How to Repair Steering Wheel Deviation?
3 Answers
Solutions for car steering wheel deviation: 1. The first step is to measure the tire pressure. From practical experience, the most common cause of car deviation is uneven tire pressure. 2. Perform a four-wheel alignment, which is also the most frequently used method to correct deviation. 3. Additionally, check the suspension. If the four-wheel alignment doesn't work, then it's time to consider whether there's an issue with the vehicle's suspension. Generally speaking, if there's a design flaw in the car's suspension, it's very prone to deviation. Moreover, during usage, damage, deformation, or misalignment of the suspension can easily lead to deviation.
Last time I helped my neighbor check his car with steering pull, I found that a big difference in tire pressure between the two sides easily causes the car to pull. Using a tire pressure gauge, I measured a difference of 6 psi! Simply inflating the tires fixed the issue. Uneven tire wear can also affect it—I noticed a 3 mm tread depth difference between his front tires. More troublesome are chassis problems; I felt play in the tie rod end ball joint, and the chassis made a clunking noise over bumps. In such cases, a wheel alignment should be done immediately, or else tire wear will accelerate rapidly. If the frame has been damaged, it’s even more problematic and requires laser alignment for correction. By the way, cars with replaced suspension components are most prone to this issue—our auto repair shop adjusts over a dozen modified cars every month.
As a mom, the most dreaded thing is an off-center steering wheel. Last time while picking up the kids, I had to constantly tug at it. The mechanic first checked the tire pressure and found the right front tire was underinflated by 2.5 psi. Then, using a wheel alignment machine, he discovered the left front wheel had a camber deviation of 1.8 degrees. The biggest surprise was the deformed underbody shield interfering with the steering linkage—a hidden danger left from a previous undercarriage scrape. The advice was to check tire pressure monthly, slow down over potholes, and always perform steering angle calibration after alignment adjustments. Now during every maintenance visit, I make sure the mechanic measures the chassis data—safety is no small matter.
