How to Adjust the Steering Wheel When the Car Body is Not Straight?
2 Answers
When the car body is not straight, the method to adjust the steering wheel is: when reversing, turn the steering wheel in the direction you want the rear of the car to go. When moving forward, turn the steering wheel towards the side that is wider. Tips for aligning the car body: The simplest method is to use the center line or edge line of the road. If you feel you are driving in the left 1/3 of the lane, the car is driving in the center of the lane. If it's less than 1/3, you need to slightly adjust the steering wheel to the right. If you feel you are driving in the center of the lane, you need to slightly adjust the steering wheel to the left. When the markings on the two rearview mirrors are parallel to the car body, the car body is straight. Otherwise, you need to slightly adjust the steering wheel. If parking, you can observe whether the car body is parallel to the edge of the road or the parking line. If there is a car next to you, you can observe whether the distance between your car and the adjacent car is equal at the front and rear. The above methods can help determine if the car is straight. When driving straight at higher speeds, the steering wheel will have a self-aligning force. You can follow the steering wheel's force to straighten the car body and drive straight.
A while ago, my car was pulling severely to one side, with the steering wheel tilted like a crooked-neck tree. In such cases, never force the steering wheel to make do. First, check if the tire pressure is balanced—a difference of just 0.2 bar between the two sides can cause pulling. If the tire pressure is fine, it’s likely an issue with the toe angle being off, requiring a wheel alignment. Professional shops have laser alignment tools, where technicians adjust the tie rods to correct the front wheel angles and then reposition the steering wheel based on the alignment data. Trying to fix it yourself can make it worse, and since the steering system directly affects safety, it’s best left to professionals.
