turboed350z

Before instart of, yes i have research this subject.

Ok so i noticed that my steering wheel is crooked. It sits about 10° to the right. The alignment seems fine. It drives straight, brakes straight, no pulling, the wheel just seems off.

Base on my search, there could be 2 way to fix this, the steering colum and the pivot joint. Or i can remove the steering wheel and reinstall it.

I would like to remove the steering wheel and reinstall as appose to jacking up the car and getting underneath it.

Now heres my question, can i safely (as in not damage anything) adjust the steering wheel and have it sit straight? Or should i get under the car abd adjust it at the pivot point?

iideadeyeii

iTrader: (6)

If you can disconnect the wheel and then put back on straight, that's how I would do it.

jhc

It's easier than that, assuming the steering wheel's never been pulled.

My guess is that last time it was lined-up the tech was too lazy to set steering wheel first. I would go in for a free alignment check and go from there.

turboed350z

My understanding is that i remove the battery, let the car sit for 5 min, remove the 2 tamper proof bolts, remove air bag, and a 19mm bolt and the steering wheel comes off. Then i just move it by a hair and reinstall right?

turboed350z

I would prefer not to pay the shop. Like i said, in fairly certain that my alignment is fine. I could be wrong, but tire wear indicates that its within specs

dkmura

iTrader: (64)

First off, if your steering wheel was on straight and THEN you noticed it's off 10 degrees to the right, there's something else going on. How long ago was your Z aligned?

turboed350z

Actually it has been off since the day i bought it haha. Just not really bothersome to me until i recently got my second z. Its been a few years now. But as i said, im not sure if it could be an alignment issue as it drive straight, it brakes straight and the tire wear are even. Like i can point the car straight, let go of the wheel and it will still drive straight. Its just the steering wheel sits crooked while its going straight. No pulling or anything.

Do you still think it could be an alignment thing?

dkmura

iTrader: (64)

So, what you're saying is the car has always been like this since you bought it? I'd say it's overdue for an alignment check and the tech will put the steering straight afterwards.

But that's just me- as a racer, I tend to want my equipment in the best possible shape. It's a philosophy that's served me well over the years...

MicVelo

^^^ This.

It IS an alignment issue. Along with "Is it pulling to either side?", one of the check-in questions the shop should be asking is "Is the steering wheel straight?" This helps the tech figure out something's off even BEFORE it goes on the alignment rack.

As far as the "take-off-the-steering-wheel-and-reinstall-it-straight", umm, no.

Even though you're not taking out a lot of steering input in one direction by moving the wheel a couple splines over, the fact that I KNOW it's off would bug the s**t out of me.

dowo12

iTrader: (1)

1 month ago i had similar problem and it was steering rack

travlee

iTrader: (8)

this.. if they straighten the steering wheel it is more work for them adjusting it

jhc

Still the professional, courteous way to go so we don't get what we have here.

turboed350z

Thanks everyone. I was confuse since it seems like the steering wheel just like a spine or 3 over to the right. Will bring it in for an alignment check today.