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Are you sure the steering wheel itself hasn't slipped on the steering spline it is attached to?

(or am I stuck in the 50s - again?)

Quote:

Originally Posted by turboencabulatr (Post 3328749)

I have a strange one.

I was drifting with lots of spinning out and the steering wheel is now cocked at a 45deg angle when driving straight. The kicker is that nothing is wrong with the suspension, tie rods, rack, rack mounting or U joint. I checked them all thoroughly. Wheels are perfectly parallel, steering is smooth and tight. Trust me, I used to be a legit mechanic but before EPS was a thing.

The only thing this can be is the electric power steering gear system is misaligned. The darn factory manual is useless as far as this goes. They don't show a digram of the EPS because it is not disassembled by dealers ever apparently.

I just want know if this is something that can be realigned mechanically using a scan tool at the dealer or do I have to replace the whole assembly?

THX

An electronic power steering doesn't really get "misaligned", because it isn't "aligned". The steering wheel has a hard physical connection to the steering rack, there are BEEFY splines all over, that junk is not going to slip, that is the part that is aligned, the EPS is a helper motor on the steering shaft and uses a torque sensor and a VSS value over CANBUS to know how much help to give and isn't really concerned with where the center is (it knows, and it's probably taken into account, but in the grand scheme of things, isn't a big factor)

What IS concerned with the steering wheel position is the Stability Control, and that has a big sensor right behind the steering wheel to know where you're steering, Accessing the EPS datastream with a scan tool, you'll be able to see if the 0 degree position is still in the middle, I suspect it is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by turboencabulatr (Post 3328749)

I was drifting with lots of spinning out

Maybe I'll surprise you, but the ass end of the car has just as much influence on the steering center as the front. Check your thrust angle.

it really sounds like a steering wheel issue, and not a car issue

i believe the car measures steering angle at the steering box, so the only point of reference that's changed is your point of reference. the steering wheel.

more importantly, where did it change. i would first pull the steering wheel to look for damaged splines from the wheel slipping. after that, i'm suspicious of the steering rack jumping teeth, considering that you've said the stock wheel size now over-turns and rubs in the 1 direction.

Wait wait wait what.

Quote:

Originally Posted by turboencabulatr (Post 3328749)

The kicker is that nothing is wrong with the suspension, tie rods, rack, rack mounting or U joint. I checked them all thoroughly. Wheels are perfectly parallel, steering is smooth and tight. Trust me...

Quote:

Originally Posted by turboencabulatr (Post 3328749)

I'm quite sure it's a front end issue. The stock size wheel seriously rubs on the LH inner wheel well when turning. When parked if you straighten the steering wheel the front wheels are both significantly turned. The trac control, ABS and brake MILs turn on as soon as i drive a few hundred feet.

I mean hey, just fuck everything right, check it all thoroughly and it's fine but it rubs but that's probably fine but maybe not, the whole dash is lighting up! Send it anyway lol

Bring
it
to
a
shop

Got to love it: Everything is fine, I checked it. Only steering wheel has to be 45 to go strait. tire rubs when turning and lots of warning lights.

Absolutely you need a pro. Run do not walk to a dealer.

You can not magically mechanically realign with an electronic scan too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ls1ac (Post 3329122)

You can not magically mechanically realign with an electronic scan too.

You totally can, you plug it in and double click Align.exe and that shit takes care of itself, it unbends with the power of electrons, which is the strongest power btw.

If there was no impact, and no suspension parts are broken, sloppy or deformed, it is probably something electronic. Then again, the rubbing is a concern. In that case, your dealer should have ability to pin point and repair the issue. Please let us know how it resolves...

Something in your front end is wrong...wheel should never rub. Bent, broken or loose. Not an EPS issue.

Not 100% sure on the body of these cars, but a generic possibility would be that the subframe shifted.