Does a slight steering wheel misalignment affect the car?
1 Answers
Steering wheel misalignment does affect the car. Effects of steering wheel misalignment: A slightly misaligned steering wheel has consequences. Steering wheel misalignment accelerates wear or deformation of the steering gear and tie rod rack, leading to uneven tire wear. It also causes vehicle drift and accelerates the aging of shock absorber rubber in the suspension system, compromising driving safety. When the steering wheel isn't centered, due to kingpin inclination angle and passenger car tire camber design, the tire doesn't make full contact with the road surface - instead, the tire shoulder and part of the tread bear the load. This creates excessive pressure on the tire sidewall. Since tire sidewalls are relatively thin, prolonged uneven force distribution accelerates sidewall aging and deformation, potentially causing air leaks or blowouts. Solutions: Inspect the suspension system for deformed or impacted components, check for consistent shock absorber height and oil leaks. Examine whether tie rod ends are loose.