Off-Center Wheel - Alignment? - 97 854 t-5

Black850 · Post by **Black850** » 06 Apr 2007, 14:12

Just checking to make sure here, but my while driving my car's wheel is slightly cocked to the right. The car drives straight while the steering wheel is slightly to the right in it's natural state.

I just bought the car a month ago and the tires were new so there's no significant wear pattern on them yet. I'm just checking to see if I should go ahead and get a full alignment done since the steering wheel is off-center even the car itself drives normally?

Post by **billofdurham** » 06 Apr 2007, 15:41

If it does not annoy you leave it until you need to get an alignment done. Personally, I don't like my wheel to be like that. It is a sign of a botched alignment job. Any alignment should be done to both sides equally to keep the wheel right.

Before airbags it didn't matter too much, we just pulled the steering wheel off and re-aligned that.

Bill.

Black850 · Post by **Black850** » 06 Apr 2007, 16:08

billofdurham wrote:If it does not annoy you leave it until you need to get an alignment done. Personally, I don't like my wheel to be like that. It is a sign of a botched alignment job. Any alignment should be done to both sides equally to keep the wheel right.

Before airbags it didn't matter too much, we just pulled the steering wheel off and re-aligned that.

Bill.

Mostly, yea it is an annoyance issue, but I was assuming that the steering wheel being off like that meant it needed an alignment anyway? So if I'm reading what you're saying, you just mean that until the car is pulling one way or the other or until i get new tires I shouldn't be worried about the alignment?

Post by **billofdurham** » 06 Apr 2007, 16:21

If you can't feel any adverse effects on the steering and don't see any unusual tyre wear it will go until you need to get it done.

Bill.

Post by **HareBall** » 07 Apr 2007, 07:30

Black850 wrote:Just checking to make sure here, but my while driving my car's wheel is slightly cocked to the right. The car drives straight while the steering wheel is slightly to the right in it's natural state.

I just bought the car a month ago and the tires were new so there's no significant wear pattern on them yet. I'm just checking to see if I should go ahead and get a full alignment done since the steering wheel is off-center even the car itself drives normally?

If it annoys you enough, the factory manual posted at the top of the forum says you can adjust it.
Under Pre-alignment Checks, it says, "6) If steering wheel is not centered with front wheels in straight-ahead position, correct by shortening one tie rod adjusting sleeve and lengthening opposite sleeve equal amounts."

Post by **billofdurham** » 07 Apr 2007, 12:14

That is what should have been done on the alignment. I don't think it is a DIY job, bearing in mind the laser equipment now in use for alignment, and they can still be out.

Bill.

Post by **srnkanator** » 09 Apr 2007, 22:59

Done a bounce test on your struts/shocks? After ten years they could be shot . . .

angelglo · Post by **angelglo** » 04 May 2007, 19:26

you can remove the steering wheel and center it. i just did it. make sure you unplug the battery first. if you dont, you will get the srs light. it is a simple operation. two torx bolts in the back and one center one for the wheel itself. i dont remember the sizes. once completed, you wont feel annoyed anymore. i drove like that after i had my acc evap core serviced. they put on the steering wheel wrong and off about 5 degrees. they gave me a great deal so i didnt want to say ' you need to fix it". anyway, good luck.

Post by **JRL** » 05 May 2007, 06:00

Do NOT leave it like that.
While it may "feel" like it's fine it may have the toe whacked out of adjustment.
I could be just a poor alignment job but why go with that assumption as if it is out you will suffer poor tire wear very soon

volvrow · Post by **volvrow** » 05 May 2007, 13:54

What is a normal price range to get a four wheel alignment in U.S. dollars?