Steering wheel now not straight? Mystery... - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

blackswan · 11-16-2011, 12:51 PM

2600 miles on the car (don't drive too much per week and mostly on highway cruises) and suddenly - and I mean suddenly, as in wasn't like that the day before - I go for a ride and notice the wheel is tilted clockwise about 10 degrees while going straight. Nothing's changed, I haven't hit anything, etc. Same roads I usually drive, air pressures OK, generally status quo - except all of a sudden the steering wheel isn't true.

Now, we all know it's not like the steering has an elastic component that suddenly gives a little or adjusts. Steering is tight, checked tie rods and they seem good and tight. Bizarre...going into dealer on Friday but thought I'd share. I know, I know... "You hit something!". Nope.

'11 cyber grey vert · 11-16-2011, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackswan

2600 miles on the car (don't drive too much per week and mostly on highway cruises) and suddenly - and I mean suddenly, as in wasn't like that the day before - I go for a ride and notice the wheel is tilted clockwise about 10 degrees while going straight. Nothing's changed, I haven't hit anything, etc. Same roads I usually drive, air pressures OK, generally status quo - except all of a sudden the steering wheel isn't true.

Now, we all know it's not like the steering has an elastic component that suddenly gives a little or adjusts. Steering is tight, checked tie rods and they seem good and tight. Bizarre...going into dealer on Friday but thought I'd share. I know, I know... "You hit something!". Nope.

same kind of thing happened to mine except counter-clockwise at about
600 miles.I took mine back to dealer, they put their best alignment technician on it and did the work no charge.They told me usually new cars of this nature ie camaros and corvettes will need adjustment after being driven for a while.

Raptor626 · 11-16-2011, 01:19 PM

The 2012's have an electric steering system. If you really didn't hit anything, then something may have gone wrong with the system itself. I'm not sure how an electric steering system functions, but it sounds like you may have a gremlin.

HDDAN · 11-16-2011, 01:50 PM

mine has been ****ed CCW about 10 degrees since I got it in 2009.

DandD · 11-16-2011, 01:58 PM

Mine is off clockwise. It's in for the winter now but I will be getting a good alignment in the spring, we'll see if they can straighten this matter out, so to speak.

blackswan · 11-16-2011, 02:04 PM

Oddly reassuring to hear, didn't know the 2012 has electric steering. Will let you know what dealer says, still odd though...

ga0358 · 11-16-2011, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HDDAN

mine has been ****ed CCW about 10 degrees since I got it in 2009.

Mine too. I was told it was no big deal.....

blackswan · 11-17-2011, 02:55 PM

Totally a big deal, can't see how it isn't, esp. when reaching for cruise or radio controls. It was straight for 2500 miles then... bammo, not straight.

BTW: who said the steering is electric, I see and hear hydraulics?

Maybe electric assist of some kind?

DangerZL1 · 11-17-2011, 03:05 PM

I believe the 2012 ZL1 will have electric assist, but I don't think any other model has it yet. The problem is in the toe setting in the alignment, not the steering system. I'm suprised the problem appears after a few miles, but at least it's an easy fix for the dealer.

Mach · 11-17-2011, 03:37 PM

Are you sure the road is completely flat? The wide RS tires will follow the contours of the road. Sometimes being in the right lane of a 4 lane highway will require some left correction to keep the car going straight.

blackswan · 11-17-2011, 05:06 PM

"Same roads I usually drive, air pressures OK, generally status quo - except all of a sudden the steering wheel isn't true."

Caspers2SSRS · 11-17-2011, 05:45 PM

Dang not another thread fixated on the new improvised 2012 "Function over Form" steering wheels............... I've got tell ya though I've had nary a problem with my old 2010-11 unfunctional one and after 30 thousand odd miles, of hill and dells, lump and bump's, its still aligned as straight as a arrow. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm............lol

StellarAuto · 11-17-2011, 05:55 PM

Loose nut behind the wheel? hahah

blackswan · 11-19-2011, 04:24 PM

Funny...no... but how about loose bolts in the rear!

I kid you not, from the factory the dealer has discovered loose bolts in the rear suspension. This explains another symptom of every time I hit a bump, the rear would wiggle. This also explains why this happened "all of a sudden" with the steering wheel going ****eyed over night. The rear alignment went out on the drive the night before and the steering was then compensating for the rear misalignment.

All straight now, handling is much different (honestly, still a little sensitive to the crown in the road, but possibly expected) and much less clunking noises in the rear and NO MORE VIBRATION on the highway either!

Great dealer!

11-16-2011, 12:51 PM	#1
blackswan Drives: 2012 2LT/RS Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Northeast Posts: 1,443	Steering wheel now not straight? Mystery... 2600 miles on the car (don't drive too much per week and mostly on highway cruises) and suddenly - and I mean suddenly, as in wasn't like that the day before - I go for a ride and notice the wheel is tilted clockwise about 10 degrees while going straight. Nothing's changed, I haven't hit anything, etc. Same roads I usually drive, air pressures OK, generally status quo - except all of a sudden the steering wheel isn't true. Now, we all know it's not like the steering has an elastic component that suddenly gives a little or adjusts. Steering is tight, checked tie rods and they seem good and tight. Bizarre...going into dealer on Friday but thought I'd share. I know, I know... "You hit something!". Nope.

11-16-2011, 01:58 PM	#5
DandD Drives: 2010 2SS and 2011 LS Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Western burbs of the Motor City Posts: 628 View My Garage	Mine is off clockwise. It's in for the winter now but I will be getting a good alignment in the spring, we'll see if they can straighten this matter out, so to speak. __________________ Around here we like baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet

11-17-2011, 03:37 PM	#10
Mach Drives: White M6 1LT RS Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Canton, MI Posts: 1,676	Are you sure the road is completely flat? The wide RS tires will follow the contours of the road. Sometimes being in the right lane of a 4 lane highway will require some left correction to keep the car going straight. __________________ Pfadt Sway Bars - FE3 Suspension - Barton Shifter - IdealG's Clutch Master Cylinder - Trifecta - Vmax TB - Vararam Intake - MACE 25mm Insulator - Plenum Insulator - Ported/Gasket Matched Intake Manifold - Rx Catchcan - AAC DRL's - 4 Pack Aux Gauges - Steering Controls - AAC Afterburners - DIY Led Sidemarkers - ZL1 Front End Next mod: Done!

11-17-2011, 05:55 PM	#13
StellarAuto Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Tulsa, Ok Posts: 193 View My Garage	Loose nut behind the wheel? hahah __________________ Going as fast as my accountant will let me!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Custom Carbon Fiber/Leather Steering Wheel	SS Mike	Local Marketplace	3	02-22-2017 11:17 AM
What do all the abbreviations mean?	CrzyGamr2	5th Gen Camaro SS LS LT General Discussions	77	12-07-2012 04:34 AM
Ace Custom Steering - Name Your Wheel!	SparksAI	Interior Parts & Accessories	30	04-13-2011 03:44 PM
Customize Your Steering Wheel In Any Leather & Stitching Colors (Pictures)	dsvcustoms	Interior Parts & Accessories	4	09-06-2010 12:50 AM
Steering wheel leather cracking!!	meliss7567	Camaro Issues / Problems \| Warranty Discussions \| TSB and Recalls	5	09-17-2009 02:13 PM

11-16-2011, 01:19 PM	#3
Raptor626 Account Suspended Drives: 2011 Camaro SS Summit White Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Astoria, New York Posts: 796	The 2012's have an electric steering system. If you really didn't hit anything, then something may have gone wrong with the system itself. I'm not sure how an electric steering system functions, but it sounds like you may have a gremlin.

11-16-2011, 01:50 PM	#4
HDDAN Drives: 2010 Camaro 1SS 2007 HD FLSTC Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Boston MA Posts: 1,510	mine has been ****ed CCW about 10 degrees since I got it in 2009.

11-16-2011, 02:04 PM	#6
blackswan Drives: 2012 2LT/RS Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Northeast Posts: 1,443	Oddly reassuring to hear, didn't know the 2012 has electric steering. Will let you know what dealer says, still odd though...

11-17-2011, 02:55 PM	#8
blackswan Drives: 2012 2LT/RS Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Northeast Posts: 1,443	Totally a big deal, can't see how it isn't, esp. when reaching for cruise or radio controls. It was straight for 2500 miles then... bammo, not straight. BTW: who said the steering is electric, I see and hear hydraulics? Maybe electric assist of some kind?

11-17-2011, 03:05 PM	#9
DangerZL1 Drives: 2023 Black ZL1 Auto Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: FEMA Region 4 Posts: 2,935	I believe the 2012 ZL1 will have electric assist, but I don't think any other model has it yet. The problem is in the toe setting in the alignment, not the steering system. I'm suprised the problem appears after a few miles, but at least it's an easy fix for the dealer.

11-17-2011, 05:06 PM	#11
blackswan Drives: 2012 2LT/RS Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Northeast Posts: 1,443	"Same roads I usually drive, air pressures OK, generally status quo - except all of a sudden the steering wheel isn't true."

11-17-2011, 05:45 PM	#12
Caspers2SSRS Caspers2SSRS Drives: Summit White 2010 2SS/RS Camaro Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere north of a midlife crisis. Posts: 2,865	Dang not another thread fixated on the new improvised 2012 "Function over Form" steering wheels............... I've got tell ya though I've had nary a problem with my old 2010-11 unfunctional one and after 30 thousand odd miles, of hill and dells, lump and bump's, its still aligned as straight as a arrow. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm............lol

11-19-2011, 04:24 PM	#14
blackswan Drives: 2012 2LT/RS Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Northeast Posts: 1,443	Funny...no... but how about loose bolts in the rear! I kid you not, from the factory the dealer has discovered loose bolts in the rear suspension. This explains another symptom of every time I hit a bump, the rear would wiggle. This also explains why this happened "all of a sudden" with the steering wheel going ****eyed over night. The rear alignment went out on the drive the night before and the steering was then compensating for the rear misalignment. All straight now, handling is much different (honestly, still a little sensitive to the crown in the road, but possibly expected) and much less clunking noises in the rear and NO MORE VIBRATION on the highway either! Great dealer!