Steering wheel off centered, 10-11 o'clock position
08-20-2018, 03:56 AM
#1
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Steering wheel off centered, 10-11 o'clock position
Hello Fam!
Its been a week since I've had the G wagon, and took it to South Lake Tahoe for its first little road trip. As i have observed all week, i noticed that the steering wheel is off centered and it favors being at 10-11 o'clock position. I mean the car tends to go either L or R depending on the crown of the road, but when on a flat straight surface, the steering wheel just isn't at 12 o'clock. Is this normal for the G wagons?
thank you in advance!
Its been a week since I've had the G wagon, and took it to South Lake Tahoe for its first little road trip. As i have observed all week, i noticed that the steering wheel is off centered and it favors being at 10-11 o'clock position. I mean the car tends to go either L or R depending on the crown of the road, but when on a flat straight surface, the steering wheel just isn't at 12 o'clock. Is this normal for the G wagons?
thank you in advance!
08-20-2018, 07:17 AM
#2
It should be straight. My G wagons steering wheel was also not straight. I was able to correct it by a simple adjustment. If you look under the car you will find a large rod that goes from the steering box (drivers side) to the tire rod on the passengers side. At the end of that bar where it onnects to the tire rod you will find an adjustment. Loosen it and move it till you get your steering wheel straight. That will not affect your toe adjustment since that is adjusted by the large rod that connects between the back of the front wheels. Hope this explanation helps.
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08-20-2018, 09:11 AM
#3
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2018 G63 AMG x2, 2017 BMW M6
We currently have two G63s and before these two..we had lots of other Gs (500, 550, 55 and 63). We have had ONE G so far with a dead center, straight steering wheel. It seems so common to have the steering wheel cocked to 10 or 11 o' clock. Drives me nuts!
The dealer says they can try to adjust the steering box and/or do an alignment, but it amazes me that out of our 8 or 10 Gs, that all but one have a crooked steering wheel whilst driving straight!
The dealer says they can try to adjust the steering box and/or do an alignment, but it amazes me that out of our 8 or 10 Gs, that all but one have a crooked steering wheel whilst driving straight!
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SGTzAMG (08-21-2018)
08-21-2018, 03:44 AM
#4
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Thank you so much for you input! i guess having an off centered steering wheels on a G wagon just comes with the territory? I wonder how and why this is??
I am scheduled to bring the G back to the dealership since i brought up this issue today to the floor manager (also my buddy) and he was very prompt about it.
I hope they are able to fix and get the steering wheel right on the dot at 12 o'clock
I am scheduled to bring the G back to the dealership since i brought up this issue today to the floor manager (also my buddy) and he was very prompt about it.
I hope they are able to fix and get the steering wheel right on the dot at 12 o'clock
08-21-2018, 08:52 AM
#5
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Lifted G500, GT-S, track Cooper S
it is an adjustment. It can come out of adjustment, different tire diameters (and thus ride height) can pull it further out of adjustment, it could hit a bump and come out of adjustment, etc. The way live axles work and all the suspension is tied in, different things affect the geometry in different ways. In general, it is easy to get it back. But it will probably eventually wander back out of adjustment a little (though it has two bolts side by side to help prevent this).
Because the steering geometry and feel on live axle vehicles in general sucks, there is a lot of leeway in the factory alignment specs as a result.
Because the steering geometry and feel on live axle vehicles in general sucks, there is a lot of leeway in the factory alignment specs as a result.
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08-21-2018, 10:36 AM
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2018 G63 AMG x2, 2017 BMW M6
It should be straight. My G wagons steering wheel was also not straight. I was able to correct it by a simple adjustment. If you look under the car you will find a large rod that goes from the steering box (drivers side) to the tire rod on the passengers side. At the end of that bar where it onnects to the tire rod you will find an adjustment. Loosen it and move it till you get your steering wheel straight. That will not affect your toe adjustment since that is adjusted by the large rod that connects between the back of the front wheels. Hope this explanation helps.
Can you post a pic of the adjustment? What exactly do I loosen and then what way do I move it? I know that sounds dumb...but left (driver side) or to the right (passenger side). And what tool do I need? I am not helpless, LOL, but for sure nothing of a mechanic.
THANK YOU!!!
08-21-2018, 04:23 PM
#7
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it is an adjustment. It can come out of adjustment, different tire diameters (and thus ride height) can pull it further out of adjustment, it could hit a bump and come out of adjustment, etc. The way live axles work and all the suspension is tied in, different things affect the geometry in different ways. In general, it is easy to get it back. But it will probably eventually wander back out of adjustment a little (though it has two bolts side by side to help prevent this).
Because the steering geometry and feel on live axle vehicles in general sucks, there is a lot of leeway in the factory alignment specs as a result.
Because the steering geometry and feel on live axle vehicles in general sucks, there is a lot of leeway in the factory alignment specs as a result.
i still love this truck though! seriously nothing like it! it feels so dang solid driving it
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08-21-2018, 06:57 PM
#8
Here is a photo of my 2016 G wagon. You need to loosen the two 5/8 bolts then twist the center threaded rod one way or another till you get your steering wheel centered. In my truck I had to twist the threaded rod upwards about a quarter of an inch to get my steering wheel straight. You will probably have to make several adjustments before you get it right. I suggest that you mark with some paint the position of the threaded rod in relation to the rods so you will a reference point.
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08-21-2018, 09:18 PM
#9
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They are ALL off center and no, alignment doesn't seem to fix it, there's just too much play in the system, that when driving, it moves from where it was on the alignment rack. As mentioned above, you can adjust the first linkage between steering box and knuckle without messing up your alignment, it will just correct your wheel position. Takes a bit of trial and error but it can be made pretty good.
Also, if the truck is very new, allow the springs to settle in fully. The trucks often don't sit level anyway (separate issue, also many bulletins with corrective measures), but as the level changes, the steering center changes due to the recirculating ball steering system's inherent design.
Also, if the truck is very new, allow the springs to settle in fully. The trucks often don't sit level anyway (separate issue, also many bulletins with corrective measures), but as the level changes, the steering center changes due to the recirculating ball steering system's inherent design.
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08-22-2018, 06:54 PM
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2018 G63 AMG x2, 2017 BMW M6
I was going to attempt it today, but I was wondering if there is a specific torque that needs to be re-done once loosening the two bolts (I have a torque wrench). I noticed, that the bolt on the left has a vertical blue paint line painted on the bolt. No paint on the right bolt.
Also, since my steering wheel is slightly cocked to the left (driver window side), once I loosen the two bolts...the vertical bolt in the middle, do I move it up or down to counteract the cocked to the left steering wheel?
My '18 63 cocked steering wheel is, luckily, not as bad as past Gs. Mine is never to the 10 o'clock position. Going straight, my steering wheel is between 11 and sometimes even almost centered (but not usually).
Thanks!
Also, since my steering wheel is slightly cocked to the left (driver window side), once I loosen the two bolts...the vertical bolt in the middle, do I move it up or down to counteract the cocked to the left steering wheel?
My '18 63 cocked steering wheel is, luckily, not as bad as past Gs. Mine is never to the 10 o'clock position. Going straight, my steering wheel is between 11 and sometimes even almost centered (but not usually).
Thanks!
08-22-2018, 09:44 PM
#14
Don’t know about the torque specs , I tightened mine as had as I could with my 14 inch 1/2 drive. My steering wheel positioned like yours and I had to move the center bolt upwards. Hope that helps. Like I posted earlier I would mark bott so you will have a reference of how much you moved it. Also make sure that your mark also extends onto the tie rod .
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Deutsch100 (08-22-2018)
08-22-2018, 09:48 PM
#15
Look at the photo and you will see the white marks that I put on both sides. If you look closely you will see a white mark on the bolt that has been moved up from the original white mark on the left side.
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Deutsch100 (08-22-2018)
08-23-2018, 04:01 AM
#16
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UPDATE!
I got my G back from service a few hours after i dropped it off first this am, and the steering wheel is now dead on the 12 o'clock position. It is weird that a brand new G wagon, a week old would have this issue. Service advisor told me its because of the live axles and old school steering and all that that could've caused this as well as "break in" period?? nonetheless, they ended up doing a full alignment on the truck and now its all good. This is still weird. I love the truck still, but this is kind of a bad first impression.
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Deutsch100 (08-23-2018)
