Steering Wheel Tilt

spearfish25 · 10-18-2011, 09:40 PM

I had an issue with the leather on my steering wheel and took it to the local dealer for replacement today. The car was driving great, tracking straight and true, and the steering wheel was properly centered when driving straight ahead prior to the replacement. Now I have my new wheel installed and within 10 seconds of driving, I realized it's about 2 degrees clockwise from center (slightly rotated right when driving straight). The interesting part of this is that the car tracks straight ahead perfectly...it just does so when the wheel is slightly rotated clockwise without any force being applied to it.

I took it back to the dealer and stated they installed the wheel off center. They countered saying it's a splined connection and there is only one 'way' to install it. They then suggested I get an alignment as incorrect toe would cause an off-center steering wheel.

I can't believe that my alignment is suddenly off when it was fine before the steering wheel swap. Is there an adjustment for the steering wheel alone so I can get it straight again?

spearfish25 · 10-18-2011, 10:10 PM

Just found this thread: Steering Wheel Off-Center

Still doesn't explain why I have a problem after just having the steering wheel replaced though!

TreeSemdyZee · 10-18-2011, 11:01 PM

Seems to me if it is splined, there would be numerous positions that the wheel could be located in. Bottom line, I guess, is that the dealer is most likely full of poop. I HATE it when my steering wheel is off.

kenchan · 10-18-2011, 11:56 PM

your dealer is right...if the splines were off it would be much more than 2 degrees off... it's likely that the build date/revision is different from the original steering wheel to your replacement so it's manufactured differently.

you can get an alignment to get the steering wheel centered but is it really worth it? i dont think so. i would just live with the slightly cocked steering wheel until you really need an alignment and have that taken care then.

6MT · 10-19-2011, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

your dealer is right...if the splines were off it would be much more than 2 degrees off... it's likely that the build date/revision is different from the original steering wheel to your replacement so it's manufactured differently.

you can get an alignment to get the steering wheel centered but is it really worth it? i dont think so. i would just live with the slightly cocked steering wheel until you really need an alignment and have that taken care then.

spearfish25 · 10-19-2011, 10:31 AM

You guys are right about the splines. Any deviation do to misaligning the splines would cause a big off-center rotation of the wheel. That being said, I can't deal with the little tilt. Just drives me nuts. It's worth the $90 to get the alignment...haven't had one in a long time anyway. Thanks for the input.

kenchan · 10-19-2011, 10:49 AM

haha, no sense feeling bad each time getting into your car. get that alignment.

my G35C's steering wheel is slightly cocked to the left maybe 1.5-2 degress max. it's been through numerous alignments to setup my ride and each time it wasn't perfectly straight. they dont put a level or anything on your steering wheel. lol

LakeShow · 10-25-2011, 07:55 PM

I'm just curious, what happened to the leather that you needed to be replaced?

spearfish25 · 10-25-2011, 08:08 PM

Part of the leather on the steering wheel was developing little cracks in it. The dealer said they'd replace it under warranty once for me. That's all I was asking for

.

CraigP · 10-26-2011, 07:19 AM

Wait. Shouldn't the DEALER cover the cost of the alignment? Replacing a steering wheel shouldn't result in the wheel being "off center" when it's returned to the customer. That's just sucky customer service if you ask me. I think that I'd argue that I asked that the steering wheel be replaced and that it should "work" like the old one. Correctly.

kenchan · 10-26-2011, 12:20 PM

it does work correctly but it's slightly cocked.. is wat spearfish is saying. most people will probably wont care (or notice) but i can understand some folks being real picky about that as the wheel is literally in your face.

alignment will not guarantee that the steering wheel will be 100% at 12 oclock. ive had numerous alignments and each time it was slightly off. it doesnt bother me though

10-18-2011, 09:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Steering Wheel Tilt I had an issue with the leather on my steering wheel and took it to the local dealer for replacement today. The car was driving great, tracking straight and true, and the steering wheel was properly centered when driving straight ahead prior to the replacement. Now I have my new wheel installed and within 10 seconds of driving, I realized it's about 2 degrees clockwise from center (slightly rotated right when driving straight). The interesting part of this is that the car tracks straight ahead perfectly...it just does so when the wheel is slightly rotated clockwise without any force being applied to it. I took it back to the dealer and stated they installed the wheel off center. They countered saying it's a splined connection and there is only one 'way' to install it. They then suggested I get an alignment as incorrect toe would cause an off-center steering wheel. I can't believe that my alignment is suddenly off when it was fine before the steering wheel swap. Is there an adjustment for the steering wheel alone so I can get it straight again? __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

10-18-2011, 10:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Just found this thread: Steering Wheel Off-Center Still doesn't explain why I have a problem after just having the steering wheel replaced though! __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

10-19-2011, 10:31 AM	#6 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	You guys are right about the splines. Any deviation do to misaligning the splines would cause a big off-center rotation of the wheel. That being said, I can't deal with the little tilt. Just drives me nuts. It's worth the $90 to get the alignment...haven't had one in a long time anyway. Thanks for the input. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

10-25-2011, 07:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
LakeShow A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: L.I., NY Posts: 5,307 Drives: Everything Rep Power: 26	I'm just curious, what happened to the leather that you needed to be replaced? __________________ \|2013 Audi S4\|Ibis White/Black\|S-Tronic P+\| \|2013 370z\|PearlWhite/Persimmon\|Touring/Sport/Nav\|F.I. CBE 18" CF\| \|Sold\|2011 370z\|Gun Metallic\|Touring/Sport/Nav\|

10-25-2011, 08:08 PM	#9 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Part of the leather on the steering wheel was developing little cracks in it. The dealer said they'd replace it under warranty once for me. That's all I was asking for . __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

10-18-2011, 11:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
TreeSemdyZee Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Kentuck-IANA Age: 60 Posts: 4,885 Drives: '09 370 & ‘14 Juke Rep Power: 27409	Seems to me if it is splined, there would be numerous positions that the wheel could be located in. Bottom line, I guess, is that the dealer is most likely full of poop. I HATE it when my steering wheel is off.

10-18-2011, 11:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	your dealer is right...if the splines were off it would be much more than 2 degrees off... it's likely that the build date/revision is different from the original steering wheel to your replacement so it's manufactured differently. you can get an alignment to get the steering wheel centered but is it really worth it? i dont think so. i would just live with the slightly cocked steering wheel until you really need an alignment and have that taken care then.

10-19-2011, 10:49 AM	#7 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	haha, no sense feeling bad each time getting into your car. get that alignment. my G35C's steering wheel is slightly cocked to the left maybe 1.5-2 degress max. it's been through numerous alignments to setup my ride and each time it wasn't perfectly straight. they dont put a level or anything on your steering wheel. lol

10-26-2011, 07:19 AM	#10 (permalink)
CraigP Base Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Stevensville, MD Posts: 40 Drives: '11 370z 7AT Touring Rep Power: 14	Wait. Shouldn't the DEALER cover the cost of the alignment? Replacing a steering wheel shouldn't result in the wheel being "off center" when it's returned to the customer. That's just sucky customer service if you ask me. I think that I'd argue that I asked that the steering wheel be replaced and that it should "work" like the old one. Correctly.

10-26-2011, 12:20 PM	#11 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	it does work correctly but it's slightly cocked.. is wat spearfish is saying. most people will probably wont care (or notice) but i can understand some folks being real picky about that as the wheel is literally in your face. alignment will not guarantee that the steering wheel will be 100% at 12 oclock. ive had numerous alignments and each time it was slightly off. it doesnt bother me though

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