how easy to remove / replace steering wheel?

red line fun

Full Member
May 24, 2004
602
12
Scotland
tbh i'm not thinking about doing this myself but wondering how long / big a job this would be for main dealer?

had my car repaired (bodywork) and bodyshop checked / adjusted tracking, alignment whatever it's called. steering wheel now sitting slightly left when driving straight. put it back in to bodyshop yesterday and they re-checked front & rear axle settings, all now showing within recommended settings ... but on driving home steering wheel still slightly off to left :(

been looking on various forums, q&a websites etc and from what i can gather this change to steering wheel might have been caused by steering wheel not being secured in straight position when wheels adjusted? the fix seems to be removing steering wheel, moving one spindle to the right (right in my case as wheel sitting to left) then securing it again.

i'm thinking i might take it to my local seat dealer to get this done rather than go back to bodyshop. do you think this might solve the prob? is it as easy thing for a dealer to complete, i'm guessing yes?

in case you're wondering, my steering wheel was straight before bodyshop work.
 

nc30rider

Active Member
Feb 8, 2009
335
12
Where ever the wife tells me
Get the 4 wheel alignment done with the steering wheel clamped in the straight ahead position and you should have no problems
Even if the car was bent it should then drive straight with the wheel in the centre, It would only be wrong on toe out and turns. I.E. when turn the steering wheel
It is also important to set the rear as well the front as this causes the car to crab and the wheel to be off centre.
Did you get a print-out of the before and after results? If not demand one
If you just move the wheel the car will be different lock to lock. I.E. turn more one way than the other
 

Nath.

The Gentlemans Express
Jan 1, 2006
8,620
16
EASTLEIGH, HAMPSHIRE
The steering wheel splines are not very fine, one spline tooth is quite a lot of Difference (between 12 o'clock and 1 o'clock). Is your wheel out by that much?
 

alx_chung

Dark Lord of the Torque
Sep 11, 2006
1,540
0
In front of a PC....
I am having the same problems at the moment, dropped off the car at a tyre place (was getting my tyres changed) and when I left the steering wheel was worse that before so back I went and got them to check the alignment and they adjusted and said it was within the parameters but the wheel has gone from pointing slightly right to pointing left!!!
Took it back this morning and they asked me to take it back on Monday morning which doesn't suit me at all. Throughly fed up with it really!
nc30Rider does your place open late or on a Sunday at all as it looks like you are the only person who knows how to do this properly!!!
Alex
 

red line fun

Full Member
May 24, 2004
602
12
Scotland
thanks for replies guys. i know (for a fact cause i'm a bit anal about some things) the steering wheel was straight before car went in for repair, even after it was dinged it drove straight with steering wheel straight, so i suspect the wheel alignment has been checked / altered as part of bodyshop checks and this has thrown steering wheel out a bit i.e. to left.

i got a printout yesterday (sheet has 'measurement printout' at top) and everything is now showing green. there's an 'initial measurement' column on left and 'final measurement' column on right. only thing that's showing as red in the before column is 'individual toe', left, front axle, but this was corrected. however my steering wheel is still not straight :(.

rather than take it back to bodyshop again (albeit they're checking it for free) i'm thinking i might take it elsewhere for a second opinion. i'm always cautious about telling folk their jobs as i know i don't like people doing that with me, but i want to get the point across the car seems to be driving fine but my wheel is sitting squint.

nath, i'm not sure if it is out that much. if 12 o'clock is straight mine is sitting at 11.55 if that makes sense!?! so getting it adjusted one increment to right might take it to 12.05 i.e. equally bad but other way?

or should i just be asking wherever i take it to clamp my steering wheel straight and then check the alignments?

advice please my learned friends :cry:
 

alx_chung

Dark Lord of the Torque
Sep 11, 2006
1,540
0
In front of a PC....
thanks for replies guys. i know (for a fact cause i'm a bit anal about some things) the steering wheel was straight before car went in for repair, even after it was dinged it drove straight with steering wheel straight, so i suspect the wheel alignment has been checked / altered as part of bodyshop checks and this has thrown steering wheel out a bit i.e. to left.

i got a printout yesterday (sheet has 'measurement printout' at top) and everything is now showing green. there's an 'initial measurement' column on left and 'final measurement' column on right. only thing that's showing as red in the before column is 'individual toe', left, front axle, but this was corrected. however my steering wheel is still not straight :(.

rather than take it back to bodyshop again (albeit they're checking it for free) i'm thinking i might take it elsewhere for a second opinion. i'm always cautious about telling folk their jobs as i know i don't like people doing that with me, but i want to get the point across the car seems to be driving fine but my wheel is sitting squint.

nath, i'm not sure if it is out that much. if 12 o'clock is straight mine is sitting at 11.55 if that makes sense!?! so getting it adjusted one increment to right might take it to 12.05 i.e. equally bad but other way?

or should i just be asking wherever i take it to clamp my steering wheel straight and then check the alignments?

advice please my learned friends :cry:

I know what you mean mate....I am the same with my car as well. What I think has been happening with me and maybe you as well is that the garage has placed the car with the steering wheel straight (mines is at a nice 11:50 right now...) and used the steering lock to lock the steering wheel instead of the clamp and then adjusted the settings. Again I don't want to tell the supposed experts on how to do their jobs but its really annoying the hell out of me and its an inconvience having to take the car back and forth to the garage.
Just being doing some research and there is a place in Bonnybridge that apparently is quite good (not sure where you are in Glasgow) or there is a McConechy's in Thornliebank that has a Hunter DSP600 (the same as the place in Bonnybridge as well) that is a good system apparently.
Alex
 
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Nath.

The Gentlemans Express
Jan 1, 2006
8,620
16
EASTLEIGH, HAMPSHIRE
In the past I have asked the alignment place to clamp the wheel straight and for me to see that it is straight before they go ahead and make any adjustments. Normally they then realise that I am a picky ******* and do a good job.

Redline, sounds like you need to get the steering clamped at 12 o'clock and then get both wheels adjusted by 5 mins.
 

red line fun

Full Member
May 24, 2004
602
12
Scotland
alex, i'm a fifer so other side of country to you ... the better side :p but yeah like you i don't like saying 'what you need to do is ...'

nath, your last comment made me laugh (not at you, with you!!), although we know about the clock analogy if i take it in somewhere and say 'clamp steering wheel straight then adjust my two fronts by 5 mins' they'll probably slap me out the place :lol:

i think i'm going to be forced to take it somewhere (falkland performance in glenrothes maybe??) and politely ask if it can be checked with steering wheel clamped straight ... out of interest how do they do that without marking wheel, specialist tool?
 

alx_chung

Dark Lord of the Torque
Sep 11, 2006
1,540
0
In front of a PC....
alex, i'm a fifer so other side of country to you ... the better side :p but yeah like you i don't like saying 'what you need to do is ...'

nath, your last comment made me laugh (not at you, with you!!), although we know about the clock analogy if i take it in somewhere and say 'clamp steering wheel straight then adjust my two fronts by 5 mins' they'll probably slap me out the place :lol:

i think i'm going to be forced to take it somewhere (falkland performance in glenrothes maybe??) and politely ask if it can be checked with steering wheel clamped straight ... out of interest how do they do that without marking wheel, specialist tool?

Ah I thought you were in Glasgow like ;)
How about Jim at Star Peformance? I know that Chan_FR_TDI had his car lowered and had his 4 wheel alignment done there as well and according to his posts its been pretty spot on.
The clamp is a specialist tool from what I understand and shoudn't leave any marks on the wheel (but I am tempted to measure the wheel and place a line in the exact center of it (like those sports steering wheels with the red stitching in the middle) and say if this line is not straight then you are going to do it again :D)
Alex
 
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red line fun

Full Member
May 24, 2004
602
12
Scotland
thanks again guys, alex i never thought of star performance, thanks for the tip. i'll let you all know the outcome ... steering wheel at 3 o'clock knowing my luck!!
 

nc30rider

Active Member
Feb 8, 2009
335
12
Where ever the wife tells me
Ah I thought you were in Glasgow like ;)
How about Jim at Star Peformance? I know that Chan_FR_TDI had his car lowered and had his 4 wheel alignment done there as well and according to his posts its been pretty spot on.
The clamp is a specialist tool from what I understand and shoudn't leave any marks on the wheel (but I am tempted to measure the wheel and place a line in the exact center of it (like those sports steering wheels with the red stitching in the middle) and say if this line is not straight then you are going to do it again :D)
Alex

Sorry we only open till 5 and not on a Sunday
This is the system we use at work
http://www.supertracker.com/wintrax_computer_aligners.htm
It measures alignment to 0.1mm each side, so very accurate. Maybe you could call them and see if anyone in your area has one.
I am not back in to work till Wednesday, but when I get in I will look out the Business card for the guy who sells them and services them in Scotland. Who we got ours from. Maybe he could tell you who has one near you
 
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red line fun

Full Member
May 24, 2004
602
12
Scotland
Sorry we only open till 5 and not on a Sunday
http://www.supertracker.com/wintrax_computer_aligners.htm
It measures alignment to 0.1mm each side, so very accurate. This is the system we use at work. Maybe you could call them and see if anyone in your area has one.
I am not back in to work till Wednesday, but when I get in I will look out the Business card for the guy who sells them and services them in Scotland. Who we got ours from. Maybe he could tell you who has one near you

that would be great, many thanks :D
 

alx_chung

Dark Lord of the Torque
Sep 11, 2006
1,540
0
In front of a PC....
Sorry we only open till 5 and not on a Sunday
This is the system we use at work
http://www.supertracker.com/wintrax_computer_aligners.htm
It measures alignment to 0.1mm each side, so very accurate. Maybe you could call them and see if anyone in your area has one.
I am not back in to work till Wednesday, but when I get in I will look out the Business card for the guy who sells them and services them in Scotland. Who we got ours from. Maybe he could tell you who has one near you

that would be great, many thanks :D

That would be very kewl mate...otherwise its a day off work and a trip down to the Borders :D
Alex
 

nc30rider

Active Member
Feb 8, 2009
335
12
Where ever the wife tells me
that would be great, many thanks :D
That would be very kewl mate...otherwise its a day off work and a trip down to the Borders
Alex

Had to go in to work for some stuff so looked out the card

Caledonia Wheel Alignment
Unit 3
253 Shawfield Road
Glasgow
G73 1SU

His name is Gordon McKellar, he is the sole distributer for Supertracker in Scotland
Ask who has a Supertracker Computer Wintrax Alignment system in your area, he will have supplied it
Must be a few in Glasgow/Edinburgh
Say Stephen from Mansfield Motors in Hawick put you on to him
Don't be afraid to call him, he is a very helpful decent guy [B)]
 
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