Steering wheel a bit off center


jaxgt

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Jul 12, 2006
2,794
Gents,
My car is riding nicely and had rear toe links fixed (see other thread).
Now no pulling to one side on hard acceleration, and car tracks straight down the highway as well, but...

I have somewhat recently noticed my wheel has to be about 3 deg turned to the right (clockwise) to go straight.
Is there a simple fix/adjustment so it is straight up and down?
 

AJB

GT
Mark II Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Jun 28, 2006
2,943
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Front end alignment..with stewring wheel held in perfeCT centered position.
Andy (ajb)
 

AJB

GT
Mark II Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Jun 28, 2006
2,943
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Sorry for fat fingers from cell phone
 

fjpikul

GT Owner
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Jan 4, 2006
11,475
Belleville, IL
Cant your head 3 degrees to the right and you won't notice.
 
Last edited:

mmlcobra

GT Owner
May 25, 2013
1,215
Front alignment as suggested will fix your issue easily.
Best,
Mark
 

NorthwoodGT

GT Owner
Jun 12, 2009
1,215
Michigan
yep, a good alignment will dial it in to 12:00. and you're right, it is annoying when it's not!
 

nota4re

GT Owner
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Feb 15, 2006
4,176
A very simple adjustment to do yourself if you are so inclined. Steering wheel centering is a function of tie-rod length. The tie rods can be adjusted by loosening a jam nut and then turning the rod. Assuming total toe is correct, you want to keep total tie rod length the same. As such, turn one out 1/2 turn and the other in 1/2 turn and then go test drive. You can iterate in on a perfect steering-wheel center.
 

Xcentric

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Jul 9, 2012
5,213
Myakka City, Florida
Did the off-center steering wheel coincide with the replacement of the rear toe links? Did you have the rear toe setting checked when the toe links were replaced? Shims in same position?

Unequal rear toe can cause off-center steering wheel.
 

jaxgt

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Jul 12, 2006
2,794
Did the off-center steering wheel coincide with the replacement of the rear toe links? Did you have the rear toe setting checked when the toe links were replaced? Shims in same position?

Unequal rear toe can cause off-center steering wheel.

That's a good question. I think it was present before, but can't honestly remember.
 

Awsum GT

GT Owner '18
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Sep 17, 2005
3,985
Carmel & Cntrl Ca
Cant your head 3 degrees to the right and you won't notice.

sounds like this will be a much easier fix! :rofl
 
Last edited:

jaxgt

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Jul 12, 2006
2,794
A very simple adjustment to do yourself if you are so inclined. Steering wheel centering is a function of tie-rod length. The tie rods can be adjusted by loosening a jam nut and then turning the rod. Assuming total toe is correct, you want to keep total tie rod length the same. As such, turn one out 1/2 turn and the other in 1/2 turn and then go test drive. You can iterate in on a perfect steering-wheel center.

I like this strategy.
 

timcantwell

Le Mans 2010 Sponsor * Moderator
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Jan 22, 2006
2,634
N.E. OH & Naples, FL
Front end alignment..with stewring wheel held in perfeCT centered position.
Andy (ajb)

+2. Having my ACR Viper re-aligned to set wheel straight next week.