The steering wheel is that important part of your car’s control panel to have the most human interaction. So it is very obvious to take care of its health and performance. Many of us have noticed that the steering wheel off center when driving straight and the alignment is not proper.
So in this article, we have brought some amazing ideas that you can use to fix your steering wheel. When your car is normal and working very fine, if you remove your hands from it it will straighten out on its own. The logo of your car should be perfectly straight and aligned when your steering wheel is in the resting position. So, if it isn’t acting normal you have landed on the correct page.
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What Causes The Steering Wheel Off Center When Driving Straight?
Firstly, the steering wheel and the whole system should function properly to turn how it should. There can be many reasons for the steering wheel’s improper functioning depending on how the car is being driven to where was the car driven. But, These are the common reasons for the wheel to go off-center are as follows.
1. Hit a Pothole
This is the most common reason because which your suspension system becomes unstable. There will be a sudden jolt taking place and that is sufficient to shake the components of the steering wheel from their accurate positions.
If your car hits a pothole you have unknowingly misaligned your steering system. If you find your vehicle pulling to the left or right or steering straight, then also misalignment is the cause of it. Other signs that you might notice are uneven tire wear, squealing tires, or a crooked steering wheel while driving straight.
2. Misaligned Wheels
Wheels can become misaligned if the vehicle is suddenly jarred, by driving on any object in the road. Parts in the wheel assembly and suspension can also wear and shift. You may also notice that due to misaligned wheels your steering system is also not proper. A properly aligned vehicle will perform better and more efficiently. Just a wheel alignment but safety to your life. Check the tire pressure if they are within normal limits, then it may be time to have your wheels realigned.
3. Front Wheel Alignment
The purpose of an alignment is to reduce wear and tear and to make sure that the car can drive in a straight line. A pretty common consequence of a front-wheel alignment is steering wheel displacement. You might have seen automotive technicians adjust the front tire rods to make sure that the steering wheel is at the right degree of elevation. If it somehow gets out of place, the direct impact will be on the position of the steering wheel. So, make sure that you fix it at the earliest.
How Will You Fix The Steering Wheel Misalignment?
The simple and easy methods to fix off your steering wheel are as follows. These are the methods that you can use very easy to fix your car on your own.
1. Fix It Again
The simplest and the common method that usually fixes off the steering wheel is refixing it again. But this can be done only if you have somewhat technical knowledge about the mechanism of a car. Keep proper tools with you. It will be needed for removing off the steering wheel. Take it out and put it in the correct position. Alignment can be done without removing the steering wheel but it can be time-consuming and a bit expensive.
2. Set Rear Toe In
Set the rear toe-in of the front tires before making other adjustments. This will ensure the steering wheel, which you will lock after making the rear toe adjustment. You can think of the toe as an extended angle that the front and rear wheels are turned at. The toe angle can be either positive or negative. Toe angle is the straight-ahead position of the tires.
If you walk with feet pointing inward it is toe-in. And walking with feet pointing your feet outward refer to it as toe-out. Also if you walk with your feet straight that will be zero. Same angles you can set on the front and rear of the vehicles, so try to keep these angles straight or at zero.
There are two more methods of alignment namely, caster and camber.
3. Four-Wheel Alignment
If something goes wrong with the rear wheel angle then fix it first. It might also clear out the problems with the steering wheel. You can do a four-wheel alignment on your own if you have all the equipment required for it.
However, it might be simpler if you fix it yourself, all you need is the equipment for it. Get the rear wheels pointed perfectly straight first. Then you will need to start the engine, turn the wheel for a while and relieve the pressure. Shut the car down with the wheel locked, like in 12’clock position. Adjust the front tie rods so that your wheels are straight.
Why Is Alignment Important?
If you maintain proper wheel alignment, you can tremendously save the cost spent on your uneven tires, steering system, suspension, and brakes. Also, accurate wheel alignment optimizes driving stability, maximizes the tire lifespan, and overall the lifespan of your car is boosted.
Conclusion
When driving, you will always want the vehicle to be as efficient as possible. This also includes keeping the vehicle in great condition. And also, the steering wheel is the one that primarily controls the direction of the vehicle. If your steering wheel is not functioning properly with the car then make sure to bring in it as soon as possible.
However, with technology one can easily diagnose the symptoms of steering misalignment and one can analyze why is my steering wheel off center when driving straight. So, use the tricks and solve the steering system of your car. It is very cheaper as compared to the cost calculated by the technician. Don’t forget to read it till the end.