Steering Wheel Does Not Center

[flyeris]

Hi there,

My car's steering wheel does not center itself properly while making turns. It does center most of the rotation, but to make it go completely straight I usually have to do that manually - much different from the FWD I have been driving before. First I thought it could be because of RWD, but probably there is something what may require attention. What are your toughts? What are most likely to cause such symptoms? Ball joints (if so, upper or lower)? Wrong wheel alignment? Open for any ideas.

Thanks! :)

[kam05]

I'd say geometry. I'd had the same issue when I first got my IS200- you had to assist the steering wheel (it wouldn't centre by itself).

I had the geometry setup by WIM on my car and the problem disappeared. Get the settings from WIM and get a local geometry specialist to setup the geometry on your car to WIM's spec.

Does your car suffer from inner tyre wear on the fronts?

[Parthiban]

How bad is it, and have you only recently switched from FWD to RWD? If so, then that's the cause, took me a while to get used to it at first too but now I much prefer that it doesn't centre as aggressively as a FWD car.

It's that and the wider tyres that make it a little more resistant to springing back to dead ahead :)

[flyeris]

How bad is it, and have you only recently switched from FWD to RWD? If so, then that's the cause, took me a while to get used to it at first too but now I much prefer that it doesn't centre as aggressively as a FWD car.

It's that and the wider tyres that make it a little more resistant to springing back to dead ahead :)

Thanks for your thoughts, mates! Well - I bought my IS back in November last year - have been driving only FWDs before, so I can't compare it with other RWDs appropriately. As for inner wear - I have got new tyres for winter season and have made like ~3000 kms with these tyres and so far the profile of the tyre seems to be fine. As of worse self-centering because of wider tyres, I got original 205/55 R16 tyres so it should be fine. Once driving, when I turn the steering wheel like ~30-45 degrees and drive, the steering wheel wouldn't even try to self-centre. Probably I will have to get the geometry done.

[Parthiban]

It's never a bad thing to get your geometry checked so do that anyway, but I'm pretty sure there isn't a problem. As long as this hasn't suddenly developed it is just the normal trait of RWD cars.

Is this happening at low speeds? Because at low speed my wheel won't self centre either. Even our Merc behaves the same way - I was actually amazed at the difference when I had a FWD rental car a few months ago.

[flyeris]

It's never a bad thing to get your geometry checked so do that anyway, but I'm pretty sure there isn't a problem. As long as this hasn't suddenly developed it is just the normal trait of RWD cars.

Is this happening at low speeds? Because at low speed my wheel won't self centre either. Even our Merc behaves the same way - I was actually amazed at the difference when I had a FWD rental car a few months ago.

Yes, it is more or less the same. For example, if you are chaning the lanes on the road drop dead stop at slow speed at a junction, you have to assist the wheel to go back. I have been told that it could also be the steering rack (column, I am not sure what is the appropriate English term for it) :)

[flyeris]

It's never a bad thing to get your geometry checked so do that anyway, but I'm pretty sure there isn't a problem. As long as this hasn't suddenly developed it is just the normal trait of RWD cars.

Is this happening at low speeds? Because at low speed my wheel won't self centre either. Even our Merc behaves the same way - I was actually amazed at the difference when I had a FWD rental car a few months ago.

Yes, it is more or less the same. For example, if you are chaning the lanes on the road drop dead stop at slow speed at a junction, you have to assist the wheel to go back. I have been told that it could also be the steering rack (column, I am not sure what is the appropriate English term for it) :)

Did the wheel geometry today - didn't solve my problem. As I have no record of my car's service history, I assume there might be something wrong with steering column. Does anybody have experience with it? The steering fine seems to be firm with no loose movements, however, I think that the steering column could be overtightened, thus making steering more firm and so limiting the self-centering. Any thoughts? :)

[Parthiban]

I still think there's nothing wrong with your car but before you start digging into any problems, I strongly suggest trying to find another IS200 to test drive to see if it behaves the same way.

At low speed my wheel will not completely self centre - i.e. if I turn my wheel slightly (left or right) and accelerate gently and keep the speed low, my wheel will remain slightly turned.

And yes we also call it the steering rack or column :)

[TommyH]

Iv'e just had my ball joints changed and the car now has the same problem.

This never happened before new ball joints. The car used to straighten more than before.

Im wondering if this is the proper feeling of the steering and everything is now tight as it should be or as the above poster say's maybe something is over tightened ?

[chriswelsh24]

I have just had lower ball joint replaced now my steering doesnt centre either!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[LexIS200Sport]

Did you get your wheel alignment re-done after the lower ball joints were replaced?

I had my front lower suspension arm bushes, shocks and ball joints all replaced at one go at WIM, followed by wheel alignment. My steering self-centres without any issues.

[leroy12]

It's normal most rear wheel drive cars do the same