a vehicle. You should also have the right tools or equipment as it involves removing the steering wheel from its case. You can simply take it out and set up again in the right position. It is also possible to rectify the alignment without removing the wheel.

However, the process involves more time and cost. When there is excessive tilting, you should take the vehicle to a service facility or shop.

The mechanics use a machine for the alignment that takes care of the thrust angle and all four wheels. While it may seem a bit strange, the rear axle and its tie rods are just as responsible for steering your car as the front. The difference is that the rear axle only turns the rear of the car. If your rear alignment settings -- via the tie rods or axle alignment -- are off, you'll have to turn the wheel in the same direction as the rear tires to keep the car pointed down the road.

This alone will cause your steering wheel off-center, because the car is actually going down the road slightly sideways. An off-center steering wheel is, paradoxically, a pretty common complaint following a front-wheel alignment. During an alignment, the technician will adjust your front tie rods to whatever degree necessary to remove any pull on the steering wheel.

In the course of doing so, he'll end up changing the position of the wheels relative to the steering column just to keep them pointed in the same direction as the rear tires. While this does eliminate that sideways pull, it'll also permanently cock your car sideways. This "off-tracking" or "dog-tracking" is dangerous because it changes your car's low and high-speed handling characteristics, and it'll kill your fuel economy by exposing the broad side of your car to the wind.

Since this is essentially a problem with rear wheel angle, you need to adjust that first. It is also possible to correct the alignment without removing the wheel. But, the process involves more time and cost. When the tilting is too much, you should take the vehicle to a service shop. The mechanics use a machine for the alignment that takes care of all four wheels and the thrust angle. They will also check the caster, camber, and toe angles to make sure that the steering wheel is not off-center.

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