HELP: The steering wheel seem not alined.

[NewRacer]

I did the tire alignment already, then I went to CarToy to install keyless entry. I was in the waiting room, since no one could pick me up at that times. I was there watching, then the one who was working on mine whack the steering wheel up. I mean, he didn't use the tilt, he just hammer it from down to up by hand.


Now on the straight road, my steering wheel has to be pull a bit left in order to keep the car straight. But sometimes, I don't and it seems fine. Could it be the road, and my mind is just playing tricks? Could he whack the steering wheel, and strew up the steering wheel alignment? Is there such a thing as steering wheel alignment?


But most of the time, I really have to pull the steering a bit left to keep the car straight.


Please help, any thoughts?

[Gary_602Z]

More than likely it is just the crown in the road.

Gary

[nodrogkam]

its kinda funny. each time a get an allignment and i've gotten ones from different places, i've always had to hold my steering wheel a bit to the left to keep the car going straight. i think what happens is that they allign the wheels straight but didnt care to adjust the steeringwheel because it was only off by 5 degrees or so.

[NewRacer]

So, is there such a thing as steering wheel alignment? If there is, why do they never adjust it when you go do an alignment? Could it be the steering wheel whacked by that guy?

[Mike Gerber]

A good tech will start the alignment by centering the steering wheel and then proceding to do the alignment. When you take it in for your next alignment tell the service writer that you noticed the steering wheel is off a bit, so be sure to center it when doing the alignment.

Also, we sometimes forget the most obvious things. Did you check the air pressure in the tires?

Mike

[Taotao]

hi newracer,
I just did the wheel alignment today and found very similar thing as you pointed out. I thought firstly the alignment had not done well , later I founf if you watch the seering wheel direction comparing with the road, it looks ok; but if you compare it with the dash board, it looks turning a bit of left. I realize that the trim is not cross-straight as the road direction, it cambers. Coz I drive in left of the road, that's why the steering wheel looks turning left. Do a proper comparison again.

[CCCP]

I noticed that too, and in most cases it's your mind plaing tricks, and you have to hold your steering wheel because of road conditions. Because most roads are not horizontal and center is higher than sides, so water wount stay on the road.

[RodMillenFan]

Originally Posted by NewRacer

So, is there such a thing as steering wheel alignment? If there is, why do they never adjust it when you go do an alignment? Could it be the steering wheel whacked by that guy?

The steering wheel is held in line by a spline fit between the steering wheel hub and the steering shaft. A whack with a hammer shouldn't affect that. But even if it did, you wouldn't have to tug on the wheel to keep the car straight-- the alignment would keep the car straight and you'd just notice the steering wheel looking turned.

If you've noticed it coming and going-- sometimes having to apply effort to keep straight, other times not... then I'd agree with the earlier post-- crown in the road.