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Steering Wheel Slightly Off-Center

12K views 21 replies 12 participants last post by  gsfent 
#1 ·
I have recently noticed that my steering wheel is slightly off-centered to the right going down the road. (opposite of what I might expect given the crown of the road) I've tested this on highways as well as secondary roads and it's quite consistent. Car tracks straight, steering is tight/no play in the whee, no jitters over bumps. It tramlines some, but nothing awful, and I do have 9.5" wide wheels on the front.

Interesting note is that if I turn the wheel left to full lock, the tire will contact the body/chassis of the car. I have seen other posts about tire contact in the exact same location, but this is interesting because prior to the steering wheel being off-center, it didn't occur.

Within the last 6 months I installed Ground Control coil overs and the Matt Martin monoball kit followed by a fresh alignment.

This weekend I put the car on stands, and checked all the steering components, no ripped boots and I cant find play in anything. Subframe bolts are nice and tight (I thought maybe it could have shifted, but doesnt appear to be the case). Steering box mounting bolts are nice and tight.

Aside from a worn ball joint, or steering linkage/tie rod, is there something that could shift to cause the wheel to be off center that I might be missing?

I guess I'll probably pull the steering linkages out and check for slop and do the same with the ball joints (what a pain), but would like to see if someone has an idea for me before I dive in.

thanks for your help,
Paul
 
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#2 ·
Get an alignment. It sounds like your toe angle has shifted (curbs, pothole, etc.). This could account for the steering wheel being off-center. This may speak to the new issue of the wheel contacting the body/chassis, as well but check that the offset is correct and equal left to right. If you are using spacers are they the same thichness and both present?
 
#13 ·
Hi,

I know this is an old thread but I saw that your steering wheel was off center after you changed to a new one. I had my steering wheel changed on my 02 M5 yesterday and now it's slightly off to the right. You said that you adjusted it multiple times... What did you do to correct it, adjust the tie rods and/or get an alignment??
Thanks for your help!
 
#4 ·
Thanks guys,

Steering wheel - Has not been changed yet, but upgrading to the newer style wheel is on the list!

Offset - Front wheels are +22 offset (19x9.5), running the GC kit with dimpled struts, so no spacers. Is there something else I can check in regards to offset?

Also the car was last aligned with the current wheels. Having it re-aligned is probably a good idea, and likely what I will do unless I find an issue. I struggle re-aligning it without a failed part since the car has not seen a curb or pothole, but still, I guess general abuse from bumps in the road could have made an impact.

Thank you for the input...very much appreciated.
 
#7 ·
I analyzed the steering feel at highway speeds and the vehicle doesn't appear as stable as before, wanting to wander just a bit. Maybe it's my neurocies, but either way I'm going to pull the steering linkages and control arms and figure out who's getting tired. If all is in good shape I'll have it re-aligned at that point, but before paying for an alignment, I want to make sure there isn't a failing component. I'll report back, but it might be a week or two before I get to it.

Thanks for all the input.

-Paul
 
#8 · (Edited)
Sounds like have too much toe out on one of the wheels, causing it feel unstable on the high way and an off center steering wheel. Alignment should fix it.

Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App
 
#9 ·
How much lower if the car compared to before GC kit? Lower ride height may affect steering linkage geometry, which results in uneven pull.
 
#10 ·
Hey my car did the same exact thing - still haven't gotten it fixed - alignment def seems like the fix
 
#11 ·
Update - still chasing the source

I had the car aligned at a reputable BMW specific shop. Tech said the toe was screwy. Drove it around a bit (it doesnt get driven often, especially in the winter so it's been driven less than 1000 miles since) and then a few weeks ago i brought it back to the shop to have the alignment checked. The toe was off again.

There are no clunks, everything feels tight when the vehicle is driven, but clearly something must be off. The one thing I keep coming back to is the monoball kit. After installing them, I've not be as pleased with the feel of the car as it hasn't felt as stable at high speeds. When I installed them, the passenger side monoball kit didn't fit into the control arm as tightly as I had hoped it would. It wasn't loose, but even after I tightened it down, I could still rotate it by hand in the control arm. Could that cause toe issues? What if the control arm to subframe bolt isnt tight enough. I'm assuming that could cause some movement?

I have been thinking I would order up all of the steering linkages as well as control arms, but the lack of typical signs of worn linkages or ball joints has me second guessing myself.

Sorry about the random wandering post. Any advice on hunting this down is appreciated.

Thanks,
Paul
 
#12 ·
The mono-balls should be snug to the control arm's bore this can account for the unstable feel of the car and make the alignment wonky. The mono-balls will not directly affect toe, but as the alignment may not be stable the toe measurement when it was last on the rack may not be accurate.

What are the front and rear angle measurements from the last alignment? Also, how is the condition of the rear suspension?
 
#19 ·
Right. Upshot is that if your steering wheel is off center after having a new one installed, it almost certainly was not installed on the correct spline. Regardless of where the mark is, the best process IMHO is:

1. Center your suspension.
2. Loosen and remove steering wheel nut.
3. Check to ensure suspension did not move when you loosened and removed the nut.
4. Pull off steering wheel.
5. Reinstall steering wheel on whatever spline feels perfectly centered to you.
6. Reinstall and torque steering wheel nut.

Done! IMHO, your steering wheel angle sensor is unlikely to need zeroing unless your wheel was WAY off.

--Peter
 
#20 ·
6.5 degrees was enough on the X5 after a bungled tie rod change! DSC, 4x4 and transmission errors and lights. That's a different vehicle, of course, and screwed up in a different way.
 
#21 ·
Mine is off my just a smidge... just a couple of degrees. The "Witness marks" are lined up, moving the wheel over left or right on the column would make it much further out. I've driven it like this for 2.5 years.

The tires are fine (no weird alignment issue noticed), and it drives straight. If the wheel as lined up like a minute hand, then instead of at the top of the hour, it's sitting at 5 till (55 minute position).
 
#22 ·
While alignment is good, I would bet tie rods are not even. You can adjust yourself, just turn the nuts on each tie rod exactly the same in the opposite direction to even them out. You lengthen one rod and shorten the other.

Or take it to the alignment shop, it will take them 10 minutes, most of which is getting the car up in the air.

Regards,
Jerry
 
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