Have you ever encountered a problem with a misaligned steering wheel? It’s annoying because when the steering wheel isn’t centered, you have to adjust your driving and seating position. This could lead to safety issues and physical discomfort like shoulder and back pain if it lasts for a long time.
Why is my steering wheel misaligned?
There are several reasons why the steering wheel becomes misaligned. It could happen due to poor engineering and design. Although this is rare, it’s not unheard of. Most people never notice it. But a car can leave the factory with a misaligned steering wheel or tilted.
This can occur when you hit the suspension after hitting a pothole. Such sudden shocks move components from their factory-set original positions. The same problem will happen if you spend too much time off-road. When you drive a lot on rocks, the many bumps and impacts will slightly misalign the steering wheel.
Moreover, the steering wheel position depends on a vehicle’s thrust angle. Misalignment of the wheel or rear axle affects the angle between the thrust line and the centerline. The result is a crooked wheel.
Misaligned steering wheel: how to fix it?
When repairing a bent wheel, you need to work on three angles: caster, camber, and toe.
Caster – refers to the forward or backward tilt of the top of the steering axis. It regulates the directional control of the steering. According to the measurement, backward tilt is considered positive (+) while forward tilt is negative (-).
Camber – controls directional operation and tire wear. The angle refers to the bending of the wheels from the vertical position. It becomes a positive angle (+) when the wheel’s top tilt is outward. It will be negative (-) when it tilts inward.
Toe – refers to the extent of the angle at which the front or rear wheels are turned inward or outward. The toe angle is positive (+) when the wheels are turned inward and negative (-) when they are turned outward.
The simple ways to fix the steering wheel misalignment problem are as follows:
Method 1
This is the simplest method, but you need to have some technical knowledge about a vehicle’s mechanism. Also, you need the right tools because it involves removing the steering wheel from its housing.
Simply remove it and put it back in the correct position. It’s also possible to correct the alignment without disassembling the wheel. But the process involves more time and money.
Method 2
When the misalignment is too significant, you need to take the vehicle to a service workshop. Mechanics use an alignment machine that handles all four wheels and the thrust angle. They will also check the caster, camber, and toe angles to ensure the steering wheel isn’t misaligned.