Is the number of steering wheel turns the same for left and right turns?
2 Answers
Steering wheel left and right turns are not the same: the steering wheel turns 1.2 times to the left when fully locked, and 1.5 times to the right when fully locked. The following are related materials about steering wheel turns: 1. Coarse adjustment. Drive the vehicle on a four-wheel tester, adjust the adjusting nut of the steering tie rod to make the lengths at both ends as equal as possible, and ensure that the toe-in on both sides is close to the same value (caster is generally not adjustable) 0 degrees under the premise that the wheel camber angles on both sides are basically symmetrical. 2. Fine adjustment. Use 5053 to check whether the angles when the steering reaches the limit on both sides are roughly symmetrical within 5 to 10 degrees, then find the electronic zero position, immediately fix the steering wheel, and perform a four-wheel alignment according to the standard or required value. 3. Adjust the steering wheel position. Turn off the ignition, remove the airbag module, connect 5053, set the key to the check position (there may be an alarm), set the steering wheel to the electronic zero position, then remove the steering wheel with a puller and adjust its position.
I've been driving for many years and noticed that the number of turns from the center position to full lock left and right is usually exactly the same. This is ensured during automotive design, as the steering system emphasizes left-right symmetrical balance. Normally, vehicles require about 1.5 to 3 turns from full left to full right lock, depending on the model such as sedans or SUVs. I remember during high-speed turns or parking, I never worried about steering bias. However, if the car has been driven for a long time or been in a collision, loose steering linkage may cause inconsistent turn counts, leading to pulling or uneven tire wear. I recommend testing the difference in left-right turn counts by turning the steering wheel while stationary when you have time. If the difference exceeds half a turn, you should visit the 4S shop to check the gears and tie rods. This affects handling safety—don't overlook minor issues.
