I have had it done twice recently at an independent shop. 
Cocked Steering Wheel
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 8,244
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From: Hamilton Square NJ, Ocean City N. J. Key Biscayne Fla.
Cocked Steering Wheel
My steering wheel is cocked slightly to the right. It's annoying the heck out of me. Is there an adjustment? A trip to the dealer? Thanks.
Last edited by 69L79; Jul 16, 2019 at 11:31 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,106
Likes: 1,608
From: Edmond Oklahoma
Sounds like you may need an alignment while holding the wheel straight on. The other possibility is that someone had the wheel off and reinstalled it in slightly the wrong position. I have seen this issue several times and usually the alinement is the best fix.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,300
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From: Klein TX
2023 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Find another shop that actually knows what they are doing. Many (most) alignment "techs" just know to get everything in the green and call it good. It's really pretty easy to get it right: Center the steering wheel and set the toe, as explained in the ship manual. Just went through this at a Corvette specialty shop of all places. Keep looking.
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Edmond Oklahoma
You can have a car that is correctly aligned but still have the steering wheel cocked if the steering wheel was not straight when the alignement was done. I have had it done using a level on the steering wheel while I was sitting in the car while the car was on the alignment machine to make sure the steering wheel remained perfectly level and did not move.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2017
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From: Covington KY
2022 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I agree, I just changed all my outer tie rod ends and now my formerly straight steering wheel is slightly cocked to the right. I need an alignment too but my tires are needing replacement so I will put up with it until I get new tires.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 594
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From: Alexander City, AL
What? Because of the cars age? What kind of an answer is that?
You can have a car that is correctly aligned but still have the steering wheel cocked if the steering wheel was not straight when the alignement was done. I have had it done using a level on the steering wheel while I was sitting in the car while the car was on the alignment machine to make sure the steering wheel remained perfectly level and did not move.
You can have a car that is correctly aligned but still have the steering wheel cocked if the steering wheel was not straight when the alignement was done. I have had it done using a level on the steering wheel while I was sitting in the car while the car was on the alignment machine to make sure the steering wheel remained perfectly level and did not move.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 206
Likes: 33
From: Abu Dhabi/AZ
When I sold GM and Chrysler products, we were told this was done to prevent the steering column from going through your
chest in a collision . It’s designed to veer right. This was before airbags and other built in safety devices.
chest in a collision . It’s designed to veer right. This was before airbags and other built in safety devices.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Eastern
Mine was that way, and I had an alignment with new tires that fixed the issue. It's cause by incorrect Toe in on one side, and toe-out on the other. There is A DIY on how to do it, but it's just as easy to F it up as well.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: Texas
Actually you are affecting the alignment. Adjusting the tie rod ends changes the toe setting. However, typically when straightening the wheel by adjusting toe, the amount of change is small enough that it doesn't matter.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 2,984
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From: Edmond Oklahoma
Get your car aligned and tell them make sure the steering wheel is centered!
Don't go to a dealer. And make sure the shop you select will do a precision alignment with PFADT specs- not the factory specs (too much slop). Call around to the alignment shops. Do NOT get a "lifetime alignment", they'll only use the factory sloppy specs.
Don't go to a dealer. And make sure the shop you select will do a precision alignment with PFADT specs- not the factory specs (too much slop). Call around to the alignment shops. Do NOT get a "lifetime alignment", they'll only use the factory sloppy specs.
Last edited by LowRyter; Jul 17, 2019 at 06:09 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 378
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From: Boulder, CO
And apparently not just any dealer. At Century Chevrolet near Denver, the Service Manager is supposedly a Corvette owner. And he does not recommend using other than the "straight ahead" factory alignment numbers. So I didn't go back.
I'll find another dealer. Also, someone discovered and said in another post here that with the adjusters (long nuts) on the Tie Rods, it is very nearly 1 degree of steering wheel angle per Flat on the nuts. That owner was successful in turning one of them Out, and the other one In, for his steering wheel centering. If you think that your current alignment is good, and turn the nuts with care, it may work fine.
I'll find another dealer. Also, someone discovered and said in another post here that with the adjusters (long nuts) on the Tie Rods, it is very nearly 1 degree of steering wheel angle per Flat on the nuts. That owner was successful in turning one of them Out, and the other one In, for his steering wheel centering. If you think that your current alignment is good, and turn the nuts with care, it may work fine.