dont know if this is the right section to post this. but when my wheels are straight my steering wheel is way cocked to the left. what would cause this? it got alot worse today after a slow speed auto cross event today.

thanks!

 

a loose steering wheel?? Is it aftermarket?

 

nope stock. it doesnt feel loose. but it is surely not where it is supposed to be...any ideas what i could check/look at to fix it?

 

make sure the steering rack hasn't worked its way loose, or it just may need an alignment.

 

it wasnt loose. but i loosened the rack straightened the wheel and retightened them...they are new super pro rack bushings. only like 500 miles on them....maybe they just "broke" themselves in.

 

It sounds like you need an alignment.

1. drive the car down a flat, smooth road and get it going straight. If the steering wheel is off center, but the car goes perfectly straight you will need a toe adjustment. this could be caused by any suspension work or hitting a pot hole or any other thing.

Don't force the wheel straight. some people do this and claim they have a pull, because the are not letting the Toe equalize (car moves and tires try to go straight and steering wheel turns as a result). I get the car going straight and let go of the wheel. if it still goes straight, and doesn't veer in another direction, but the wheel is off then it's just a toe adjustment.

Try to find a road with not much road crown, so it doesn't make you think you have a rightward pull.

2. if you let go of the steering wheel and the car veers, or if you have to hold the steering wheel in a certain spot at all times to keep it going straight you have a pull.

This is caused by a difference in camber/caster settings. basic rule is car pulls to the most positive camber, and the least amount of caster.

solution for both is alignment. if you take it somewhere tell them what the problem is in you best words, this makes it easier for the tech.

I forgot to add, you could also have out of spec suspension components such as ball joints, tie rods, or even a wheel bearing if it's really bad.

 

thanks.if i let go of the wheel it stays going straight. its just the steering wheel does not match the direction of the car.

 

Have you had the steering wheel off the car? Maybe it's the clock spring or when reinstalling the wheel the splines were match up a little 'off'.

-M

 

make sure ur wheels are straight then pop off the steering wheel and put it straight

 

i'd hope the op would have enough sense to post if he removed and reinstalled the wheel and then had this problem...so we can conclude this problem happened after the auto x event, if he were to just reinstall the steering wheel straigt, he could be ignoring a potential extremely dangerous situation.

 

I have owned the car for four and a half years.i have never removed the steering wheel. Any other ideas you guys can think of before i have to take the car to a shop?

 

it needs an alignment, after the fact it will drive straight and true....


J.

 

it does drive straight and true.....just the steering wheel is not where it is supposed to be....wheels are STRAIGHT but the steering wheel is LEFT

 

How many ******* people do you need to tell you to get an alignment? Seriously you have over 1000 posts and you autocross, and you don't understand that you need something so basic as an alignment?

"The wheels are straight but the wheel is left" holy ****... straighten out your steering wheel to it's normal position, does the car still drive straight now?

NO? YOU NEED TO GET AN ALIGNMENT.

 

Hey here's an idea... you should probably get an alignment and then report back to us

 

^ Agreed. Should probably check your alignment. If you changed your bushings recently, sounds like it's time to get that alignment checked by a professional.

 

LOL. Thank god someone said it.

 

FYI, my superpro rack bushings did the same... after first weekend at the track, they must've settled in.

 

Step 1. Make sure they're aren't cones from the auto-x still under the car.
Step 2. Find a good alignment shop and let me know who it is so I can get mine done too. It's pulling alittle left, after only 2 runs.

 

I laughed when I first read this, but this is a bad idea.

Like I said earlier Toe equalizes when your car moves down the road. If you don't believe me go push a cart, you'll see the wheels force straight.

So if your Right front wheel is -1 degree out and the Left is 0 or perfectly straight, then when you start to drive the wheels will pull straight and you toe will be -.5 degrees both sides. Meaning you will have chopping on the inside tread of your tires since they are basically being dragged down the road. This is going to greatly reduce tire life. I see it everyday.

Pulling of the steering wheel is just going to mask the problem, and from my experience really **** of the Alignment tech, also an alignment is usually way cheaper than a pair of tires.

 

I don't know why nobody has mentioned the U joint on the Steering shaft.
It has a 12 mm nut that holds the joint to the Steering Box shaft.
If that slips a bit due to a Loose Bolt,then it can make the Steering wheel go Out of alignment in Comparison to the Wheels.
Really a Dangerous thing too,as the Splines can wear and you will suddenly be left with NO steering.
Check it out.It is under the big Plastic cover just above the Steering box.