Why is My Steering Wheel Off Center But Driving Straight?

This usually happens when the alignment of either the front or the rear of the car is slightly off. This could be caused by being involved in an accident, hitting a curb, or driving over a pothole.

The car may still run straight, but you notice the logo on the steering wheel is crocked.

Often, the change happens gradually and isn’t always caused by one event. It is normally accompanied by other problems too.

First, to identify the problem, there are several other things to watch out for.

Is your car exhibiting any of these issues?

Steering Wheel Vibration

The steering wheel tends to vibrate if the alignment’s bad. Besides this, you could also experience less sensitive or vague steering too.

Uneven Tire Wear

This applies to the left and right tires on either axle compared to each other and the inner and outer edges of the same tire.

It isn’t as simple as taking off the steering wheel and recentering it straight.

It’s never advisable to remove the steering wheel and try and straighten the steering wheel yourself. All cars have airbags and additional wiring in the area. You might knock something when unbolting the steering wheel, causing your airbag to fail when needed.

The problem is alignment- even if your car is driving straight.

The tie rods are the culprit. They are adjusted when the car wheels are aligned. Even a small knock can result in them being off-center.

Is your car new?

New cars are not unheard of leaving the factory and being slightly off-center. Perhaps quality control wasn’t too good. It’s rare, though.

When your wheels are aligned, the first thing that should happen is that the steering wheel is centered and locked into place.

This is a very basic but essential step. The car will still drive perfectly fine if not done, but the steering wheel will remain off-center.

With the high precision and care required to align your wheels, small mistakes tend to pile up and reveal themselves in the car’s behavior.

If your car hasn’t been aligned recently, here are some other causes as to why the steering wheel is now crocked.

Bad Steering Wheel Alignment Causes

Accidents or Potholes

Events like accidents or collisions also affect the wheel alignment because of the force exerted on the tie rods.

Besides this, certain types of driving behavior, such as rash or fast driving, can eventually lead to misalignment problems.

Steering and Suspension

The condition of the steering and suspension systems is another major cause of poor wheel alignment. Any components worn out or needing replacement more than those on the other side (shocks, tires, tie rods, etc.) can become problematic by making the car veer in one direction.

The state of the axles through overloading the vehicle (weight-wise) or hitting a pothole too hard.

New Wheels or Car Lowering

Since all vehicles come with a careful balance of settings and components right out of the factory, changing one without regard for others usually leads to the same issue. Whether you lift or lower your car, in either case, the new height needs to be accommodated by the suspension.

Many visitors also read this article: Why Is My Car Lower On One Side? When It’s Okay To Lean and Tilt

This is more complex than most realize and is a frequent reason why getting a lift/lowering job done badly will leave you with a crocked steering wheel.

Fixing the problem is relatively simple, although it has to perform with lots of care due to the sensitivity of the alignment.

Some options you have are: –

Get your alignment done again, but correctly this time, and by an experienced mechanic.

Wheel alignment is a complex process. It’s highly automated and computerized.

Difference between alignment and balancing.

The car is raised, and the wheels are squared by adjusting the suspension angles (toe, camber, etc.). The specifics of the alignment depend on your car’s manufacturer and suspension type.

Average cost: $100 – $200, depending on where you take your car and the state you live in.

Why Does My Steering Wheel Shake When I Brake? – Is It Bad?

DIY Alignment

You could also try DIY options available on the market. However, these require extensive know-how and experience, without which it’s best to stay away.

Also, the precision required will be difficult without car shop tools (which are too expensive for the average driver).

This is not an option for everyday users, but experienced DIY mechanics have this as another viable option.

Average cost: $100 – $500 (depending on your expertise and available tools)

Not only is driving around with crooked steering annoying, but it also brings an array of dangers and potentially causes further damage to your vehicle.

In Conclusion

When you’re going straight, your wheels aren’t fully aligned, which causes your steering wheel to be off center. One sign of poor wheel alignment is a misaligned steering wheel, which you may notice when your tires are unbalanced.