What Causes the Steering Wheel and Tires to Be Misaligned?
2 Answers
Steering wheel and tire misalignment may occur after tire replacement if proper wheel alignment was not performed. In such cases, it is necessary to visit a 4S shop for inspection and repair. Below is relevant information about automotive steering wheels: 1. Definition: A wheel-shaped device used to control the driving direction of a vehicle. Its function is to convert the force applied by the driver to the edge of the steering wheel into torque, which is then transmitted to the steering shaft. 2. Material: The frame is generally made of zinc alloy or aluminum alloy. Some manufacturers are experimenting with cheaper and lighter magnesium alloys. The frame is produced through die-casting. A small number of manufacturers still use steel sheet metal for the frame, which has a more complex structure.
Once I encountered a situation where the steering wheel was off-center but the tire direction was normal. After driving to get it checked, I found out it was due to misaligned four-wheel alignment data. Especially when the toe angle is incorrect, hitting a pothole and causing deformation can lead to this issue. Significant differences in tire wear on both sides can also cause this, such as when the left tire tread is worn flat while the right tire still has depth, making the car tend to pull to the left. Another cause could be a loose steering tie rod ball joint, which increases play during steering, requiring the steering wheel to turn half a rotation before the tires respond. Suspension issues should not be overlooked either; leaking shock absorbers or aged lower arm bushings can affect steering precision. Later, I developed a habit of using a tire pressure gauge to check the pressure of all four wheels every month and getting an alignment check every 20,000 kilometers, which basically helps prevent this problem.
