How to steer when the car body leans to the right while reversing?
3 Answers
When the vehicle moves to the point where the lower edge of the left rearview mirror touches the control line, turn the steering wheel fully to the right. After turning fully to the right, look at the left rearview mirror. After straightening the direction, reverse until the left front door handle presses on the left garage line, then turn the steering wheel fully to the right again. Wait until the car body is vertically aligned and parallel, then adjust the body to reverse into the garage. After adjusting the body, look at the left rearview mirror.
Last time when teaching my daughter how to reverse park, I discovered a trick. If the car body leans to the right, it means the rear is too far to the right. In this case, you need to steer to the left, but remember to adjust slowly without rushing. Turn the steering wheel about 45 degrees while watching the rearview mirror, and straighten it as soon as the car body is almost parallel to the parking line. If the left rear wheel appears farther from the line than the right rear wheel in the mirror, it means the adjustment isn't enough yet. The reversing speed should be as slow as a snail crawling, and after each adjustment, take a clear look before continuing. When I first started driving, I often turned the wheel too much at once, resulting in the front of the car scraping against the neighboring parking spot—it's funny to think about now. The key is to steer the wheel in the opposite direction of where the rear is leaning, and after practicing a few times, your muscles will remember it.
When reversing and the car tends to drift to the right, I usually check the left rearview mirror to judge. If the gap on the right side is getting smaller, I turn the steering wheel to the left while easing off the throttle. When the car body and the sideline form a flared shape in the right rearview mirror, it means the steering is correct. The key is to anticipate the direction early and adjust as soon as the car starts moving, rather than waiting until it's completely off course to correct. Beginners often tend to jerk the steering wheel, causing a pendulum effect, which makes it even harder to control. I remember once reversing in a narrow alley, I was so focused on the right side that I almost scraped the left fender against the wall. Now, I use my peripheral vision to scan both left and right rearview mirrors, and look at obstacles directly behind through the rear windshield, coordinating all three views. Turn the steering wheel as much as needed and return it accordingly, but be extra careful to return 15 degrees more due to the steering gear's free play.
