Steering wheel off centre

[tacho d]

Hi all, the steering wheel on my clk is not dead centre when the wheels are straight. The error is only a few degrees so maybe its a case of removing the steering wheel and relocating it along the splines. I have done this on my saxo diesel and this involved removing the airbag first after disconnecting the battery. Is the procedure for this the same, or even more involved. Any ideas welcome.

 

[krimat2005]

don't do it, you need tracking done or even better geometry.

 

[zenman63]

It will be tracking thats out, you cannot move the wheel much more that one spline.

 

[BernardB]

Definitely not the steering wheel that's out; it is, as diagnosed above, the tracking. You need a proper four-wheel alignment carried out. As you're near Norwich I suggest you contact Autotest on the airport industrial estate. They have the very latest equipment and are excellent, as I can testify from experience. From memory the cost is around £70-£80.

 

[kth286]

It's not necessarily the tracking that's 'out' as such.

It is likely that the previous geometry adjustments did not equalise the track rods for the steering wheel to be at centre position.

Assuming tyre wear is normal and geometry is OK, then all that needs doing is for one side to be adjusted in one direction 'a bit'; and then the other side to be adjusted in opposite direction 'a bit'.

The steering wheel should then be in centre position with nil adverse affect
on the geometry.

The problem with moving steering wheels is the bad effect on ESP and self cancelling indicators etc. which will be out of spec and likely to throw a false
fault light with regards to the ESP.

 

[nb_racing]

As has been said, you'll mess up the clock spring if you take the wheel off. you should never have to move the wheel on its splines.

You can indeed just adjust the track rods eqaully side to side assuming the tyre wear is even and the car doesn't pull. go steady and mark the start point well incase you get lost! Half a turn at a time should be plenty.