6 ways to handle a car with a steering wheel deviation
Car steering is a technical error that seriously affects the safe operation of the car. Below are the 6 most common steering errors and how to handle them.
1. Wheel misalignment
After a period of use, the wheel camber will have a certain deviation. In addition, the wheel can also be misaligned due to traffic collisions, affected by road conditions or the vehicle owner does not comply with the periodic maintenance schedule. This phenomenon causes the steering wheel to be pulled to the left or right, not following the correct direction of rotation when the driver is driving or the steering wheel still works even when the driver has let go of the steering wheel. This is one of the most common causes of car misalignment, causing fatigue for the driver when having to adjust the steering angle more. In addition, misaligned wheels also cause uneven tire wear, leading to reduced tire life, even causing loss of steering due to the wheel's misaligned axis.
How to align the steering angle:
Hold the steering wheel so that the wheels are straight. Secure the steering wheel and turn off the engine. Next, use a screwdriver to unscrew the screw under the steering wheel to remove the airbag. Be careful not to pull the airbag strap.
Use the screwdriver to remove the screw under the airbag to remove the steering wheel, carefully pulling the steering wheel off the shaft. Make a note of the shaft edges for easier installation later.
Reinstall the steering wheel on the axle with the wheel direction fixed vertically as before. To ensure the steering wheel is installed straight with the wheel, the steering wheel must be horizontal. In addition to some luxury cars that have the function of aligning the car angle, just adjust so that the angle displayed on the screen is 0 and then install the steering wheel.
Finally, test drive the car and see if it feels right. If not, you can take it apart and realign it as before.
2. Uneven tire pressure
Uneven tire pressure can cause the wheels to misalign, especially on opposite sides of the tire. Wear around the edges is a sign of over-inflation, while wear around the outer edges is a sign of under-inflation.
Check and fix the car's steering problem as soon as possible. (Illustration photo)
To overcome this, drivers need to equip themselves with tire pressure measuring tools such as a gauge or sensor to regularly monitor and adjust tire pressure to the correct standard as stated in the user manual or on the driver's side door frame.
3. Faulty steering or suspension system
Some parts of the car's suspension and steering system include tie rods, strut bearings, and ball joints... These parts will wear out or become damaged after a period of use, causing the car to not follow the direction the driver turns the steering wheel. This phenomenon is called "memory steer", which means that after turning, the car continues to move in one direction.
To ensure safe driving, vehicle owners need to regularly care for and maintain the components in the car's suspension and steering systems.
4. Damaged wheel bearings
Car wheel bearings, also known as ball bearings, play an important role in reducing friction, increasing load-bearing capacity and positioning rotating equipment, helping machines operate smoothly and increasing wheel life. If the wheel bearings are worn or damaged after a period of use, there will be noise around the wheels when operating. In addition, it also causes the steering wheel to vibrate, causing the car to deviate from the steering wheel.
If you notice the above signs, the vehicle owner needs to check if there is a problem, immediately take the vehicle to the garage for maintenance and replace the bearing if necessary.
5. Car brake pads are damaged or stuck
When the vehicle is moving, if the driver feels a pulling force that causes the wheels to tend to deviate from the steering wheel, it means that there is a problem with the brake pads. When the brake pads are worn, the braking efficiency is also reduced, and even the steering wheel shakes even though the driver is driving at a steady speed.
To fix this, car owners need to regularly check and maintain the car's brake system, replace good quality brake pads at reputable repair facilities.
6. Brake caliper failure
The car brake calipers are responsible for clamping on both sides of the rotor, when the driver steps on the brake, it will create pressure to slow the wheel down until it stops completely. If the brake calipers are not regularly maintained, they can get stuck, causing the braking force to be hindered and causing a feeling of steering deviation.
The phenomenon of brake caliper failure is similar to the phenomenon of brake pads failure. Therefore, the car owner needs to check the car and determine the cause of the steering deviation before taking the car to the garage.
