Steering wheel is not straight while driving

[volvolv]

Hi there,

It's been a while that the Volvo s80 2004 steering wheel is not straight while driving. Can't remember when and why it happened.

I have to keep steering wheel a bit to the right (so the car goes straight)

I thought it's the tyre problem, changed to newer tyres and is still the same.
Trying to understand if the wheel alignment will fix the problem?


Regards

[prc68]

You probably hit a pothole or something similar and now have tracking off. Or as happened to me @ last wheel alignment, the mechanic didn't center the steering correctly before performing the wheel alignment
The normal 1st step on wheel alignment is centering the steering wheel.

[Georgeandkira]

Also, a sideways hit to a front wheel such as sliding into a curbstone can bend a control arm.
The resulting deformation shows up as an off-center steering wheel.

[Simon Jones]

Changing tyres would have no effect on the position of the wheel when going straight. A proper 4 wheel alignment would allow the problem to be adjusted out but if something in the suspension is bent then that should be addressed first.

[ThomasG]

I had exactly same symptoms a couple months ago.
Went to the garage for traction, £40 lighter but goes straight as it should.

On the other hand- recently I decided to have a look at bushings, arms and what not.
So I was lifting one corner at a time, taking wheels off, and so on.
For sure I will need new rear shocks.

But what worries me, is tgat left front wheel has tgat barely perceptible slack on the steering rod, whilst right one has this slack much much bigger.
I checked end bushings on steering rods, they're fine.
Also I've been playing with that slack both by wiggling the wheels sideways, and pushing/pulling on steering rods themselves. Somethings loose in the steering rack.

With the age of the car there's more and more things that will mean write-off..

If steering racks busted, that may be one of them.
But I'll investigate further when it gets a bit warmer outside.

[volvolv]

Did you pay £40 for all 4 wheels or just the front?

Just thinking if I should go for the full wheel alignment or just the front.

Originally Posted by ThomasG

I had exactly same symptoms a couple months ago.
Went to the garage for traction, £40 lighter but goes straight as it should.

On the other hand- recently I decided to have a look at bushings, arms and what not.
So I was lifting one corner at a time, taking wheels off, and so on.
For sure I will need new rear shocks.

But what worries me, is tgat left front wheel has tgat barely perceptible slack on the steering rod, whilst right one has this slack much much bigger.
I checked end bushings on steering rods, they're fine.
Also I've been playing with that slack both by wiggling the wheels sideways, and pushing/pulling on steering rods themselves. Somethings loose in the steering rack.

With the age of the car there's more and more things that will mean write-off..

If steering racks busted, that may be one of them.
But I'll investigate further when it gets a bit warmer outside.

[ThomasG]

Front only

[volvolv]

Originally Posted by ThomasG

Front only

I will take a car today to the national co uk garage. I also have seen that they offer a voucher that gives 50% off on the front wheel alignment.

[Dancake]

Changing tyres can affect the position of the steering wheel, depending on the tread wear amount or pattern. Before messing about with tracking, you need to eliminate suspension issues. Adjusting track rod ends only serves to correct the symptom of the problem. If the track rods are worn then this too can have an affect on steering wheel position. I have always found suspension bushings/control arm bushings or the control arms themselves are the most likely culprits for putting a steering wheel off centre.

[neil lofthouse]

This happend to me. One day it was fine the next day she was pulling to the right, turns out it was a broken spring. ( damn potholes ).