Why is one side wide and the other narrow when reversing into the garage?
3 Answers
Turning the steering wheel too early when reversing into the right side of the garage will cause the wheels to be too close to the garage corner, or result in the left side being wide and the right side narrow after parking. Turning the steering wheel too early leads to a narrow right side and a wide left side. Below is relevant information about reversing into the garage: 1. Technique: Turn the steering wheel fully to the right when the mirrors align. During the first attempt to reverse into the garage, observe the position relationship between the left rearview mirror and the parking line. First, turn the steering wheel half a turn to the right and start moving. When the left rearview mirror covers the parking line, turn the steering wheel fully to the right; while reversing with the steering wheel fully turned to the right, watch the right rearview mirror. Observe the distance between the car body and the right front corner of the garage, keeping this distance at 30 cm. If it is too narrow, adjust the steering wheel. The standard width of the garage line is 15 cm, so in the rearview mirror, it should appear roughly the width of two garage lines. 2. Precautions: Generally, start in 1st gear and avoid shifting into the wrong gear. When controlling the speed, turning the steering wheel as quickly as possible is always better. When these two factors conflict, prioritize controlling the speed.
When backing into a parking space, one side is wide while the other is narrow—this was a problem I also encountered when learning to drive in my younger days, often making my driving coach sigh. The root cause is either improper or mistimed steering wheel adjustments. For example, turning the steering wheel too sharply or too slowly will amplify the angle deviation, and if the car isn't properly aligned before reversing, the position will be off. Excessive speed is also a key factor, as reversing requires fine adjustments—if you don't correct in time, the distance on one side will increase. Poorly adjusted rearview mirrors can also mislead your judgment. My suggestion is to always step out and observe the parking lines before reversing, ensuring the car is parallel before slowly backing in. Practice more in open areas using cones to simulate parking spaces to get a feel for it. Safety-wise, don’t rush—control your speed while reversing and check the rearview mirrors every two seconds. With enough practice, it’ll become smooth.
I experienced similar issues when reversing into parking spaces with my new car, especially when relying on radar and camera assistance. Having one side wider than the other is common when depending too much on devices while neglecting fundamental skills. For example, turning the steering wheel too little or too much during reversing, or inaccurate angle calculations can cause the car body to tilt. Improper rearview mirror settings can amplify blind spots, making your misjudgment more apparent. Another factor is unstable speed—going too fast affects correction. I recommend combining technical tools like reversing cameras, but don't just focus on the screen; actually control the steering wheel with small adjustments to straighten out. Beginners should practice slow maneuvers in parking lots frequently, stopping to adjust whenever the car isn't aligned properly. Repeating this process helps develop good habits, making it both convenient and safe.
