New steering wheel slightly off center

Dynamis · 07-28-2021, 06:41 AM

Put on a new steering wheel two days ago and it went pretty smoothly, but when I went to drive the car, I noticed the wheel is about an inch to the left. Took it off, recentered, put it back on and it was worse! Tried a third time last night and it's better but still not straight.

What could the issue be? Might it be an alignment thing?

crazy4oldcars · 07-28-2021, 12:56 PM

So many variables, lol
How are you making sure the wheels are straight?
How are you making the current position against where you want to move the steering wheel to?
Are your brakes pulling the wheels off center when you stop?

The easiest way to get it perfect would be to get it as close as you can, the get a wheel alignment. A good shop will center the steering wheel and then align everything to that.

Kirk B.

redondoaveb · 07-28-2021, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dynamis

Put on a new steering wheel two days ago and it went pretty smoothly, but when I went to drive the car, I noticed the wheel is about an inch to the left. Took it off, recentered, put it back on and it was worse! Tried a third time last night and it's better but still not straight.

What could the issue be? Might it be an alignment thing?

If it's a modified oem steering wheel it has an alignment mark on it and the steering column has a mark on it too. You just line up both mark's and you have correct alignment. Unfortunately, some model oem steering wheels were a little different and don't line up properly on other models. If that's your case, then yes, you need to have an alignment done.

JARblue · 07-28-2021, 01:37 PM

Is that not something JC could DIY with a piece of string?

BORNGEARHEAD · 07-28-2021, 09:56 PM

Move the steering wheel over 1 spline. If it is still off-center after correcting its position, get an alignment and get the steering angle reset with a scan tool.

old guy · 07-28-2021, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JARblue

Is that not something JC could DIY with a piece of string?

Dynamis · 07-29-2021, 07:38 AM

It'san aftermarket wheel that's supposed to be a direct OEM replacement. So after taking it on and off a few different times, it seems the splines just do not line up properly with the column. The wheel will only go on in one of three positions, none of them leading to a straight wheel.
I'm taking it to my mechanic in the AM for an alignement.

Thanks all

joeroke · 07-29-2021, 08:19 AM

Splines on the wheel and steering stem are cut to match. If its a different year wheel or even from a different tooling plant, the splines will not match.

07-28-2021, 06:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
Dynamis Base Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Delaware Posts: 79 Drives: 2010 370z Rep Power: 6716	New steering wheel slightly off center Put on a new steering wheel two days ago and it went pretty smoothly, but when I went to drive the car, I noticed the wheel is about an inch to the left. Took it off, recentered, put it back on and it was worse! Tried a third time last night and it's better but still not straight. What could the issue be? Might it be an alignment thing?

07-28-2021, 12:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
crazy4oldcars Enthusiast Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: SE Texas Posts: 448 Drives: '16 Nismo Tech Rep Power: 28412	So many variables, lol How are you making sure the wheels are straight? How are you making the current position against where you want to move the steering wheel to? Are your brakes pulling the wheels off center when you stop? The easiest way to get it perfect would be to get it as close as you can, the get a wheel alignment. A good shop will center the steering wheel and then align everything to that. Kirk B. old guy likes this.

07-28-2021, 01:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
JARblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX Age: 43 Posts: 36,449 Drives: 11 Z34, 98 E36 M3 Rep Power: 2684440	Is that not something JC could DIY with a piece of string? johnxxx, old guy, crazy4oldcars and 1 others like this. __________________ 2011 370Z 6MT Sport Gun Metallic \| ARC \| CJM \| Ecutek \| FI \| Fujimura \| R2C \| SPL \| Stillen \| TWM \| Z1 \| ZSpeed \|

07-28-2021, 09:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
BORNGEARHEAD Base Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: WI Posts: 58 Drives: 2020 370z Passion Rep Power: 3359	Move the steering wheel over 1 spline. If it is still off-center after correcting its position, get an alignment and get the steering angle reset with a scan tool. __________________ '20 370Z Sport - '15 Frontier - '04 350Z Roadster - '79 Datsun 620

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07-29-2021, 07:38 AM	#7 (permalink)
Dynamis Base Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Delaware Posts: 79 Drives: 2010 370z Rep Power: 6716	It'san aftermarket wheel that's supposed to be a direct OEM replacement. So after taking it on and off a few different times, it seems the splines just do not line up properly with the column. The wheel will only go on in one of three positions, none of them leading to a straight wheel. I'm taking it to my mechanic in the AM for an alignement. Thanks all

07-29-2021, 08:19 AM	#8 (permalink)
joeroke Base Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Florida Posts: 8 Drives: nissan Rep Power: 11	Splines on the wheel and steering stem are cut to match. If its a different year wheel or even from a different tooling plant, the splines will not match.