Centered steering wheel

[Rhon]

I'm not sure if this is the correct place for this quertion or not so I'll do it anyway...

I've noticed, and it's driving me nuts, that the steering wheel is off center to the right about a click. Does anyone else have that issue? I've tried to ignore it but I can't. It's going to the dealer for the radio issue and this in the next couple of days.

Thanks...

[evilmonkeyMSP]

needs an alignment most likely. They should be able to correct that.

[Rhon]

It doesn't have 2k on it yet. I'd of thought it would be straight from the factory...

[evilmonkeyMSP]

did you hit a large bump or anything to knock it off? The steering wheel being off center is typically a aligntment issue.

[Rhon]

No, that 's what's interesting about it. The wife did most of the test driving and I'm only allowed to be in it on the weekends. But I noticed it about a week after we brought it home. Nothings been hit with it the wheel is just off center like I say about a spline. You can let go of the wheel and it doesn't shake or pull or anything, it's just off center. I'l have to look at getting the horn cover off without blowing the airbag. I'm sure if I can get it off and pull the wheel I can get it straight.

I was just wondering if anyone else noticed their wheel off to one side.

[evilmonkeyMSP]

the cars under warranty, take it in and make them fix it...

[piloti3]

You might want to try varying the roads or lanes that you are judging this on. Cars with small wheelbases can be susceptible to roads with good amount of crowning, especially in far left of right lanes of a highway for example.

[Rhon]

You might want to try varying the roads or lanes that you are judging this on. Cars with small wheelbases can be susceptible to roads with good amount of crowning, especially in far left of right lanes of a highway for example.

Yeah but it's off the other direction. Crowned roads should make you steer to the center not the right. I'll take it in and let the dealer deal with it.

But I have to say, this is a minor issue. I'm really enjoying this car when ever the wife lets me drive it.

Thanks for the responses.

[my3needsaname]

Actually, I have the same problem but it's a tick, spline, hair, etc. to the left. My car is soon to be 5 days old with just over 200 miles on it and I've let go of the wheel, stays straight. I've tried different roads and lanes and such and it's always just that tiny bit to the left. I'm going to the dealer for a few defective parts tomorrow and I'll let them do what they must to it to fix it without making her mad.

[cmedrive]

Yeah but it's off the other direction. Crowned roads should make you steer to the center not the right. I'll take it in and let the dealer deal with it.

But I have to say, this is a minor issue. I'm really enjoying this car when ever the wife lets me drive it.

Thanks for the responses.

A crowned road would make you steer to the outside of the road. If you are in the left lane you would drift left, if you are in the right lane you would drift right.
I wouldn't be surprised if a few vehicles come off the assembly line with their alignment off just a tick and no one bothers to fix it. I'm sure the dealership would take care of it for you.

[ForceFed]

It doesn't have 2k on it yet. I'd of thought it would be straight from the factory...YOu would think..But a lot of cars are off right from the Showroom floor.

[my3needsaname]

So, I went to the dealer today. Aside from other warranty, new car defective parts to be replaced they told me that a lot of cars need to get a nice little adjustment after you drive it for a few hundred miles just because everything gets situated and it moves to where it wants to be, then they fix it and most of the time it stays where they fix it to after the fact.

[Rhon]

Took the car in for the radio and off center steering, ordered the radio, service tech said it would be in in a couple of days...we'll see, and they fixed the steering. The wheel is now straight where it should be...

Rhon

[my3needsaname]

Yea at my Hayward Mazda dealer the guy in service told me that my steering is supposed to be off center...little did I know they were absolute morons who can't work on Mazdas for shit.

[Hank3]

Reviving this thread. When I purchased my Speed3 in August, it had 8,900 miles on it. The steering wheel was definitely off-center but the alignment was fine as the car didn't pull one way or the other. I brought it in to the local Mazda dealer and they re-did the alignment for free. 1,500 later the steering wheel is off-center again. Haven't hit big potholes or anything, but I'm trying to gauge if a lot of owners have off-centered steering wheels but good alignment. Mine will pull to the left when the wheel is centered.

[my3needsaname]

Well, she doesn't pull, it's just very slighty of center.

[Rhon]

I was going to pull the wheel on ours and just re-center it. As long as it's tracking correctly, popping the wheel off and moving it a spline should center it again. Just becareful of the airbag.

[Hank3]

Is their a write-up on how to do that?

[flash75]

Proper alignment should include getting the steering wheel centered. It's done by turning the tie rods to center the steering wheel. Part final check any good alignment shop makes is to insure the steering wheel is straight ahead and the car doesn't pull in either direction.

Clifton

[MightyMouse]

Reviving this thread. When I purchased my Speed3 in August, it had 8,900 miles on it. The steering wheel was definitely off-center but the alignment was fine as the car didn't pull one way or the other. I brought it in to the local Mazda dealer and they re-did the alignment for free. 1,500 later the steering wheel is off-center again. Haven't hit big potholes or anything, but I'm trying to gauge if a lot of owners have off-centered steering wheels but good alignment. Mine will pull to the left when the wheel is centered.


The alignment is to fix the off-center steering wheel. An alignment on our cars (where you can only adjust toe) will NEVER fix a pulling issue or vibration. The only thing you can really do is straighten the steering wheel.

[Hank3]

Stratighten the steering wheel how? By adjusting the tie-rods? If so, which way do you turn the rods?

[IMAX]

Wow... I'm not crazy... Mine does the same thing. Pushes left if I center the steering wheel...

[gettingspeedy]

i wouldnt suggust anyone pull their steering wheel off to re-center. not due to the hazard, everyone is aware of that. but the steering shaft is not splined, its hex, so you cant make small adjustments. i work at a mazda dealership, and have had many 3's appart

[gettingspeedy]

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e96/kartracer36/back.jpg

[Rhon]

Yeah that would certainly make it difficult to center it that way. I just assumed all steering shafts were splined. So much for that plan...

[08mazda2.0]

mine pulls to the right if i center my steering wheel and when i stop it also pulls to the right but it only does it sometimes. My camber in my rear left tire is -3.3 while the right rear tire is -2.5. Could my camber cause that? Or it needs another alignment. It was aligned like couple months ago. Already need another alignment?...wtf...

[my3needsaname]

It's a combination of brake force distribution which would be ruled out because the car has Electronic Brakeforce Distribution. It could be the roads if they are rutted or worn down a certain way.
On start up, because the car is front wheel drive, torque is delivered to one wheel a bit more than the other and can cause it to pull to the side with the wheel that gets more power no matter how underpowered the car is.
Also the short wheelbase doesn't help much for anything.
Hope I helped!

[08mazda2.0]

-it was never like that before my accident:|

[my3needsaname]

Well you didn't mention that part, you should bring it back to the body shop and have them give it a thorough looking over. Tell them about it and make them fix it.