if my steering wheel is a lil off center...how can i fix it to make it center when im drivng straight? thanks....

 

alignment perhaps...

 

it depends. If you CAN drive straight and the steering wheel stayed at that angle even when you let go of the wheel, then Probably the steering wheel is just installed at an angle(to the right or left). If that's the problem, FIRST just straighten out your car, park(make sure it's straight this time), removed wheel and put it back in the center.

If when you drive straight and you let go, it sways to left or right.. then it's an alighment problem. and If the steerign wheel started to shake and doesn't go straight when let go, then it's both alightment and tire balance problem.
hope this help

 

thanks yeah...when i let go it doesnt sway...the steering wheel was just put on sloppy i think when i got it back from the body shop....is it wasy to take off the wheel and just re center it?? or is it difficult? thanks

 

Here's the first thing to do. Either lift the front of the car or do this by driving in an empty parking lot... Turn the steering full-lock right & full-lock left. Does it stop at the same angle in both directions? Say if it stops at 45deg right, then it should stop at 45deg left when you turn the other way. Only re-center your steering wheel to make this even.

If that's not it, then you need an alignment.

 

can i just park my car with wheels straight...take off my steering wheel and reposition it so that it is dead center ?

 

Yes its possible, but you shouldn't - here's why...

The limit that stops you from steering 'too far' in one direction is in the steering rack. If someone did a bad job aligning your car, and you compensate by centering your steering wheel, you will be able to steer too far. You might flex your CV joint too far or you may pull a brake hose apart. (I don't know which will happen first.)

You got the car back from a body shop, right? What did they do? You should get this fixed right instead of ghetto-ing it by taking off the steering wheel...

 

well they put the steering colum back together cause my car was stolen...everythings fine its just the wheel isnt centered...it kinda bugs...i dont think its the alignment cause my car doesnt swerve when i release the wheel...it still drives straight as can be....how can i fix this??? lol

 

nah, it's not the alignment. Although it's angle to one side, the wheel stays in one place when driving straight If it's alighment, your car would sways left or right when you let the steering wheel go. Tthe shop just didn't put the steering wheel back at the right angle. Bring it back and they will correct it for you.

 

as long as i d/c the battery take of the air bag i can re straighten it myself though rite?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dohc-nyne &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">well they put the steering colum back together cause my car was stolen...everythings fine its just the wheel isnt centered...it kinda bugs...i dont think its the alignment cause my car doesnt swerve when i release the wheel...it still drives straight as can be....how can i fix this??? lol</TD></TR></TABLE>
If that's true, then you'll find that it doesn't go the same angle on both sides. So in that case you pull the wheel & straighten it.

Leave the battey disconnected & avoid static so you don't set off the air bag. You probably have to pay attention to the position of the contacts at the wheel hub so it goes back together OK.

The common reason for this is when somebody adjusts the toe, they adjust only one side, not both. When they do this it doesn't pull, either. It only pulls when camber & caster don't match side-to-side.

 

well ill pull the wheel off tonite and see if i can fix it...ill post the outcome tomarrow....thanks