I had an accident with my RS a few weeks ago... Car is running fine now, but my steering wheel is now WAY off center. When my front wheels are straight, the steering wheels looks like it is in a deep left turn. The mechanic said this was a problem with the steering box. An alignment was done on the car and it does not pull or anything drives fine but again the steering wheel is off centre... Is this ACTUALLY a steerign box problem? Can it be fixed or does it need to be replaced? Could it be anything else?

 

20 views and NO responses....? Somebody?.....ANYBODY...|

 

i don't think it is a steering box issue. Take off the steering wheel after you have the wheels straight and then install it again the right way.

 

It sounds to me all you have to do is loosen the steering wheel and aline it with the tires.

 

Did you bend steering stuff up in the accident? Evedently not so bad that all that was needed was an alignment and then good to go? Does it drive okay?

If all that's needed is to re-set the steering wheel...consider yourself lucky. $20 for a steering wheel puller, do it yourself in an hour. Beats the heck out of a couple hundred for a rebuilt steering box and several hours of down time.

 

When they aligned it they should have centered the steering wheel. I would take it back and determine the cause. Something else could be bent/off/loose.

The steering box's sector shaft and pitman shaft only connect to their respective linkages one way. It's unlikely the box is off unless there's a lot of slop in the system.

 

Like I said the care drives fines... The accident had caused some suspension damage on the drivers side front. I think it wa steh knuckle or sutmhign to that effect. It caused the wheel to be turned slightly outward while the front pass. wheel was straight so it was replaced. He told me the problem is the steering box and that I may need a new one... I will take some time this weekend and see if I can't set things right, thanx 2 all for the help...

 

The steering box has a clocked position for the factory intermediate shaft to attach to. That can not be changed. If its the same box as before and you did not have this problem then it is not the box. The only way it is the box is if it was not put together correctly internally- not likely. Others have already given good suggetions as for steering wheel clocking being off, or something bent and not adjusted right(ie tierod sleeves, or actually having a bent control arm. The control arm would be easy to spot since one tire would sit inward of the fender lip more than the other.

 

Thats what it sounds like to me as well (Bit late i know LOL)

 

If you got hit in the drivers front wheel and it caused suspension damage, it's quite possible the frame is bent where the steering box mounts to it. I would measure the total lenght of the tie rods on both sides and see how far off they are.