So...forgive me for the noobness, but I have a basic question about alignment.

Just the other day I noticed my steering wheel is out of alignment noticeably. Didn't happen slowly over time cuz I would've noticed it.

So my issue is, the car drives true and straight. Seems just to be the steering wheel. Haven't changed wheels in a long time, haven't hit any nasty bumps, nothing I can think of to make this happen. Is it possible that I turned the steering wheel hard against its stop on the one side and it shifted? I've never seen this happen before. I figured I'd consult this great pool of wisdom before I take it somewhere and pay for an alignment if unnecessary.

 

NO. it's not possible.

Sounds like either a wheel alignment was performed without the steering wheel set straight, or the steering wheel was removed and replaced in the wrong position. How far off are we talking about here anyway?

 

Aside from that, and assuming there's nothing bent or broken, your steering rack would have had to shift it's position.

 

Next time you go for an oil change have the dealers fix it. Unless they do it for free by just doing a walk in.

 

Thanks for the responses guys,

No alignment was done since I've owned the car (1.5 years) and the steering wheel was never removed/reset. That leaves me puzzled as to how this happened. The car drives straight as always, just the steering wheel is out of position. I'd say about ten degrees give or take, not a ton but obviously noticeable. I guess I'll take the car in for the 60k (has around 56k) and get it addressed. I'm just stumped at how this happened. No 4ws if that matters.

 

And you're positive it happened recently and all at once, but there have been no potholes, overlooked speed bumps, or bumped curbs etc.? If so, that's VERY peculiar. I would want to crawl underneath or have someone put it up on a rack and make sure everything is ok; nothing bent or coming loose.

Is there absolutely no chance that it's always been that way and for some reason you're just noticing it now?

 

Thanks for the thoughts- no, there's no chance that the steering wheel has been this way longer than a few days. I can say this though:

A week ago, I crossed an intersection going around 10mph faster than I normally go that has some elevation changes...and the suspension felt like it might have bottomed out just a tad. Nothing to make me feel concerned though. Then, last saturday, I cut a turn too sharp at my dad's new house in the dark going 2mph and took the rear passenger wheel over a mild curb. Not a sign of a scratch on the wheel. Can one of these be the culprit?

Good call on checking under the car thoroughly. I'd feel sick if a major suspension component was bent. To be continued!

 

NO, I wouldn't think so. It would take a pretty disturbing impact to cause the kind of symptom you're describing; nothing subtle. Has anyone else driven your car, or are the the sole driver 100% of the time? Frankly, I'm puzzled, something just doesn't add up here

 

I've been scratching my head trying to figure out why mine is crooked. Makes sense now.....must have been from the replacement.

 

Yeah I'm the only driver of the car too, I wouldn't let my own mother touch the wheel lol. I did get my entire steering wheel replaced due to the infamous scratches but that was over a year ago and like I said this just happened like in the last few days.

Think I'm going to bite the bullet and call the dealer, but not until after I get under the car and do a thorough visual. I did just do an oil change the other day and jacked up the car but I didn't mess with the wheels/suspension. I'm puzzled as well!

 

If the dealer knows you they might do it for free. I know i done this the more i think about it. I am so lazy that i go for oil changes that they know my G.

 

I want to get this convo started again.
The exact same issue happened to my coupe. I changed the oil, replaced the rear shocks, and replaced the window motor. I also did some small adjustment on the driver rear toe (it was way off.. prob from a pot hole). This was over a week with no driving. Got in the car once it was all done and my wheel was off about 5 degrees to the right. I cannot figure out what happened either. It was straight before and off after. No driving.....so no pot holes or curbs.

Any other ideas!
Thanks,
Clayton

 

Sounds like a wheel alignment issue

 

+1 The first step of any alignment is to do the rear first because changing anything there alters all the front settings. Sounds like he did exactly that

 

so changing the driver side rear tire alignment a few turns would affect the front alignment???? Did not know that. If so, that would answer my question on my issue.