Steering Wheel Off Center

Car is a new 2008 Outback with about 1700 miles. The steering wheel on the car must be turned left slightly to keep the car tracking straight. The car does not pull to one side very noticably but with the wheel centered the car will drift to the right.

I have taken the car to two different dealerships to deal with this problem and the car always comes back the same. I write a detailed note regarding the problem and they align the car but it still comes back with the wheel slightly left to keep the car straight.

The service receipts always states the problem was the car pulling to the right, but the problem is the steering wheel alignment.

Anyone have any suggestions or am I being to picky?

Thanks, Matt

Reply to
fly1747
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A new car's steering wheel should be straight when the wheels are straight. Open a case with Subaru customer service, and I suspect the next trip to the dealer will be the last on this issue.

800 SUBARU3
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Reply to
Todd H.

Just a suggestion, in case you haven't done this:

You might try going with the service manager on a test drive next time. Sit in the passenger seat and demonstrate the problem with the service manager driving. Get him or her to actually experience the behaviour you are concerned about. It might do more than written descriptions. Recently, I had an intermittent problem that wasn't acknowledge properly... until the service manager took the car out and experienced it for himself.

My first Subaru (Loyale Wagon) needed the entire steering column replaced when the dealership tried to remove a broken key from the ignition and managed to damage the entire assembly. It exhibited the same kind of "have to turn slightly to drive straight" behaviour you describe, although I doubt that this is your problem. Had to go to another dealership to get the problem fixed. Never went back to the original dealership...

Reply to
Fred Boer

A deviation in the thrust angle, in most cases, will not make the car pull but will make the steering wheel to be off.

If they have done a 4 wheel alignment properly, a defective tire could (even if a remote possibility, because the car does not pull) cause the problem. Have the tires rotated.

Good luck!

snipped-for-privacy@aol.com wrote:

Reply to
AS

If an alignment doesn't find the problem, have them check the roundness of the tire. Not the balancing but the roundness. I once had an out-of-round tire (which, in my case, meant off-centered) that caused the problem that you describe. Rotating the tires didn't help as switching sides or front-rear position only changed the problem to pull in a different direction or by how much it pulled. It is a manufacturing defect which meant the tire had to be replaced. However, due to all-wheel-drive, the other 3 tires also had to be replaced because there was quite a bit of wear on these tires before the problem became exhibited and it was over many visits over a few months of trying to get the same problem fixed before a different car shop found the problem.

Reply to
VanguardLH

Thanks for the help guys.

I am dropping the car off tomorrow. I spoke with the service manager and described the problem. He says the shop foreman will look at it tomorrow and I will mention to check the tire roundness as well.

Thanks again, Matt

Reply to
fly1747

When they do a steering alignment it is usual to put the steering wheel in the straight ahead position and then adjust all the angles/toein etc from there.

If the steering wheel was not straight to start with the car will track right on the road but the steering wheel is always 'crooked'. When you ask for a check of the alignment the operator climbs straight underneath and checks all the settings.

A GOOD operator will use a small device to hook over the steering wheel and jamb it against the seat to make sure the steering wheel is fixed in the straight ahead position and doesn't move. *Then* he will get underneath and make any adjustments.

If you can, watch when they do it.

Reply to
Bugalugs

I have heard of weights being put into a car to simulate the presence of a driver. If you are a very large person, perhaps asking for the alignment to be done with some sand bags in the driver's seat would help?

Carl

Reply to
Carl 1 Lucky Texan

From your description it's hard to tell whether the car is pulling to one side or the other, or if the car track straight but it's only the steering wheel that's off. If the car tracks down the road straight, but the steering wheel is not straight, all you have to do is loosen both tie rod ends and adjust both sides equally until the steering wheel is straight. Not a big deal for a mechanic or just about anybody.

Obviously, if the steering wheel is not straight, and you straighten it as you drive the car will pull to one side. The steering wheel being straight and the car being in proper alignment are two completely different things. Normally, when someone does an alignment, they try to keep the wheel straight. Maybe your car was made on a Friday or a Monday. :-)

Reply to
Sheldon

If I remember correclty from the auto repair courses I took long, long, ago (1973)...... as long as caster/camber/toe are adjusted to the correct value, as it appears from your description, it is merely a problem with the tie rod end adjustment for a centered steering wheel.. What they need to do is adjust the right tie rod end adjustor for example, 1/2 turn clockwise, and adjust the left tie rod end adjustor

1/2 turn counter clockwise. Adjusting them equally but in opposite directions will center the steering wheel without changing the toe adjustment. The actual amount of adjustment varies from car to car, and the degree of tilt you are experiencing.
Reply to
QX

Hi, If it's new car, dealer did not do proper delivery prep. for the car. Centering steering wheel is part of wheel alignment. There is even a jig(simple tool) for that.

Reply to
Tony Hwang

Hmmm, On a brand new car?

Reply to
Tony Hwang

On older FWD vehicles even with correct alignment, the pulling to one side or another is often caused by worn front axle inner CV joints binding. Another symptom is steering wheel wobble that's often misdiagnosed as wheel balance.

Its unlikely but not impossible on a new car that one of its axles has a problem. If the wheel alignment is correct and the wheel centered, but driving it requires an offset, inner CV's should be considered.

SD

Reply to
Stewart DIBBS

The car is at the dealer now. I will let everyone know what the outcome is. I had considered an axle issue, but what are the chances on a new car?

I have a feeling I am going to get a call saying the car is fine, just like the previous two times. If so, then I guess I need to contact Subaru of NA.

Thanks for everyones' help.

Matt

Reply to
fly1747

Man I hope not.

For $30k or whatever they're getting for those now, a straight freakin steering wheel shouldn't be something one has to lobby so hard for!

Best Regards,

-- Todd H.

2001 Legacy Outback Wagon, 2.5L H-4 Chicago, Illinois USA
Reply to
Todd H.

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