Steering Wheel Problems

[bluepony05]

ok so sense i go the car a couple years ago i have noticed that my steering wheel is slightly slanted from right to left today i got back into my mustang and it seems like its gotten worse (prolly bc i i havne't been driving it) but it can physically move forward and back and it has nothing to do with the tilt but my steering wheel is defiantly not straight any suggestions on how to fix this or what is wrong??

 

[DarkHorse16]

funny, I have the same thing wrong. I was just about to post the same question. My car drives straight but the steering wheel is slanted to the right.

 

[Wicked One]

Slanted as in the spokes of the wheel are not horizontal, or is the wheel actually looking out the window?

If it is the first, then the steering shaft needs to be repositioned correctly on the rack. An alignment should not be needed, but if it is way off then the $40 for an alignment is not a bad deal.

 

[DarkHorse16]

For me its the first one, the steering wheel looks straight at me, but its like the car should be turning right.

 

[Wicked One]

Yep, did you have any front end work done?? a crappy alignment shop will just set the wheels and not check the steering wheel.

When an alignment is don, all things start in the neutral, or centered position. Then the alignment is done from there. Sounds like they did a crappy job.

You could remove the steering shaft from the rack and try and rotate it to get the wheel straight, but that is a gamble on if you have the correct location.
On my car, the shaft only goes one way and that is it. Not sure on yours.

Good luck, I know it is annoying.

 

[DarkHorse16]

I've only had the car for about 3 months now and havent had anything done yet excapt an oil change and some other fluid changes, and an axle seal replaced. I have shocks and struts to be put in soon so when I put them in, I'll be having the alignment done and steering wheel checked. little things like the steering wheel drive me crazy

 

[bluepony05]

No mine is like the steering wheel is looking out the window your thinking an alignment will fix that right up

 

[Wicked One]

NOPE!! If it is looking out the window, that is the steering column. No alignment is going to fix that.

I would check to see if all the bolts holding the column to the floorboard (above the gas pedal) are secure and none are missing.

This is a new one to me.

 

[bluepony05]

I had my plastics apart under my steering wheel when wiring up my gauges but i don't think they would have caused this problem but i will look at it again :nono:

 

[bluepony05]

alright so i pulled apart my column again and put it back together and nothing really changed maybe 1/8th and inch but what confuses me is that i can push the wheel in almost like it was room to move any more suggestions ???

 

[onlycodered]

Any chance you could post a picture of what it looks like?