Steering Wheel crooked

jjohan35 · 10-23-2007, 05:41 PM

My steering wheel is pretty crooked. I went to the dealership and the mechanic did an alignment with a computerized alignment system. I generally trust this particular mechanic. I picked up my car and now the steering wheel is crooked more so than before, but the other direction. It's actually worse.

I took it to another wheel/tire place and they checked it out. They said the alignment on the tires are all within specs.

Is there another possible reason that my steering wheel is crooked when driving straight on a flat/level road?

**J-Ro** · 10-23-2007, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjohan35

My steering wheel is pretty crooked. I went to the dealership and the mechanic did an alignment with a computerized alignment system. I generally trust this particular mechanic. I picked up my car and now the steering wheel is crooked more so than before, but the other direction. It's actually worse.

I took it to another wheel/tire place and they checked it out. They said the alignment on the tires are all within specs.

Is there another possible reason that my steering wheel is crooked when driving straight on a flat/level road?

It probably means that your wheel is off-centre on the steering column (i.e. nothing is wrong with your alignment). I'm not sure how exactly how to change that, but to get the wheel off, you have to remove the airbag, then unbolt the wheel. I wouldn't think it would be too complicated, but then again, you probably don't want to screw around with your airbag. Your best bet is to take it back to the dealer and make them redo it.

Duce2k · 10-23-2007, 06:04 PM

Yeah, what he said

10Hondas · 10-23-2007, 09:43 PM

There is a TSB on vehicles drifting to the left and right and it also addresses a steering wheel off center issue. It is fixed by doing an alignment with the steering wheel indexed in a centered position. Bring the TSB to the dealer.

Pdivizzle0112 · 10-23-2007, 09:50 PM

its your alignment bro. mine was doing the same thing

jjohan35 · 10-24-2007, 12:33 AM

Thanks 10Honda. I will bring it in tomorrow.

jackolee · 10-24-2007, 12:38 AM

actually my rsx was like that...
my sister got an alighnment and everything and it was still like that
then she saw that it wasnt just the steering wheel it was the whole thing that held the wheel down
it was probably made like that during production if so then theres no way to fix that problem

Firestrife · 10-24-2007, 02:49 AM

when u go to get your alignment tell the technician to center it for you especially if you trust him and done work with him a lot it shouldnt be too much more work for him.

jjohan35 · 10-24-2007, 03:27 AM

Actually I just spent the whole day driving. The car drifts to the right no matter what I do. What's strange is that before the alignment, the car was drifting to the left. Is the mechanic incompetent? He used some expensive computer system to do the alignment so I don't know?

Firestrife · 10-24-2007, 03:43 AM

the roads are crowned slightly to the right to allow for water run off, so it will pull a little. try to find a freeway with a median get on the far left lane it should pull a little to the left now, if the road is crowned to run drain off to the sides and median of the road.

***portabuddy*** · 10-24-2007, 04:38 AM

i dont know if you live in canada?, the roads in canada are crowned, meaning that they all crest outward to allow for drainage, i had my dealer compensate for it clightly so that on the highway its straight and on the city its slightly crooked, my alighnment is perfect but itsunavodable, the civics steering is sensitive and the slightest movement can cause you to go jolting into the ditch unlike other cars*cough* ANY DOMESTIC */cough*

i wouldnt worry about it too much... you can do it yourself, drive down your street and make sure that the car is going straight(wheel crooked) then stop dissconect the battery, then undo the 3-4 screws holding the airbar from the back(phillips #2) pull the bag off then undo the steering wheel nut(26mm i think) pull off the wheel turn and re-atatch...

done..., or have honda do it. they can do it this way or compensate by turning bolth ball joins off your steering rack...

jjohan35 · 10-24-2007, 05:29 AM

I don't know, man. It's pretty annoying. I can't tell if it's supposed to be like that or the mechanic messed it up.

jackolee · 10-24-2007, 12:48 PM

like i said it maybe liek that from factory
was it liked that when you first got it?

jjohan35 · 10-24-2007, 08:58 PM

It was originally drifting to the left (for 3 months since brand new) until I took it to the dealership earlier this week. After they did alignment, the car is drifting to the right.

I drove in the middle of the road in my neighborhood. The car continues to drift to the right regardless of direction I drove on the same road. I'm bringing it in tomorrow.

jjohan35 · 10-25-2007, 10:58 PM

Took it to another dealership. They did 4 wheel alignment and adjusted the steering wheel. The car drives perfectly now, like it should be.

**J-Ro** · 10-26-2007, 05:05 PM

Good to hear

ct20 · 10-26-2007, 05:43 PM

Glad to hear it worked for you...My sedan steering wheel was crooked to and pulling to the right...took it for a 4 wheel alignment, sure enough...the left front was 3/32" out...I have had it a year and never had it aligned...steering wheel is straight now...Gotta love a $35 4-wheel alignment...

jepoy · 01-11-2008, 10:24 PM

hey i have d same thing happening to my car...my car keeps turning to the right...i lowered it, got rims, and did alingment and everything.but still slightly turns to the right..i trust my mechanic, but the problem is still there, should i just take it to the dealership?

soxfan143 · 01-11-2008, 10:36 PM

To anyone who's wheel is crooked and they just had an alignment. It's the tech who did it. Bring it back untill it's level. I do this for a living and unless the machines calibration is off, the tech is at fault.

And NEVER remove the steering wheel to level it. The steering rack only travels a certain distance from left to right. If you remove the wheel to center it the wheels will turn more in one direction than the other because the rack is already off center in one direction. For example if the wheel is off center to the left and you and you remove it you will not get the same amount of travel on the rack when turning right. Your car will not turn as sharp to the right. The turning radius will increase. and the racks valveing will be off and it will cause unnecessary wear on the whole hydraulic system.

jepoy · 01-16-2008, 10:39 PM

tnx for the info.

10-23-2007, 05:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
jjohan35 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 107 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Steering Wheel crooked My steering wheel is pretty crooked. I went to the dealership and the mechanic did an alignment with a computerized alignment system. I generally trust this particular mechanic. I picked up my car and now the steering wheel is crooked more so than before, but the other direction. It's actually worse. I took it to another wheel/tire place and they checked it out. They said the alignment on the tires are all within specs. Is there another possible reason that my steering wheel is crooked when driving straight on a flat/level road?

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10-23-2007, 06:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
Duce2k Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,916 iTrader: 4 / 100%	Yeah, what he said

10-23-2007, 09:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
Pdivizzle0112 Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: california Posts: 934 iTrader: 0 / 0%	its your alignment bro. mine was doing the same thing

10-24-2007, 12:33 AM	#6 (permalink)
jjohan35 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 107 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Thanks 10Honda. I will bring it in tomorrow.

10-24-2007, 12:38 AM	#7 (permalink)
jackolee Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tennessee Age: 19 Posts: 6,850 iTrader: 2 / 100%	actually my rsx was like that... my sister got an alighnment and everything and it was still like that then she saw that it wasnt just the steering wheel it was the whole thing that held the wheel down it was probably made like that during production if so then theres no way to fix that problem

10-24-2007, 02:49 AM	#8 (permalink)
Firestrife Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Gainesville, FL Age: 20 Posts: 3,490 Keenan iTrader: 9 / 100%	when u go to get your alignment tell the technician to center it for you especially if you trust him and done work with him a lot it shouldnt be too much more work for him.

10-24-2007, 03:27 AM	#9 (permalink)
jjohan35 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 107 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Actually I just spent the whole day driving. The car drifts to the right no matter what I do. What's strange is that before the alignment, the car was drifting to the left. Is the mechanic incompetent? He used some expensive computer system to do the alignment so I don't know?

10-24-2007, 03:43 AM	#10 (permalink)
Firestrife Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Gainesville, FL Age: 20 Posts: 3,490 Keenan iTrader: 9 / 100%	the roads are crowned slightly to the right to allow for water run off, so it will pull a little. try to find a freeway with a median get on the far left lane it should pull a little to the left now, if the road is crowned to run drain off to the sides and median of the road.

10-24-2007, 04:38 AM	#11 (permalink)
*portabuddy* The McGyver ofall McGyves Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mississauga Ontario Age: 23 Posts: 5,204 Bart Koscow iTrader: 7 / 100%	i dont know if you live in canada?, the roads in canada are crowned, meaning that they all crest outward to allow for drainage, i had my dealer compensate for it clightly so that on the highway its straight and on the city its slightly crooked, my alighnment is perfect but itsunavodable, the civics steering is sensitive and the slightest movement can cause you to go jolting into the ditch unlike other carscough ANY DOMESTIC /cough i wouldnt worry about it too much... you can do it yourself, drive down your street and make sure that the car is going straight(wheel crooked) then stop dissconect the battery, then undo the 3-4 screws holding the airbar from the back(phillips #2) pull the bag off then undo the steering wheel nut(26mm i think) pull off the wheel turn and re-atatch... done..., or have honda do it. they can do it this way or compensate by turning bolth ball joins off your steering rack...

10-24-2007, 05:29 AM	#12 (permalink)
jjohan35 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 107 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I don't know, man. It's pretty annoying. I can't tell if it's supposed to be like that or the mechanic messed it up.

10-24-2007, 12:48 PM	#13 (permalink)
jackolee Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tennessee Age: 19 Posts: 6,850 iTrader: 2 / 100%	like i said it maybe liek that from factory was it liked that when you first got it?

10-24-2007, 08:58 PM	#14 (permalink)
jjohan35 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 107 iTrader: 0 / 0%	It was originally drifting to the left (for 3 months since brand new) until I took it to the dealership earlier this week. After they did alignment, the car is drifting to the right. I drove in the middle of the road in my neighborhood. The car continues to drift to the right regardless of direction I drove on the same road. I'm bringing it in tomorrow.

10-25-2007, 10:58 PM	#15 (permalink)
jjohan35 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 107 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Took it to another dealership. They did 4 wheel alignment and adjusted the steering wheel. The car drives perfectly now, like it should be.

10-26-2007, 05:43 PM	#17 (permalink)
ct20 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alabama Posts: 433 iTrader: 1 / 100%	Glad to hear it worked for you...My sedan steering wheel was crooked to and pulling to the right...took it for a 4 wheel alignment, sure enough...the left front was 3/32" out...I have had it a year and never had it aligned...steering wheel is straight now...Gotta love a $35 4-wheel alignment...

01-11-2008, 10:24 PM	#18 (permalink)
jepoy Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: cali Posts: 30 jeff iTrader: 0 / 0%	hey i have d same thing happening to my car...my car keeps turning to the right...i lowered it, got rims, and did alingment and everything.but still slightly turns to the right..i trust my mechanic, but the problem is still there, should i just take it to the dealership?

01-11-2008, 10:36 PM	#19 (permalink)
soxfan143 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Lynnfield, MA Age: 34 Posts: 3,552 Mike iTrader: 4 / 100%	To anyone who's wheel is crooked and they just had an alignment. It's the tech who did it. Bring it back untill it's level. I do this for a living and unless the machines calibration is off, the tech is at fault. And NEVER remove the steering wheel to level it. The steering rack only travels a certain distance from left to right. If you remove the wheel to center it the wheels will turn more in one direction than the other because the rack is already off center in one direction. For example if the wheel is off center to the left and you and you remove it you will not get the same amount of travel on the rack when turning right. Your car will not turn as sharp to the right. The turning radius will increase. and the racks valveing will be off and it will cause unnecessary wear on the whole hydraulic system.

01-16-2008, 10:39 PM	#20 (permalink)
jepoy Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: cali Posts: 30 jeff iTrader: 0 / 0%	tnx for the info.