If you are driving on the highway or walking on the road and see a car that seems to be veering off, you will notice that tire rims are not perpendicular to each other or there is a difference in distance between both sides. This is called steering wheel misalignment which can happen when you hit a pothole or around a corner .
Under-inflation on one or both sides of the vehicle
The alignment shop is responsible for making sure your vehicle is aligned properly. The shop should check the tires and wheels for proper air pressure. If one side of the vehicle has more than 10 pounds of under-inflation, it can cause a pull to one side. If both sides have under-inflated tires, the vehicle may pull toward the side with less air pressure in its tires.
Under-inflation is often caused by a slow leak. The tire will gradually lose air over time, which means that you may notice a pull only after having driven on the road for a while. A slow leak can be caused by an issue with the valve stem seal or a worn out tire.
Bad, damaged or worn out front tires
In order to align the wheels, technicians must first determine whether or not the tires are worn out, damaged or bad. If one of these is the case, then the alignment will not be able to fix this problem and you may be required to replace the tire. If your tires are worn out or damaged, it may be time for a new set of tires.
Contact your local auto parts store for more information on purchasing new tires. If the tires are okay and you still have problems with your vehicle’s alignment, then you may need an alignment service from a professional mechanic.
Common Causes of Uneven Tire Wear
Uneven tire wear can have a number of causes. The most common cause in the front tires is toe misalignment. Toe alignment is the difference in distance between the front wheels when they point straight ahead. If your car has a positive toe, that means that the front wheels are pointing outwards slightly at rest. A negative toe means that they point inwards slightly at rest.
The purpose of toe adjustment is to ensure that all four tires wear evenly and don’t scrub against each other as they rotate. This is important for safety reasons, because uneven tire wear can cause premature wear on the inner edges of your tires and lead to blowouts.
If your car has been involved in an accident, it can often result in misalignment of the steering wheel or suspension which may also be causing uneven tire wear on one side of your vehicle.
Incorrect Toe Measure
One of the most common reasons for steering wheel shimmy is improper toe measurement and alignment. The toe adjustment is used to optimize front tire wear and improve handling. The toe angle is set by adjusting the position of the wheels relative to each other. The goal is to have both wheels pointed straight ahead when looking at them from the side, on a level surface.
If one wheel appears to be pulling left or right, then you need to adjust the toe in order to correct this condition. Toe adjustments are only made on vehicles equipped with independent front suspensions. If your vehicle has a solid front axle, then there will be no adjustment possible for toe.
Poor Steering and Suspension Components
Poor alignment is often caused by worn or damaged shock absorbers and struts. If the suspension components are out of alignment, the wheels will be forced to pull to one side or another. This can result in a crooked steering wheel.
Rack and Pinion Issues
A bad steering rack and pinion can cause poor alignment when the car is straightened out on the rack. The rack and pinion system is designed to allow for some play so that it can compensate for uneven wear in your tires or other problems related to alignment. If there is too much play, however, then you can end up with poor steering performance as well as crooked steering after an alignment.
Worn Out Bushings
Worn out bushings are a common problem in most vehicles. The bushings are what connect the steering wheel to the steering shaft, and they typically wear out after about 100,000 miles of use. When they’re worn out, you may notice that your vehicle’s steering wheel isn’t straight anymore.
If your vehicle is not aligned properly, it can cause the tires to wear unevenly. This means that when you go to have them rotated, you will see that one tire has more tread than the other. You may also notice that your steering wheel doesn’t stay straight while driving down the road.
Steering Rack And Pinion Repair
Another thing that could cause your steering wheel not to be straight is if there is something wrong with your steering rack and pinion repair system. This system consists of two parts: the rack and pinion itself and the pitman arm (which connects them).
If either part is damaged or worn out then it won’t work properly and this can cause problems with your steering wheel being off-center as well as other issues with turning and stopping smoothly due to uneven tire wear or improper alignment.
Improper Wheel Alignment
Improper wheel alignment can cause your vehicle to pull to the right or left. The most common causes are misaligned wheels, worn out tires and bent components associated with the suspension system.
If you have recently had a tire rotation or replaced your tires and your vehicle continues to pull, have your mechanic inspect the suspension and steering assembly for damage and proper function.
Conclusion
Steering wheel is one of the most important part of your car that tells you whether your vehicle is properly aligned or not. A wheel which is not straight indicates a problem regarding the alignment. For correcting this steering wheel, get it replaced or re-aligned.