How to Adjust the Steering Wheel When the Car Body is Not Straight?
4 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.
Steering wheel misalignment is a common issue. First, release the steering wheel on a straight and level road. If the car automatically drifts to one side, it indicates misaligned steering wheel positioning, and a four-wheel alignment is needed. If the car can drive straight but the steering wheel is crooked, it might be due to misaligned steering column installation. For a simple DIY fix, park the car with the front wheels straightened, then turn off the engine and remove the steering wheel fixing screws to realign the groove positions. Remember to mark the positions before disassembly and reassembly, and finally test-drive to check for any drifting. Pay attention to any changes in the steering wheel angle during daily driving, as losing control of the steering is no joke.
Don't rush to adjust the steering wheel if it's misaligned! I must remind you to check four key points: whether the tire wear is even, if the shock absorbers are leaking, if the steering gear rubber boots are aged, and if the ball joint clearance is excessive. If all these are fine, then adjust the steering wheel. The operation is simple: park the car with the rear wheels straight, peel back the rubber boot under the steering wheel, loosen the large central fixing nut, lift the steering wheel off, realign it with the spline groove, and then tighten it. Avoid touching the airbag wiring harness during the process. After installation, be sure to test if the steering wheel is heavy or makes any abnormal noises. Finally, a word of caution: never take a car with severe alignment issues onto the highway.
