wheel alignment question
 

Hi I recently had a wheel alignment done and for some reason the steering wheel is crooked to the right about 15 degrees even when driving on straight roads any ideas what could be causing this?

Thank you

uhhh when you make it straight are the wheels straight?

LOL,

if not, I believe you need a wheel alighnment...

If it was like that right when you got your car back and the car drives straight otherwise, they probably didn't centre your steering wheel. Meaning, they should have centred the steering wheel first, locked it in that position, then made their adjustments from there.

Take it back and have them centre the wheel. It shouldn't take too long.

i hate this. almost every time i get a wheel alignment done, they don't center the wheel and i have to go back to get them to do it again and wait another 20-30 minutes if they haven't put another car on the rack already.

and when u ask them before the alignment to make sure the steering wheel is centered, they get pissed off thinking that you're telling them how to do their job :(

lol whoever did it should have centered it before they started the alignment.

however there are times when adjusting the tie rods it moves the steering wheel. (probably didn't use the steering lock) in this case they should've test drove it and corrected the problem before giving it back.

what kind of car?

yes the wheels are straight when the steering is center but as soon as i let go of the wheel it will tilt to the right.

i'm confused... is the car still driving straight with the wheel tilted to the right by itself? and if u try to hold the steering wheel so that it's dead center the car will start to go left?

As in, it drives straight with the wheel held straight? And when you let go, the wheel (and the car) pulls to the right?

It COULD be the crown in the road.. but not likely. I've had lots of cars that have no problem going straight down most Lower Mainland roads. I'd venture to say that you have some mechanical issues.. causing the car to pull right is not good. But, it's better than pulling left into oncoming traffic!!

Which is it?

1. You drive straight with the steering wheel at 15 degrees to the right.

or

2. You drive straight with the steering wheel at centre and when you let go of the "wheel" ( i assume its the steering wheel) the car will go right.

and Why will you let go of the steering wheel for?


1. get the alignment done again. you need to adjust the tie rods to centre your steering wheel.

2. don't let go of your steering wheel.

hmmm gettin my alignment done this sat... where is this place i hope its not the same place

got a quick question that's kinda related

how often do you guys usually do a full 4 wheel alignment?

prefer from ppl that have 2 sets of wheels with FF cars (summer/all-season set+ winter set)

Im deciding if i want to do one before i put on some new rubbers? what do you guys think? The last time I did a full wheel alignment is probably like 2-3 years ago. My car tilts to the right a bit, but nothing major. (as far I rmb, even after a wheel alignment, my car STILL do that a bit anyways..)

before when i was on coilovers, i would put my snows on, raise the car up, and get an alignment done. once spring comes back, summers go back on, car gets dumped back on the ground, and then the search is on for an alignment shop that won't turn me away because it's too damn low :lol

but now i usually do it if something is obviously wrong, ie. uneven treadwear, pulling, not going straight anymore. otherwise i let it be...

rofl.. i have camber wear.. but i dont want to buy a camber kit. i usually only do it only when theres camber wear, feathering..

some people recommend every year. and also it's good to do it when you swap summer/winter wheels. or get completely new rubber.

So, when you hold the wheel CENTER/STRAIGHT, does it go straight, or sideways?

If it's center and it drives straight then it's fine. When you let go and it slowly drifts to the right, it may most likely be road crown.

Did your technician show you the print out?

I doubt any alignment place would actually not center the steering as part of the alignment... If anything they just did a very bad job at it.

or your brake on one side is seized.

Or maybe the OP just has 'high expectations' - but anyways, first and foremost, check your tire pressures first.