Important notes when the car steering wheel is out of alignment

Many cars that have been driven for a long time suddenly discover that the steering wheel is off-center. Off-center steering wheel means that even when the driver does not act on it, the steering wheel will still turn slightly to one side and the car will run in a curve instead of a straight line. In case the driver wants to run straight, the driver also has to hold the steering wheel, holding it uncomfortably.

A misaligned steering wheel can be dangerous.

Usually, the phenomenon of steering wheel deviation is mostly caused by tires. For example, uneven tire pressure or wheel camber is not correct. This phenomenon often occurs if the driver drives on bad roads too much or often parks with 2 wheels on the sidewalk.

The next reason that can cause the steering wheel to be misaligned is due to misalignment. The steering wheel can also be due to problems with the steering rack and steering column. In case the steering wheel is misaligned due to problems with the rack and steering column, it is necessary to bring it to a specialized auto repair shop for inspection. To know if the car has a misaligned steering shaft or not, you can try to inflate all the tires and observe.

Steering wheel misalignment can also be caused by oversteer. Usually, up to 80% of cases of misalignment are the result of oversteer. It can also be caused by collision. When driving in a collision, it can cause the car's tie rod to misalign, thus causing the car's steering wheel to misalign.

When you encounter a case of steering wheel deflection, you first need to know the location of the worn or uneven tire. To do this, try reversing the position of the tires and observe the new direction of the vehicle, from which you can deduce the problem tire.

Next, put the car on the lift, put the gear lever in P and pull the handbrake. Chock the wheel, fire the wheel and lower it to the safety stop. Check the wheel briefly, observe if this wheel is the right type. Are the tire size and code suitable, or are there any damaged or unusual spots on the tire?

Next, adjust the tire pressure to find the problem with the tire. Make sure to mark the tire positions for easy testing. Then, remove the 2 front tires and reverse the positions of the 2 front tires and proceed with the test drive.

Observe how the yaw direction changes, and from there determine the amount of traction needed on one or both tires. If you need to reduce the yaw, move one or both tires to the rear axle and flip the tire.

Safety procedures must also be followed during the inspection. If a tire is found to have a one-sided tread or a tire that is different in size from the other tires, it cannot be rotated and must be replaced with a new tire and tested. It is important to ensure that if a tire needs to be replaced, it is selected in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.