Steering wheel still off centre

Hi again just had tracking done was out only 2 degrees,just the front,s done got a half price job done, steering wheel still not central car still got a wallow y feel to it,wheel hangs to the left.On a flat straight bit of road car feels neutral but not tight and precise.Car is going back to have it checked again and get wheel central i hope! looked online needs both tie rods turning ? is that right?Could there be another issue with the steering rack? any of you guys had issues cheers for now.

If your car has 4 wheel steer still in check you will need to get it done by a company that can do AWS because mostly setting the 4th n last wheel straight will throw out another wheel again

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Been back no good steering wheel still off centre, he concerned way steering wonders / pulls to left as if play in rack ? i just wont wheel in centre position car drives well apart from that,like i asked any body else had issues with steering ? does camber need looking at? any ideas guys?

Ask him which steering rack… If he doesn’t understand that there is a front and rear steering rack go else where.
Tbh I’d be concerned the guy isn’t giving you the advice as to what is wrong/out. He seems to be guessing.
Where in the country are you?

If all four wheels are set correct and the steering wheel is still off centre, why can’t you just undo the column bolt and reposition the steering wheel?

Terry :sunglasses:

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You need to have the rear steer disconnected, set the tracking etc the reconnect the rear rack onto the arms.

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As the boys have said, you should ideally get the 4 wheel alignment checked by people who really do specialise in this area. Plenty of places around that carry out the standard alignment adjustments, but these are different beasts.
It might not be alignment that is causing the wander/wallowing, you may have faulty suspension components, and - as you mentioned a bit earlier - camber and castor angles might be out, but I doubt that, in all honesty.
Do a visual check on the front steering rack to check you’re holding on to the steering fluid, and nothing’s weeping from the gaitors both sides. While you’re at it do the same for the rear rack. This one barely moves at all, and doesn’t until you’re over 36mph, however, the rear steering gaitors blow up like balloons if you’re rear rack seals are on the way out. I’m digressing a bit - if you’re bothered by the lack of centre on the steering wheel, you can correct it in 2 ways.

  1. As Terry @justcool mentioned, undo the steering column nut and carefully pull the steering wheel out/off the column splines and reposition at centre. Check the maintenance manual out when doing this.
  2. Yes, you can centre the steering wheel by rotating the 2 front track rods. Of course you’ll rotate the left one the opposite way to the right one. Don’t do this until your front wheels have been aligned, then mark your track rod positons before undoing the locknut at each track rod end. Depending on which way you are centreing, undo, say. the left track rod one full turn, and lock it, then go the the right side and do up the track rod by one full turn etc etc. This is just am example. You will be lengthening one track rod on one side, and shortening the other one on the opposite side. But each movement must be mirrored, or you’ll lose the alignment. The locknuts at each track rod end might be a real pain…Good luck with it.

Mike

Hi
All six of my cars have the steering wheel in line because the garage clamp the s/wheel in position and adjust track rods to suit and always have done, first they check the ball joints to make sure they don’t need replacing first. Your garage don’t seem so on the ball.

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Yep guy said he put steering wheel clamp on to hold wheel centre twice now …tracked car to book but back on road steering wheel down to left.Pain in bum i said to him about moving both track rod ends to sort out steering wheel centre didn’t really get a good response.Ive read online about bump steer and over steering issues i feel ive got like a rolling affect to the left on some road surfaces most roads here on isle of wight are not good i have 2 other cars i use no probs what so ever had mot recently so i assume most joints and bits were good had new springs fitted 6 years ago original shocks still work well tour and sport…ill go somewhere else when i know can do a proper all wheel alignment not many places i think here.does steering wheel come off easy not done that in years!!

@Rob_gtott, what cars have you got?

Oh BMW E36 325i ,ford galaxy,and my sons alfa gt.The gto is his! he paid for it but im driving it as he already insures Alfa also lent my nephew our fiat punto! my sons first car but back later for my younger son to learn in.5 cars in total too many i know …going to someone else later early next year have another go at steering may try myself when warmer too cold now …

The steering wheel is a bit tight if it has not been removed in years.

Loosen the nut but keep it on, optionally spray some WD-40. Then wriggle the wheel with your hands on the 9 & 3 o’clock position, then swap to 12 & 6 o’clock, and so-forth.

It should eventually loosen up and pull out.

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