DISCO3.CO.UK - View topic - Steering wheel just off centre

DrRobH

Member Since: 10 Oct 2015
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 924

Steering wheel just off centre

Had a wheel alignment done a few weeks back at a proper place who lock the suspension etc.
Steering wheel now slightly off horizontal (down to right) when on a straight road. If I move wheel to level the car will obviously veer off to left ...
Any issue or wait and have it adjusted back at next years alignment check.?
Tyres look all fine
OCD kicking in too much?

Visitor from fullfatrr.com
RR Vogue SE 2011 4.4 TDV8
1974 Lightweight

3rd Dec 2016 2:45 pm

Sudds

Member Since: 11 Dec 2011
Location: North Yorks/Cleveland border
Posts: 526

2014 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Auto Corris Grey

Had the same thing happen with mine when they had adjusted the tracking. Drove half a mile up the road and turned round and took it back. Guy said they would do it again and asked me to centralise the wheel myself so I was happy with it and then locked it in place while they reset the tracking again. Maybe a little OCD but it just bugs me as your natural instinct is to straighten the wheel out turns or corners, so I expect the badge to sit straight.

3rd Dec 2016 2:59 pm

Buckster

Member Since: 04 May 2015
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 600

Take the steeringwheel off and move it one small spline to the left Rob!!

2003 BMW M5- 5 Litres of V8 Optimax Slurping Goodness in Carbon Black

2013 RRS SDV6 HSE Black Edition- Orkney Grey with Ebony & Ivory. LR Facelift RAI, Genuine G4 Expo Rack, 4x Warn Spotlights, Warn 9.5 XPS Winch, Mantec Underbody Protection, Full Easylift Suspension, LightForce HTX 230 Spot Lights, LR Light Guards, 18” Compomotive PD1881 on 265/65/18 BF Goodrich KO2, Brembos Calipers, ARB Fridge, Tuff trek awning.
Visiting from the RR Sport forum:

3rd Dec 2016 3:17 pm

Robse

Member Since: 10 Jun 2014
Location: Cambridgeshire
Posts: 498

It can't be that simple. I've asked Marshalls to straighten mine the last 5 times it's been in there.

Been like it since new they just don't seem to want to do it !! Velar MY18 D180 S Narvik
Discovery MY2015 3.0 SDV6 SE Corris - Gone

3rd Dec 2016 6:27 pm

HughMartin

Member Since: 30 Mar 2008
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 751

2012 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 XS Auto Aintree Green

Buckster wrote:
Take the steeringwheel off and move it one small spline to the left Rob!!

I did that to mine with no problem.

3rd Dec 2016 6:29 pm

DrRobH

Member Since: 10 Oct 2015
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 924

Cheers folks

How easy is it to move wheel round? Visitor from fullfatrr.com
RR Vogue SE 2011 4.4 TDV8
1974 Lightweight

3rd Dec 2016 6:46 pm

HughMartin

Member Since: 30 Mar 2008
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 751

You need a special tool (or a bit of wire coat hanger suitably shaped) to remove the centre hub which contains the airbag (search for steering wheel airbag removal). Loosen off the big nut holding the wheel onto the shaft but don't remove it completely because you are about apply pressure on the wheel to remove it from the spindle and you don't want it flying off onto your face. Once it is loose on the spindle, remove the nut and if you want to be ultra cautious, put alignment marks on the wheel and the shaft to show exactly how the wheel fits onto the shaft before you move it.

I only moved mine one notch to get the wheel straight.

Re-assemble.

That worked for me.

3rd Dec 2016 8:31 pm

Buckster

Member Since: 04 May 2015
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 600

Robse wrote:
It can't be that simple. I've asked Marshalls to straighten mine the last 5 times it's been in there.

Been like it since new they just don't seem to want to do it !!

It really is that easy!!

2003 BMW M5- 5 Litres of V8 Optimax Slurping Goodness in Carbon Black

2013 RRS SDV6 HSE Black Edition- Orkney Grey with Ebony & Ivory. LR Facelift RAI, Genuine G4 Expo Rack, 4x Warn Spotlights, Warn 9.5 XPS Winch, Mantec Underbody Protection, Full Easylift Suspension, LightForce HTX 230 Spot Lights, LR Light Guards, 18” Compomotive PD1881 on 265/65/18 BF Goodrich KO2, Brembos Calipers, ARB Fridge, Tuff trek awning.
Visiting from the RR Sport forum:

3rd Dec 2016 10:29 pm

Robse

Member Since: 10 Jun 2014
Location: Cambridgeshire
Posts: 498

Ok I might have a go. Getting used to doing everything myself the dealers are so bloody useless. Velar MY18 D180 S Narvik
Discovery MY2015 3.0 SDV6 SE Corris - Gone

3rd Dec 2016 10:49 pm

Florafauna

Member Since: 19 Nov 2013
Location: Bures, Essex
Posts: 69

2011 Discovery 4 3.0 TDV6 XS Auto Orkney Grey

Interesting thread and sorry to hijack it slightly but this might be of interest to anyone who is not prepared to move the steering wheel themselves :-

I bought my car from a certain well known stony dealership with a deal that came with 2 free services.
At the end of the second service the "consultant" said the car needed another £1500 worth of work doing on it, one part of which was...

£450 for putting the steering wheel straight!

I couldnt see that it was off centre at all and 50k miles later it is still just fine.

Needless to say I made my excuses and left, never to return! MegaSTUPID BREXIT
D4 XS MY12 Orkney Grey - nice!
996 turbo cab - a dream come true
VXR220 - Epic Track Car
D2 - V8 - Agricultural bankruptcy but what fun! - Long gone but missed

4th Dec 2016 8:40 pm

L319

Member Since: 14 Dec 2013
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 2080

2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE Auto Buckingham Blue

The steering wheel wont turn on its shaft by itself , the only reason its changed is the alignment, so I would be back at the firm that did the alignment to put it right

4th Dec 2016 11:43 pm

Barry C-All

Member Since: 13 Nov 2008
Location: Essex
Posts: 169

2014 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Auto Firenze Red

Assuming that the vehicle is steering straight and not wandering to the left or right, and it is just the steering wheel spokes that aren't level,all that needs to be done is to screw the left hand side track rod 1/4 of a turn INTO the track rod end, and the right hand side track rod 1/4 of a turn OUT OF the track rod end. Mark the track rods so the amount can be seen( ie the mark moves round 1/4 turn)and is easily visible. 1/4 of a turn may be not enough or too much, but it is a starting point, and a run down the road will be the test.

Note, Bear in mind that one side of the track-rods has a left hand thread (RHS I think), so to screw into or out of the track-rod ends, one side or the other, both track-rods that protrude from the gaiters must be rotated in the same direction, or the toe-in dimension will be lost.

9th Dec 2016 7:32 pm