Off-centre steering

Freshman · Tue Oct 25, 2011 5:25 pm

Hi all,

Before I go to Speedy in the morning I thought I'd ask you guys for input:
My steering wheel is a bit "out" - not 100% centre when I drive straight but my wheel allignment is 100%.

I tried removing the steering wheel to adjust it a bit to the right, but it must be welded on

as not even penetrating spray and a rubber hammer could loosen it

The nut comes off fine, but I can't get it off the spline shaft.

Can this be corrected via wheel alligment without setting the alignment out?

Thanks
Pierre

paw_by_paw · Tue Oct 25, 2011 5:30 pm

Can you see welding there? It is not supposed to be welded. Maybe you should try a big puller and see if it moves then.
If you get it off put some copper slip on the splines before installing.

Freshman · Tue Oct 25, 2011 5:39 pm

paw_by_paw wrote:Can you see welding there?

Sorry - was joking about the welding bit, but I'm telling you it could just as well be welded on as it sits like crazy.
Will see where I can borrow a big puller...either that or a bigger hammer

paw_by_paw · Tue Oct 25, 2011 5:54 pm

Try shock therapy - hitting it hard with a hammmer not till destruction and spray some real antirust spray combat not that good for rust.

cloyd · Tue Oct 25, 2011 6:18 pm

Freshman,

Do not go the way of moving your steering wheel!! By correcting the "off centre" that way, you are playing into the hands of the tyre companies / adjusting companies. An "off set" steering wheel is the sign of shoddy workmanship and nothing else!! Take it back to the dealer / adjuster and insist that they correct it. If the normal 'slave' claims that it is impossible to correct, go higher up in the management chain.

I have found adjusters that claim they set the toe-in and or camber slightly out to compensate for the roundness of the road and for not always travelling with two persons onboard. This is absolute Bull.hit.

Please do not play into their hands. You will be making it more and more difficult to get the correct and proper service that you have paid for and as a byproduct, the adjuster will expect that the next customer will aklso accept bad workmanship.

You have paid for a service and it is your right to expect and to insist on correct workmanship.

Cloyd.

Freshman · Tue Oct 25, 2011 6:28 pm

Thanks Cloyd, I'll go there tomorrow and moan.

Freshman · Thu Oct 27, 2011 8:59 am

cloyd wrote: You have paid for a service and it is your right to expect and to insist on correct workmanship.
Cloyd.

Hi Cloyd,
Just some feedback - I took it back to Dunlop yesterday and told them the steering wheel is out by about 5 degrees.
So they set about to correct it, but afterwards I took a drive round the block and was shocked to see it is now out the other way by at least 30 degrees!! Eish.
So I took it back and the Owner apologised profusely and they then fixed it as he stood by.
It is now 100% They also rotated my tyres (at no charge).
Thanks for your input.

Davidvan · Thu Oct 27, 2011 9:26 am

Hi,

Do not just go about removing steering with SRS Airbag, not sure if yours has, will be a costly exercise,. There is a process, will find the details and submit a post.

Cheers

David

Freshman · Thu Oct 27, 2011 9:31 am

Davidvan wrote: Do not just go about removing steering with SRS Airbag, not sure if yours has

Luckly the issue has been sorted and unfortunalty mine is non-airbag. Plain simple old steering wheel

Davidvan · Thu Oct 27, 2011 11:02 am

Here is the link I saw on POCUK regarding removing the SRS Airbag steering wheel - can be costly if process not followed it appears - haven't done it myself just read it:

http://www.pocuk.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=28162

Cheers

David