Steering wheel off center/alignment
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 526
Likes: 67
From: San Diego CA
Steering wheel off center/alignment
I haven't seen any recent threads on this. Only have 600 miles on my Vette and it tracks straight and handles good, but the steering wheel is just tilted a hair to the left when going straight. Perhaps 2 degrees. It is ever so slight.
Anybody have any pics or diagrams on how this is done? I'm more than willing to tackle it but never done it on a Vette.
It seems like an easy enuf adjustment to make with moving the tie rods prob about 1 flat on each side to correct this.
I would think the car,which only had 22 miles, when I first drove it would be pretty good from the factory.
Do you guys recommend or suggest getting a complete (dealership) alignment this early in the car's life?
Thanks guys, I'm real **** and it really bugs me to not have the steering wheel straight!
Anybody have any pics or diagrams on how this is done? I'm more than willing to tackle it but never done it on a Vette.
It seems like an easy enuf adjustment to make with moving the tie rods prob about 1 flat on each side to correct this.
I would think the car,which only had 22 miles, when I first drove it would be pretty good from the factory.
Do you guys recommend or suggest getting a complete (dealership) alignment this early in the car's life?
Thanks guys, I'm real **** and it really bugs me to not have the steering wheel straight!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,066
Likes: 9,835
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Take it back and tell them what you want corrected. It is free on a new car. Go past 12K miles or a year and you pay the nickle.
As for the adjustment it is just a slight tweak of the front tie rod ends. One in and the other out. Problem is if the wheel is just off a little bit the adjustment could cause it to be off in the other direction. I actually like having it off to the left just a bit because the turn signal stalk and its controls are easier to see. With the wheel straight up the cross bar blocks my view from where I sit.
Bill
As for the adjustment it is just a slight tweak of the front tie rod ends. One in and the other out. Problem is if the wheel is just off a little bit the adjustment could cause it to be off in the other direction. I actually like having it off to the left just a bit because the turn signal stalk and its controls are easier to see. With the wheel straight up the cross bar blocks my view from where I sit.
Bill
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 526
Likes: 67
From: San Diego CA
Actually I think I will hold off. I had not checked the tire pressures myself since bringing the car home. I did so today and the tires were alittle low, fronts being lower than the rears. I brought them all up to 30lbs and went out driving my favorite roads including freeways.
This seemed to help the steering wheel alignment and if at all it's prob only 1 degree or less so not alot to adjust out. I think I will monitor it and keep driving and enjoying it, for now!
This seemed to help the steering wheel alignment and if at all it's prob only 1 degree or less so not alot to adjust out. I think I will monitor it and keep driving and enjoying it, for now!
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,342
Likes: 464
From: Raleigh/Cary NC
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,608
Likes: 13
From: New Rochelle N.Y. 2013 Grand Sport
it could also come back alot better. i picked up my new 2012 coupe in dec on a thurs. drove off the showroom, down the block and discovered my wheel was cocked to the left. WTF! turned right around and went storming in the dealer yelling and screaming. the service mngr tells me no way. i told him take it for a ride or ill take you for a ride in the form of a headlock right into the wall. after he agreed he apologized and said yes it was off. fri morning had alignment done and it was way off. left rear tow was 042! front caster was off by 05 on each side. i stood there and watched him do it and made sure the indicators were not only in the green but dead in the center. he said he never seen a factory car come this off. but the car now is perfect and drives the way it should. so yes get it checked no matter how minor YOU MAY THINK it is. its under warranty so just do it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 940
Likes: 1
From: Long Island NY
Easy adjustment as was mentioned by making one tie rod longer and the other shorter the exact same amount. You would be surprised how little of an adjustment is needed, one flat is a huge change. Try a search, it's been covered before.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 486
Likes: 2
From: The Villages FL
it could also come back alot better. i picked up my new 2012 coupe in dec on a thurs. drove off the showroom, down the block and discovered my wheel was cocked to the left. WTF! turned right around and went storming in the dealer yelling and screaming. the service mngr tells me no way. i told him take it for a ride or ill take you for a ride in the form of a headlock right into the wall. after he agreed he apologized and said yes it was off. fri morning had alignment done and it was way off. left rear tow was 042! front caster was off by 05 on each side. i stood there and watched him do it and made sure the indicators were not only in the green but dead in the center. he said he never seen a factory car come this off. but the car now is perfect and drives the way it should. so yes get it checked no matter how minor YOU MAY THINK it is. its under warranty so just do it.
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Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,347
Likes: 25
From: Apache Junction AZ
Here is a little item I stumbled across in my shop manual.
When ever I have ever had an alignment done on any of my cars, I noticed that they would use some kind of device to hold the steering wheel in position, problem was the device in turn was sitting on the seat cushion, so not very stable. I intend on picking up on of these tools to lock the steering wheel in the straight ahead position.
BJK
When ever I have ever had an alignment done on any of my cars, I noticed that they would use some kind of device to hold the steering wheel in position, problem was the device in turn was sitting on the seat cushion, so not very stable. I intend on picking up on of these tools to lock the steering wheel in the straight ahead position.
BJK
Last edited by 07MontRedcp; Mar 2, 2012 at 03:29 PM. Reason: SPELLING
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
I purchased a 2010 coupe with 900 miles on it. Steering wheel was canted to the left and the car actually pulled left slightly. Took it to a Chevy dealer and they aligned it for free and adjusted the steering wheel too.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,608
Likes: 13
From: New Rochelle N.Y. 2013 Grand Sport
do you think i care what the dealer has on my page or what even you may think. when the mgnr told me no way he's the A.H. for even insinuating that i didn't know what i was talking about. how do you prep a new car for delivery and not notice that especially a 55k car. you would think they would make sure the car was perfect in every way shape or form.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 486
Likes: 2
From: The Villages FL
do you think i care what the dealer has on my page or what even you may think. when the mgnr told me no way he's the A.H. for even insinuating that i didn't know what i was talking about. how do you prep a new car for delivery and not notice that especially a 55k car. you would think they would make sure the car was perfect in every way shape or form.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,608
Likes: 13
From: New Rochelle N.Y. 2013 Grand Sport
BILL your point is well taken but when you try to treat me like a fool you deserve what you get back. im not an angry person far from it, but don't try to put something over on me and expect to get away with it.
