Steering problem

[tarp]

My S15 steering wheel is always off center, to the right. I got an alignment, and that didnt seem to fix it. What else could it be? Or did the alignment guy just do a bad job?

[Arcane]

is this when you are braking??? if it is....it's a brake prob....if not, chek your tire pressure....and if that checks out...i'd say the guy didn't align it right...last part is just my opinion

(Edited by Arcane at 5<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>9 pm on Dec. 16, 2001)

[tarp]

Nope, not when I'm breaking..
It happens while I am driving on normal stretches of highway.. where the car used to drive with the steering wheel dead-centered.

I had the tire pressure checked a few weeks ago, but I'll get it checked again. A mechanic told me it could be the rack and pinion.. but I hope not.

[misnomer]

Hmmm, s15? Where you from? <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

Is it the wheel itself off center, or does the car turn off course when you let go of the wheel? That would tell you whether it's alignment or not. If you stay on course for a while, then possibly your wheel was put on at an angle (if this is possible on the s15), or the rack an pinion not set up properly.

[KoukiS14]

I got the same prob... my wheel is not centered... it IS alligned properly, does not pull left or right.. but it kinda sits all cockeyed hehe. . doesn't bother me a lot, cause I have yet to see a nissan that doesn't do this, or shake at 65 mph.. I realize that's balancing, but ####... Why are nissan's plagued with that. . hehe

Probably just coincidence.


-Rob

So how do you fix this? My steering wheel is crooked to the left and the alignment is fine. Can I remove the steering wheel and put it back on straight? I have a 98 S14.

[misnomer]

Only one way to find out, give it a shot <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

[HippoSleek]

When they do an alignment, they are supposed to recenter the wheel. &nbsp;Go back to the shop you got it done at and bitch.

I still have the warranty for my alignment so I might take your advice, but I just hate that shop. &gt;_&lt; They're full of BS.

If I were do try it myself, how do I do it? The steering wheel has an airbag inside so is there anything I need to be especially careful about?

[tarp]

Lol, it seems like several of you guys have had the same problem as me. Just for the record, I bought the car at 31,000 miles in March and I have 48,000 now. The problem first presented itself on the way back from Toronto (I'm in D.C.)..

And No, its not an alignment problem.. the car goes straight as a whistle when I let go of the wheel, as long as I'm not on a shitty road..

I think I'll take it back to the alignment place (NTB) and have the guy recenter the wheel. Me and him are on a first-name basis now.. since his alignment sensors were not calibrated and my alignment got set incorrectly twice ;-).

Hopefully its just the wheel centering, and nothing like the rack and pinion.

[HippoSleek]

tarp - If it were the rack, I don't think the car would track straight. &nbsp;I've also known many people who have bitched about this before in other cars. &nbsp;Actually, mine is off and I like it (slightly higher on the left - good for hooking a thumb on for freeway cruising).

BTW: since you in DC area, welcome! &nbsp;Between myself, crazycuban, uuninja, and you I think we must have accounted for every 240 enthusiast in the region <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>. &nbsp;Check out the meet up section - we are trying to get a joint zilvia/FA meet together.

[tarp]

Well I took the car back to NTB and the alignment guy adjusted it a little, and now its much better.

But I havent gone on an extended drive yet, so we'll see later on tonight if it truly improved or not.

BTW, to the D.C. metro area guys &nbsp;- do you ever go to Metro in New Carollton?

[HippoSleek]

glad to hear it wasn't a bad experience. &nbsp;I can't speak for the others, but I like my races 1) in a controlled environment, 2) w/ people who know WTF they're doing, and 3) w/ turns. &nbsp;As close as I get to New Carrolton is the WDCR SCCA Autox events at Ft. Meade.

[tarp]

heh, ive never been up to metro so i wouldnt know. Im all the way out in fairfax anyway.

Anyone have advice for adjusting the S14's steering wheel? I've never taken apart the steering wheel before and I don't want to screw up and make the car not drivable. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'> So... Please help. Thanks.

[HippoSleek]

tarp - welcome to the NoVA group. &nbsp;I swear, considering I see about 5 s14's a month, I can't believe how many of us there are on here! &nbsp;Glad to hear you are not a Metro-type.

danio - If it's not pulling (i.e., out of alignment), I would just live w/ it until you get your next alignment. &nbsp;Or if you just got one, take it back in. &nbsp;I don't know how hard it is, but I do know there are sensors in many airbag wheels that you don't want to accidentially touch. &nbsp;IMHO, it is not worth the effort/risk.

[Pudula]

Take it back and tell them...it'll take maybe 5 minutes for them to do it...make sure they test drive it and make sure it is centered...if you take it off and put it back on manually like that, you could cause the blinkers to not shut off automatically coming out of a turn.

[240Driver39]

umm...this thread is like 2 years old...it probably isnt an issue anymore...

[mrmephistopheles]

THINK BEFORE YOU POST.
kthxbye