Steering wheel off center

[Monkey01]

Hi,

Just picked up 2022 Yukon Denali. Noticed that my steering wheel is ted off center to the left but the car does drive straight though. If I center the steering wheel straight it definitely pulls to the right. Has anyone took a delivery and your steering wheel was off centered?

Just curious if this is a simple fix? Thanks.

 

[Micahsd]

My ‘21 Tahoe has the same issue. I had the dealer do an alignment under warranty after a month or two of ownership hoping they’d re-center the steering wheel and it’s still off, but did claim the alignment was off and it does drive better since. But like I mentioned, my steering wheel is still off.

There are some rules with the alignment under warranty…I think it has to have more than 500, under 5000 miles, and less than 6 months or something you’d have to call your dealer to confirm as I don’t think those numbers are right; it’s been about a year since I had to mess with it).

Curious what kind of luck you have with getting that fixed. I’ve thought about complaining to the dealer again about it being off although it’s been 10 months now so I’m kinda used to it.

I’ve also seen a few other posts on here where people claimed the steering wheel alignment gets worse over time although that’s not something I’ve experienced if it happens.

 

[lky1]

I had the exact same issue on my 22 Z71 and just brought it to the dealer two weeks ago. The alignment was significantly off. They adjusted it and the steering wheel centering is much improved. I brought it in at around 2000 miles.

 

[B520044]

I experienced this with my first 2021 Yukon SLT and with my AT4. They could never get the wheel centered on the SLT and I've yet to mention it on my AT4. I figure it's just another defect with these and will live with it. I have noticed that tire rotations do affect it somehow. I swear one of the tires is bigger than the other.... every other tire rotation it improves.

 

[Monkey01]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I guess it's one of those things that are hit or miss. And that was my concern that they will make it worst, lol, never know with this alignment stuff.

I will update what dealer say.

 

[Blueinterceptor]

I will suggest something. You as the driver should set your steering wheel to how you perceive straight and have the tech align it to how you see it. The tech uses the lower dash and that can be off.
next thing to remember. These trucks are really 4 wheel alignments. Not like the old sold rear axel which you couldn’t do anything to

 

[Monkey01]

I will suggest something. You as the driver should set your steering wheel to how you perceive straight and have the tech align it to how you see it. The tech uses the lower dash and that can be off.
next thing to remember. These trucks are really 4 wheel alignments. Not like the old sold rear axel which you couldn’t do anything to

Good point. Thanks. The car ride straight with off center steering wheel. I guess what I'm getting at is do they even have to do alignment or just reposition the steering column. I'm no mechanic but just making observation.

 

[Blueinterceptor]

They can’t reposition the steering wheel. They have to align it. Sorry. But if it’s aligned properly, this thing drives like a sports car

 

[B520044]

My first 2021 SLT had 2 alignments to correct the steering wheel off-center. The first one over corrected the wheel and the 2nd attempt under corrected. I said screw it after that; to difficult to drop off at dealer, etc. My AT4 steering was not as bad, but definitely noticeable from the factory. I get a tire rotation every oil change and after the first rotation the steering went straight. After the 2nd rotation it went back to off-center; same exact position..(?)....

 

[MSI_Mark]

They can’t reposition the steering wheel. They have to align it. Sorry. But if it’s aligned properly, this thing drives like a sports car

Not quite understanding what you are saying. I've been aligning cars since 1978. GM trucks are front steer, in general, if the wheel is off to the left while going straight (and everything else is fine), then lengthening the tie rod on the left side and shortening the tie rod on the right side will reposition the steering wheel. That doesn't mean that there aren't other factors that will make the steering wheel crooked, but dealing specifically with your response, yes they can reposition the level of the steering wheel. Other factors that should be considered for a proper alignment is camber and caster and the one nearly no one takes into account, road crown.

 

[MSI_Mark]

Have you considered Road Crown. In the USA most roads slope to the right (average 3-4 degrees) for water runoff. A Tech familiar with the platform should level the steering wheel spokes first (with a level, not eyeball), dial in equal camber on both sides, 3/4 degrees more caster on the right than the left (to accommodate average road crown), and toe the front wheels in roughly 0.10 on each side. That should place your steering wheel spokes level on most highways and city streets.

 

[Blueinterceptor]

Not quite understanding what you are saying. I've been aligning cars since 1978. GM trucks are front steer, in general, if the wheel is off to the left while going straight (and everything else is fine), then lengthening the tie rod on the left side and shortening the tie rod on the right side will reposition the steering wheel. That doesn't mean that there aren't other factors that will make the steering wheel crooked, but dealing specifically with your response, yes they can reposition the level of the steering wheel. Other factors that should be considered for a proper alignment is camber and caster and the one nearly no one takes into account, road crown.

I’m not saying the truck is out of alignment. Just the steering wheel isn’t centered, as I perceive it. A lot of techs use the instrument panel to set center straight. Sometimes it’s not straight. I use the steering wheels logo. And a level. What there should be is a tool to level the steering wheel and not rely on eyeballing it

 

[kcb14214]

My 22 has the same issue. Truck drives straight, wheel is 2 fingers left of center. Its meddening.

 

[MSI_Mark]

I’m not saying the truck is out of alignment. Just the steering wheel isn’t centered, as I perceive it. A lot of techs use the instrument panel to set center straight. Sometimes it’s not straight. I use the steering wheels logo. And a level. What there should be is a tool to level the steering wheel and not rely on eyeballing it

Ok, I see where you are coming from. In my world, a key piece of the alignment procedure is to level the steering wheel, so an alignment without a level steering wheel is an incomplete alignment.

 

[MSI_Mark]

Oh, I almost forgot. On many newer vehicles, the steering position sensor, which is on the steering shaft, may need to be recalibrated. Known to many in the trade as a "Steering Wheel angle sensor relearn". As the steering assist system, ABS and Traction control systems all use Steering angle as part of their algorithm. I hope this helps.

 

[Blueinterceptor]

Oh, I almost forgot. On many newer vehicles, the steering position sensor, which is on the steering shaft, may need to be recalibrated. Known to many in the trade as a "Steering Wheel angle sensor relearn". As the steering assist system, ABS and Traction control systems all use Steering angle as part of their algorithm. I hope this helps.

I think that’s the issue right there. the truck comes off the line the right way and during transport it gets stressed or altered in some way.

 

[cdgtahoe]

My 21 needed an alignment. Specs were way off. Correct air pressure in tires makes it drive better. Cold 36 pounds and hot around 39 to 40 pounds.

 

[toi]

They can’t reposition the steering wheel. They have to align it. Sorry. But if it’s aligned properly, this thing drives like a sports car

yes they can, they take it out and move over a tooth.
mine is 1-2 degrees to the leeft also.alingment seems ok just the weheels is crookd.

 

[jimgeb]

Hi,

Just picked up 2022 Yukon Denali. Noticed that my steering wheel is ted off center to the left but the car does drive straight though. If I center the steering wheel straight it definitely pulls to the right. Has anyone took a delivery and your steering wheel was off centered?

Just curious if this is a simple fix? Thanks.

I ordered my Premier (I wanted 20" wheels) and while road testing I found the steering wheel off centered. I told them I couldn't accept the car like that. The salesman drove the car and confirmed the problem and the service department did a re-alignment and centered the steering wheel. Don't know why they didn't notice it on their pre-inspection.

 

[Buffalown]

I just picked mine up this past Monday and the steering wheel is definitely slightly off center to the right. I can't unsee it now