Steering Wheel Off Center

[fly1747]

Car is a new 2008 Outback with about 1700 miles. The steering wheel
on the car must be turned left slightly to keep the car tracking
straight. The car does not pull to one side very noticably but with
the wheel centered the car will drift to the right.

I have taken the car to two different dealerships to deal with this
problem and the car always comes back the same. I write a detailed
note regarding the problem and they align the car but it still comes
back with the wheel slightly left to keep the car straight.

The service receipts always states the problem was the car pulling to
the right, but the problem is the steering wheel alignment.

Anyone have any suggestions or am I being to picky?

Thanks,
Matt

 

[Todd H.]

Car is a new 2008 Outback with about 1700 miles. The steering wheel
on the car must be turned left slightly to keep the car tracking
straight. The car does not pull to one side very noticably but with
the wheel centered the car will drift to the right.

I have taken the car to two different dealerships to deal with this
problem and the car always comes back the same. I write a detailed
note regarding the problem and they align the car but it still comes
back with the wheel slightly left to keep the car straight.

The service receipts always states the problem was the car pulling to
the right, but the problem is the steering wheel alignment.

Anyone have any suggestions or am I being to picky?

A new car's steering wheel should be straight when the wheels are
straight. Open a case with Subaru customer service, and I suspect
the next trip to the dealer will be the last on this issue.

800 SUBARU3
http://www.subaru.com/tools/contactus/index.jsp

 

[Fred Boer]

Just a suggestion, in case you haven't done this:

You might try going with the service manager on a test drive next time. Sit
in the passenger seat and demonstrate the problem with the service manager
driving. Get him or her to actually experience the behaviour you are
concerned about. It might do more than written descriptions. Recently, I had
an intermittent problem that wasn't acknowledge properly... until the
service manager took the car out and experienced it for himself.

My first Subaru (Loyale Wagon) needed the entire steering column replaced
when the dealership tried to remove a broken key from the ignition and
managed to damage the entire assembly. It exhibited the same kind of "have
to turn slightly to drive straight" behaviour you describe, although I
doubt that this is your problem. Had to go to another dealership to get the
problem fixed. Never went back to the original dealership...

 

[AS]

A deviation in the thrust angle, in most cases, will not make the car
pull but will make the steering wheel to be off.

If they have done a 4 wheel alignment properly, a defective tire could
(even if a remote possibility, because the car does not pull) cause the
problem. Have the tires rotated.

Good luck!

 

[VanguardLH]

Car is a new 2008 Outback with about 1700 miles. The steering wheel
on the car must be turned left slightly to keep the car tracking
straight. The car does not pull to one side very noticably but with
the wheel centered the car will drift to the right.

I have taken the car to two different dealerships to deal with this
problem and the car always comes back the same. I write a detailed
note regarding the problem and they align the car but it still comes
back with the wheel slightly left to keep the car straight.

The service receipts always states the problem was the car pulling
to
the right, but the problem is the steering wheel alignment.

If an alignment doesn't find the problem, have them check the
roundness of the tire. Not the balancing but the roundness. I once
had an out-of-round tire (which, in my case, meant off-centered) that
caused the problem that you describe. Rotating the tires didn't help
as switching sides or front-rear position only changed the problem to
pull in a different direction or by how much it pulled. It is a
manufacturing defect which meant the tire had to be replaced.
However, due to all-wheel-drive, the other 3 tires also had to be
replaced because there was quite a bit of wear on these tires before
the problem became exhibited and it was over many visits over a few
months of trying to get the same problem fixed before a different car
shop found the problem.

 

[fly1747]

Thanks for the help guys.

I am dropping the car off tomorrow. I spoke with the service manager
and described the problem. He says the shop foreman will look at it
tomorrow and I will mention to check the tire roundness as well.

Thanks again,
Matt

 

[Bugalugs]

Thanks for the help guys.

I am dropping the car off tomorrow. I spoke with the service manager
and described the problem. He says the shop foreman will look at it
tomorrow and I will mention to check the tire roundness as well.

Thanks again,
Matt

When they do a steering alignment it is usual to put the steering wheel
in the straight ahead position and then adjust all the angles/toein etc
from there.

If the steering wheel was not straight to start with the car will track
right on the road but the steering wheel is always 'crooked'. When you
ask for a check of the alignment the operator climbs straight underneath
and checks all the settings.

A GOOD operator will use a small device to hook over the steering wheel
and jamb it against the seat to make sure the steering wheel is fixed in
the straight ahead position and doesn't move. *Then* he will get
underneath and make any adjustments.

If you can, watch when they do it.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Car is a new 2008 Outback with about 1700 miles. The steering wheel
on the car must be turned left slightly to keep the car tracking
straight. The car does not pull to one side very noticably but with
the wheel centered the car will drift to the right.

I have taken the car to two different dealerships to deal with this
problem and the car always comes back the same. I write a detailed
note regarding the problem and they align the car but it still comes
back with the wheel slightly left to keep the car straight.

The service receipts always states the problem was the car pulling to
the right, but the problem is the steering wheel alignment.

Anyone have any suggestions or am I being to picky?

Thanks,
Matt

I have heard of weights being put into a car to simulate the presence of
a driver. If you are a very large person, perhaps asking for the
alignment to be done with some sand bags in the driver's seat would help?

Carl

 

[Sheldon]

Car is a new 2008 Outback with about 1700 miles. The steering wheel
on the car must be turned left slightly to keep the car tracking
straight. The car does not pull to one side very noticably but with
the wheel centered the car will drift to the right.

I have taken the car to two different dealerships to deal with this
problem and the car always comes back the same. I write a detailed
note regarding the problem and they align the car but it still comes
back with the wheel slightly left to keep the car straight.

The service receipts always states the problem was the car pulling to
the right, but the problem is the steering wheel alignment.

Anyone have any suggestions or am I being to picky?

Thanks,
Matt

From your description it's hard to tell whether the car is pulling to one
side or the other, or if the car track straight but it's only the steering
wheel that's off. If the car tracks down the road straight, but the
steering wheel is not straight, all you have to do is loosen both tie rod
ends and adjust both sides equally until the steering wheel is straight.
Not a big deal for a mechanic or just about anybody.

Obviously, if the steering wheel is not straight, and you straighten it as
you drive the car will pull to one side. The steering wheel being straight
and the car being in proper alignment are two completely different things.
Normally, when someone does an alignment, they try to keep the wheel
straight. Maybe your car was made on a Friday or a Monday.

 

[QX]

Car is a new 2008 Outback with about 1700 miles. The steering wheel
on the car must be turned left slightly to keep the car tracking
straight. The car does not pull to one side very noticably but with
the wheel centered the car will drift to the right.

I have taken the car to two different dealerships to deal with this
problem and the car always comes back the same. I write a detailed
note regarding the problem and they align the car but it still comes
back with the wheel slightly left to keep the car straight.

The service receipts always states the problem was the car pulling to
the right, but the problem is the steering wheel alignment.

Anyone have any suggestions or am I being to picky?

Thanks,
Matt

If I remember correclty from the auto repair courses I took long,
long, ago (1973)...... as long as caster/camber/toe are adjusted to
the correct value, as it appears from your description, it is merely a
problem with the tie rod end adjustment for a centered steering
wheel..
What they need to do is adjust the right tie rod end adjustor for
example, 1/2 turn clockwise, and adjust the left tie rod end adjustor
1/2 turn counter clockwise. Adjusting them equally but in opposite
directions will center the steering wheel without changing the toe
adjustment. The actual amount of adjustment varies from car to car,
and the degree of tilt you are experiencing.

 

[Tony Hwang]

Car is a new 2008 Outback with about 1700 miles. The steering wheel
on the car must be turned left slightly to keep the car tracking
straight. The car does not pull to one side very noticably but with
the wheel centered the car will drift to the right.

I have taken the car to two different dealerships to deal with this
problem and the car always comes back the same. I write a detailed
note regarding the problem and they align the car but it still comes
back with the wheel slightly left to keep the car straight.

The service receipts always states the problem was the car pulling to
the right, but the problem is the steering wheel alignment.

Anyone have any suggestions or am I being to picky?

Thanks,
Matt

Hi,
If it's new car, dealer did not do proper delivery prep. for the car.
Centering steering wheel is part of wheel alignment. There is
even a jig(simple tool) for that.

 

[Tony Hwang]

A deviation in the thrust angle, in most cases, will not make the car
pull but will make the steering wheel to be off.

If they have done a 4 wheel alignment properly, a defective tire could
(even if a remote possibility, because the car does not pull) cause the
problem. Have the tires rotated.

Good luck!

Hmmm,
On a brand new car?

 

[Stewart DIBBS]

(e-mail address removed) wrote:
If it's new car, dealer did not do proper delivery prep. for the car.

On older FWD vehicles even with correct alignment, the pulling to one side
or another is often caused by worn front axle inner CV joints binding.
Another symptom is steering wheel wobble that's often misdiagnosed as wheel
balance.

Its unlikely but not impossible on a new car that one of its axles has a
problem. If the wheel alignment is correct and the wheel centered, but
driving it requires an offset, inner CV's should be considered.

SD

 

[fly1747]

The car is at the dealer now. I will let everyone know what the
outcome is. I had considered an axle issue, but what are the chances
on a new car?

I have a feeling I am going to get a call saying the car is fine, just
like the previous two times. If so, then I guess I need to contact
Subaru of NA.

Thanks for everyones' help.

Matt

 

[Todd H.]

The car is at the dealer now. I will let everyone know what the
outcome is. I had considered an axle issue, but what are the chances
on a new car?

I have a feeling I am going to get a call saying the car is fine, just
like the previous two times. If so, then I guess I need to contact
Subaru of NA.

Man I hope not.

For $30k or whatever they're getting for those now, a straight freakin
steering wheel shouldn't be something one has to lobby so hard for!

Best Regards,

 

[AS]

Yes, 3 Subarus, 2 mine, one my friend's had problem tires.