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Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: joey on 03 May 2015, 22:13

Title: steering wheel not dead centre
Post by: joey on 03 May 2015, 22:13
hopefully some one can explain, why this is a common problem. the car drives perfectly well in a straight line, but both my MK6 and MK7 has the steering slightly to the right. a bit annoying mentally when you need to hold the wheel dead straight on motorways.
Title: Re: steering wheel not dead centre
Post by: mcmaddy on 03 May 2015, 23:52
It shouldn't be off centre and it's not a common problem. Have you had the alignment checked?
Title: Re: steering wheel not dead centre
Post by: J400uk on 04 May 2015, 00:08
My mk6 does this and I've had the alignment done twice. Think it could be a common thing as I've read other complain about it too
Title: Re: steering wheel not dead centre
Post by: mcmaddy on 04 May 2015, 00:21
I've had quite a few vw's and not once had this problem. Maybe just luck  :wink:
Title: Re: steering wheel not dead centre
Post by: monkeyhanger on 04 May 2015, 06:57
Never had this on 7 new VWs, it can happen though. Been like that from new? Warranty issue if that is the case.
Title: Re: steering wheel not dead centre
Post by: dubber36 on 04 May 2015, 09:10
It's most likely an alignment problem. Some 6's suffered with rear misalignment which cased 'saw tooth' tyre wear. The car would crab, so the front would self center to a degree of opposite lock to counteract this.

VW should sort it if the car is less that 6 months old, if not it's £100 for a proper 4 wheel set up, as they say that you could have knocked it out of square.
Title: Re: steering wheel not dead centre
Post by: joey on 04 May 2015, 21:03
thanks for the reply's, alignment is spot on, and drives perfectly in a straight line, steering wheel is just a fraction to the right.
mixed reviews about this one.
Title: Re: steering wheel not dead centre
Post by: Sootchucker on 05 May 2015, 08:01
I would suspect when the tracking was done at the factory, the wheel wasn't fully straight ahead in the jig (looking at some Youtube Vids of the assembly plant), and so when the track rod ends were adjusted, they were done with the wheel off centre.

The local dealership should be able to sort this under warranty. Just a case of getting the wheel straight ahead then using the dealership laser tracking to readjust the track rod ends ?

To be fair, this should have been picked up by the supplying dealership during PDI.
Title: Re: steering wheel not dead centre
Post by: corgi on 05 May 2015, 08:41
thanks for the reply's, alignment is spot on, and drives perfectly in a straight line, steering wheel is just a fraction to the right.
mixed reviews about this one.

How do you know the alignment is spot on? Just because it drives "perfectly in a straight line" doesn't mean the alignment/geo is spot on.

Most likely it is what Sootchucker said, front wheel alignment at factory performed without the wheel set to straight ahead. Easy to sort with the correct equipment. If it was OK when new and has changed the cause is likely hitting a pothole, kerb etc.