Streering Wheel Not Centered

[Tbone289]

This will sound meaner than intended, but are you heavy? I only ask because that can affect steering geometry. At one time, I weighed 350lb, luckily not anymore. Anyways, I had a ram truck that the steering wheel was never straight on. The alignment guy politely asked me to sit in the truck the final time and he aligned the truck with me in it. Never had a problem with that truck ever again.

This is actually a great point that I don't think about much. It's suggested that you align a vehicle with your normal "load" for this reason. I've never really noticed it affecting me, but the guy that aligns my vehicles weighs about the same as I do so I don't have a good feel for how much this can throw things off.

Sponsored

 

[matt123]

This will sound meaner than intended, but are you heavy? I only ask because that can affect steering geometry. At one time, I weighed 350lb, luckily not anymore. Anyways, I had a ram truck that the steering wheel was never straight on. The alignment guy politely asked me to sit in the truck the final time and he aligned the truck with me in it. Never had a problem with that truck ever again.

About 225 so not light but no crazy heavy. I guess that might be enough. I have never thought about that.

 

[AutobahnSHO]

The steering shaft is hexagonal where the steering wheel bolts on, so there are only 6 possibilities, 60 degrees apart. There's not much chance it was mounted 60 degrees off center at the factory.

Well nevermind what I said then!

 

[HeyBales]

Does it indeed drive straight with no pull, with only the steering wheel slightly askew?

In that case, it just takes adjusting the outer tie rods ends a bit exactly the same amount.
One in, one out.

They probably did that, and when done realized they didn't clamp the steering wheel straight strong enough, or looked in thru window at an angle and thought it was straight.
Then sat down, said oh shoot, too late now, he'll never notice, ect.

Mine was initially off a hair, but visible, with a touch of pull.
So slight the service advisor didn't believe an issue, because they have a simple initial align check machine in the garage pull-thru that said fine.
I said it'll drive me crazy seeing that off, and there is a pull I know the difference between road angle and pull.
They checked and found very minor angle off, I forget what % or fractional inch.
I just hoped they tightened everything back up right!
Heard a couple clunks from up there on road dips at slow enough speed.

Sounds like your dealership doesn't know the truck and figures they can't work on it. Lazy or dishonest response.

I didn't know about alignments needing a loaded seat.
I know the yaw & steering angle sensors and others like that do best with loaded seat, so it really knows what level is normally and what a straight wheel is.

 

[TheSEARCH]

I have aligned hundreds if not more cars. Its an alignment issue, period. Go to another dealer. . If none near by pay the 50 to $75 and take to independent place that has alignment rack. Good luck.

 

[Benilla]

Check your tire pressure too, if there's 1 wheel thats under-inflated, thats enough to pull the vehicle off center

 

[lajlmt]

I am sure. I had a different issue with this dealership and corporate Ford could not even get someone on the phone. I feel like dealerships can kind fo do what they want and it is on you to find a good one since they don't seem to have a ton of accountability to Ford.

I mainly wanted to know if they are just making up nonsense to cover their tails which is what it sounds like to me. Just stinks because the dealership is about 3 miles form my house and the next one is about 20.

I can’t wait for a world where bad dealerships are gone or owned by the manufacturer

 

[TheSEARCH]

Check your tire pressure too, if there's 1 wheel thats under-inflated, thats enough to pull the vehicle off center

Just want to make things clear.

There is PULL and then not centered wheel. A low tire can cause PULL. But typically pull is caused by incorrect castor. The OP has a toe problem. The toe setting might be correct but not when wheel is centered.

But like I said I would try another dealer. If they cant get the wheel centered they might mess up camber too. You wont know it till you wear the side of a tire away for camber.

 

[MetalsGeek]

Depending on how far off-center the steering wheel is, small amounts can be from the crown in the road. The presence of other passengers or loads can also affect this to some extent. Most alignment these days is not done from data taken with the wheels spinning, so success depends on having reasonably "perfect" wheels where the outer rim runs true to the axle. If you bent a rim (unlikely) or there's something between the wheel and the hub face that would make the rim wobble, this can throw your alignment out of whack in directions dependent on the (random) wheel position. Since steering wheel position is adjusted with the tie rods, toe-in is also affected.

 

[TomD]

I am hoping to get some insight as to my next steps. I have taken my truck in twice to my local dealership to get the steering wheel straightened. They have done an alignment both times, and this last time my wheel was even more crooked than before. I understand how you straighten a wheel with a normal steering system,. but is there something harder on a Maverick? They are blaming the drive by wire system,and I want to know if it is really that hard or is I just have a inept dealership?

Seems like it shoudl be an easy fix, but maybe it really is more difficult on a Maverick? Thanks for any thoughts.

Personally I think your cable is being jerked. Unless there is some sort of cog underneath the stearing wheel they should be able to access the nut that holds the steering wheel on. They remove the nut align the wheel and put it back together. They need to make sure that the wheels are straight before they put the steering wheel back on.

 

[Tbone289]

Personally I think your cable is being jerked. Unless there is some sort of cog underneath the stearing wheel they should be able to access the nut that holds the steering wheel on. They remove the nut align the wheel and put it back together. They need to make sure that the wheels are straight before they put the steering wheel back on.

You can't do that. As I stated earlier in the thread, the steering shaft is hexagonal. Your only options are 60 degrees off.

The tie rod ends must be set for correct toe angle to center the wheel.

 

[Old Fart]

Yeah, should be able to center the wheels, pull the wheel off and put it back on centered. BTW the ford account sends that same "we care about you" but seems they don't accomplish much

The last part ain't far from the truth, Coggins keeps kicking the can down the road, I think they keep the dealer invoice so's I can't Dunn them on all the factory installed items that weren't installed.

Sponsored