Steering wheel

[edinburgh_lad]

Hi all

Great forum - I've received very helpful advice before and so was hoping that someone would help this time too. 

My steering wheel isn't fully level with the wheels. What I mean by that is when I'm driving straight, it seems that the steering wheel is slightly tilted to the right side in that my left hand is at approximately 10:30 o'clock (instead of 10 o'clock), whereas my right hand is at 2:30 o'clock (instead of 2 o'clock; there are two bulges on the steering wheel and that's how I can tell). 

Is this to do with wheel alignment needing sorted out (I had it done at last service in Feb), or is it meant to be like that, or is it something more serious? 

Thank you. 

[TonyHSD]

Hi, 

the steering wheel should be perfectly centred and the bulges equally from both sides. Most of the time is down to wheel alignment, this adjustment is done via the outer tie rod ends. This event can also happen if the steering wheel had been removed and then installed wrongly. There is also a third possibility, if steering wheel goes off centre while you are driving, you better pull over slowly to a safe place and call recovery to get the car to a garage for inspection. One of the reason for the third scenario is broken suspension arm and possibly detaching the wheel of the car if you continue driving. Best to book wheel alignment. Remember when driving on uk roads it is normal for the car to slightly pull towards left and you may find yourself slightly pulling the wheel to the right to balance that, and this is also possible off set your steering wheel position. In rest of Europe the cars are pulling to the right , this is because of the road camber for water drains purposes. 👍
 

[PCM]

... and check the condition and consistency of your tyres...

Same make on the same axle etc.

[edinburgh_lad]

1 hour ago, TonyHSD said:

Hi, 

the steering wheel should be perfectly centred and the bulges equally from both sides. Most of the time is down to wheel alignment, this adjustment is done via the outer tie rod ends. This event can also happen if the steering wheel had been removed and then installed wrongly. There is also a third possibility, if steering wheel goes off centre while you are driving, you better pull over slowly to a safe place and call recovery to get the car to a garage for inspection. One of the reason for the third scenario is broken suspension arm and possibly detaching the wheel of the car if you continue driving. Best to book wheel alignment. Remember when driving on uk roads it is normal for the car to slightly pull towards left and you may find yourself slightly pulling the wheel to the right to balance that, and this is also possible off set your steering wheel position. In rest of Europe the cars are pulling to the right , this is because of the road camber for water drains purposes. 👍
 

Thank you, Tony.

It is exactly that I'm having to pulling the wheels to the right a bit (maybe it's not as bad, but I did notice that on the steering wheel and got scared), as if I don't, the car will end up pulling to the left. 

I'll get the car booked in again to get the alignment sorted out. 

[edinburgh_lad]

51 minutes ago, PCM said:

... and check the condition and consistency of your tyres...

Same make on the same axle etc.

Thank you PCM.

I had two new tyres installed at the back and to save a bit, one of the back one was moved to the front (originally there was a nail in the front one). It's a 2018 reg Yaris that has done 15,000 miles. Both front ones will need to be replaced, but I'd say in 2 years' time or so. 

The back ones are Michelin Energy Saver, and the front ones are Dunlop, which is what there originally. 

 

 

[PCM]

Make sure there are no all-seasons or winters, in the mix.

Same pressures etc.

Back in the day this happened to me...

Changing all the tyres to the same brand and type solved it.

[corradovr6]

See if it pulls one way if you press hard on the brakes. That would suggest some brake servicing may be required 

[venomx]

Which yaris is it ? My MK2 is similar in that it's slightly to the left to keep straight but only a tiny bit. 

Tracking does help In that now I don't have to keep moving the wheel left and right continuously to be going straight when on A roads or motorway.

Nothing suggests that the car veers either side when braking either. Or even when driving on a straight road it stays straight 

 

I put it down to wear and tear. Both front tyres are 5mm tread all round 

[donkeychomp]

It also may have had a front end shunt. Does any paintwork look a slightly different shade?

Alex

[Derek.w]

Check tyres are ok same tread depth then ball joints for play plus are your brakes binding on one side just jack it up and try spinning the front wheel note the drag and compare with opposite side.