steering wheel slightly off center?

[brooklynpilot]

My steering wheel is just a hair off center. OK...maybe a couple of inches lower on one side, when I'm driving straight.

Dealer asked if I was in an accident or hit a huge pothole that may have shifted the wheel.

I defin didn't have a car accident *knock on wood* and dont recall hitting any potholes or major bumps that would've caused this to happen.

Would wheel alignment fix this? No, the car does not pull to any one side while driving.

What is the cost of something like this? It has no affect on the driving, it just looks a bit weird having your steering wheel slightly off center when driving straight.

Thanks

[mmmmark]

Did you buy your Pilot new? Has it always been this way or is this relatively new?

[brooklynpilot]

Purchased the Pilot brand new. I hadn't noticed it until just recently, but it's been like this or probably 3-4mo now...

Yes...I'm very perceptive, I know...

[mmmmark]

Originally posted by brooklynpilot
Purchased the Pilot brand new. I hadn't noticed it until just recently, but it's been like this or probably 3-4mo now...

Yes...I'm very perceptive, I know...

So...what if you just sat crooked in the seat and...

j/k

[SD_GR]

My answer assumes your observation has nothing to do with the grading inherent in many/most roads (the incline built into the roadway ostensibly so that water can drain, and in practical terms so that water can pool into huge ponds as the drains are clogged). If so, then:

Either something is bent (unlikely), toe is off (more likely) or toe is OK but the wheel was put on lopsided at the works (also likely).

Unless something is bent (meaning you bent it while driving etc.) this is not your problem. It's Honda's problem. Take it back, have them set the wheel to straight on when the car is moving on level ground. They'll want to rack it and check the alignment, and they may even try to charge you -- don't fall for it.

[brooklynpilot]

Thanks for the replies. Heading to the Honda dealer this Saturday.

[andyschneider]

So an interesting parallel to this thread. When my '06 LX was new, I stumbled across a new EX steering wheel on eBay for like $40 shipped. And since I wanted a leather-wrapped wheel, I figured that this would be cheaper than an aftermarket skin, and was much better quality!

Anyway, before the swap, the steering wheel was dead-on straight. I went through the procedure to change the wheel (swapping horn/airbag components, etc), and when I got done, the new wheel was slightly off centered. So I loosened the center nut and moved it 1 "cog tooth" to each side, and could never get it completely straight like the one that came on my car.

First observation is that each steering wheel has the cog sleeve pressed in just slightly different than all the others - meaning you're off by maybe 5-10 degrees from another wheel - sort of the luck of the draw. I tried just sliding my original one back on, and it was straight as can be, so I'm pretty sure this is a random positioning.

Second observation - this slightly offcentered wheel drove me NUTS for about the first week - to the point that I was considering getting an alignment done just to fix it. AFter about a week, however, I stopped noticing, and to this day (about 15 months later) I can't recall just which direction it's "off", which means I've tuned it out completely.

andy

[whizmo]

I believe the indexing of the steering wheel to the column will get the steering wheel aligned within a few degrees, but you need to have an alignment done to get it exact. The alignment adjustment is the "trim" to get it just right. In fact, I've heard that it is possible to trim the steering wheel setting by simply turning the steering rack alignment adjusters equally on both sides although I've never done it.

In seven or eight new cars I've bought, about half have had steering wheels that needed some tweaking to meet my standards and I'm not terribly picky - it can be off a little, but if it is inches higher on one side than the other, then Honda should fix it under warranty.\

- Mark

[brooklynpilot]

honda svc said a wheel alignment (@ $90) would fix this.....

like i said, just a little off.....

just annoying....

i'll bring it in to them soon....

[mmmmark]

Originally posted by brooklynpilot
honda svc said a wheel alignment (@ $90) would fix this.....

like i said, just a little off.....

just annoying....

i'll bring it in to them soon....

Make a deal with them. If it doesn't fix it (which is fairly likely) make them give it to you for free!

[rocky]

I sure hope the tire pressures are ok.

[ericsgr]

This happened on one of my cars once. It was so long ago I dont even remember what car it was. I noticed it after I had an alignment done. So I took it back to the shop and they said the steering wheel was misaligned and they straightened it. So............somehow.........it can be done.......but I am no mechanic so I dont know how........but I guess there is a way.

Hey everyone,

Just went on a short trip in my new 08' Pilot and noticed that my wheel is off a smidge too. Center is a hair slanted to the right. Not too much but its noticeable and a lil annoying. Has anyone who had the issue fixed it? Will the dealer do it under warranty or do we have to pay for it? If it doesn't affect anything then I might be able to live with it but just dont want it to affect the ride.

[bigdadi]

Originally posted by brooklynpilot
I hadn't noticed it until just recently, but it's been like this or probably 3-4mo now...

Do you remember this started to happen either right after you installed new set of tires or 1st tire rotation after installed new tires?

If it is then it is called "conicity". It is one tire defective and causes tire-pull. Regular tire balancing won't be able to pick this up. Call the tire sales agent to pinpoint which one is defective, or perform "road force" in tire company has Hunter GSP9700 machine

http://www.gsp9700.com/

I experienced it myself. The steering is dead-straight before installing new set of tires, and after new tires, I need to keep the steering at 1 oclock in order to keep the car moving straight. After the defective one is replaced I am a happy man again.

[EFR]

it seems that most pilots come from the factory with goodyear integritys. they are the worst tires for having a tire pull. i am an alignment technition and can not get my steering wheel straight no matter how perfect the alignment is. i have ballanced, phase matched and cross rotated the tires multiple times and the tire pull will not go away. this drives me crazy since this is what i do for a living. i think i am going to just brake down and get a set of michelin cross terains.