Steering wheel off center?

[Kiron Kid]

Hello

Last week I replaced the rotors and pads on the front brakes of my 1993 Maxima. Now, for whatever reason, the steering wheel is a bit off centered. How can that be? I didn't touch any of the suspension hardware.

Thanks
Russ

[centralcoaster33]

Your alignment is off. Maybe, you just need an alignment. It could have been off before and you're just now finally noticing it.

It could be that you bolted something down crooked and now it's out of alignment. I think you should jack up the front and make sure your wheels are turning true by spinning them and inspect your nuts and bolts to see if they sit flush and are torqued down correctly.

You're power steering rack bushings may have "given out" and now it's moved/ shifted to one side or the other. While your car is jacked up, inspect your rack bushings. You have an old car and old bushings can do this.

Are you on cut springs? Maybe one of those popped out of it's seat a bit and one side rides higher than the other.

I'm just guessing at things of course. Check it out and let us know what you find. Best of luck!

[Kiron Kid]

Thanks for the replies. I have it scheduled for an alignment. I'll report back once it is done.

Thanks

[seldomseen]

The fix is simple....get a 4 wheel alignment done, and ask them to center your steering wheel column so that it's precisely aligned.

[zul8tr]

If power steering rack bushings are worn an alignment will not fix the steering wheel centering because as you turn left or right the rack will still shift back and forth and sometimes be at center when going straight. You need to determine if the rack bushings are loose. Also look for leaks at the rack bellows and fluid getting on the rack bushings that rots the rubber.

[Kiron Kid]

Thanks. It was the Strut going out. The inner shock absorber was completely shot. Replaced both front Struts and had it aligned. All is fine now

Thank You

[centralcoaster33]

Awesome! Glad you got it fixed and aligned.

[Kiron Kid]

Couldn't find a "ready-strut" for that year (1993) Maxima. Hadto by a shock and install into existing spring.

Now I have to figure out why power to radio cuts in and out randomly?