How to re-center the steering wheel?

[pinoyplaya]

I purchased my car brand new and the steering wheel has always been off by about 5-10 degrees.

I never bothered fixing it since I didn’t think it would be worth the hassle.

But now that I’ve decided to keep my car, I want to actually address it especially since I just bought a tap/paddle shift extended and want to make sure they are aligned well.

Does anyone know how difficult it would be to re-center the steering wheel? I should just have to remove the steering wheel and then put it back on in the position I want right? How difficult is that process and is there anything to watch out for such as air bags, wires disconnecting and etc?


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[JerTM]

Alignment, it's the only way. There is a large spline on the steering column and matching spline on the wheel that prevents it from going on any other way.

[pinoyplaya]

Originally Posted by JerTM

Alignment, only way.

I took it to the dealership the first time I bought it and they said it was normal. This was back in 2013. I’ve been driving it like this since then even after my tires were changed.

I wonder if there’s any drawback to it. I just put the steering wheel off centered when I’m going straight. It doesn’t pull at all when I go straight but the steering wheel is off centered.

I thought maybe like the flats or whatever aligns the steering wheel is off. I thought maybe there’s some gear and pinion system that the steering wheel sits into and you can just remove it and rotate it to the right direction and assemble it back on. I guess I don’t know how that is assembled.




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[fly2hip8]

I wonder if somebody replaced a steering component with an incorrect piece. This happened on my 88 trans am. Somebody put the wrong tire rod on there and the steering wheel was way off. The steering wheel should not be off center. Something is wrong.

[Dogmeat]

I fixed that very problem on my 'Vette....but I can't explain it to you withoug pics, arrows, etc.....You do NOT want to change theOUTER tie rod ends themselves, you have to readjust the INNER ends of the tie rods that connect to the CENTER connecting piece. I would take it to a place that regularly does front end alignments, and have them ONLY do the portion to realign your steering wheel, NOT the alignment portion!!

[JerTM]

Originally Posted by pinoyplaya

I took it to the dealership the first time I bought it and they said it was normal. This was back in 2013. I’ve been driving it like this since then even after my tires were changed.

I wonder if there’s any drawback to it. I just put the steering wheel off centered when I’m going straight. It doesn’t pull at all when I go straight but the steering wheel is off centered.

I thought maybe like the flats or whatever aligns the steering wheel is off. I thought maybe there’s some gear and pinion system that the steering wheel sits into and you can just remove it and rotate it to the right direction and assemble it back on. I guess I don’t know how that is assembled.




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I have been fixing cars for GM for over 10 years now, that is not normal for ANY new car off the lot. What has happened was during the alignment at the factory the steering wheel was not centered when the toe was set. The alignment will be true, but your wheel is off. It is a simple toe-set to get it corrected.

[Burt]

Originally Posted by JerTM

I have been fixing cars for GM for over 10 years now, that is not normal for ANY new car off the lot. What has happened was during the alignment at the factory the steering wheel was not centered when the toe was set. The alignment will be true, but your wheel is off. It is a simple toe-set to get it corrected.

^exactly, anyone who has done an alignment before can "re-clock" your steering wheel.

[Rock-It Man]

Indeed, setting the steering wheel straight is a routine first step when adjusting toe in.