Steering Wheel Turning Circle Not Perfect

Hello:

I own a new Honda Accord EX and noticed that when I turn the steering
wheel all the way around (either direction) that the steering wheel
doesn't turn in a perfect, tight circle. It appears that the "axis"
where the steering wheel turns is not exactly centered so that the
steering wheel appears slightly "wobbly" when it is spun completely
around.

To explain again:
Imagine a perfect circle rotating around the exact center. It would
spin in a perfect circle. Then imagine you shift the axis of rotation
slightly above or below the exact center of the circle and you can see
that the circle will kind of "wobble" because it is not spinning
around the circle's actual center.

Is this normal and expected in the Accord or other cars? Or is it the
case that my steering wheel was not installed or built with enough
precision and thus I should see about fixing it?

Thanks for any help and insight!

(Please reply to the newsgroup as I do not read the email from this
account due to SPAM)

 

That is normal on lots of vehicles.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

 

This is the case on every passenger vehicle I can think of. Has been for
decades. The wheel is offset-mounted to give you additional leg clearance
during the most frequent condition, which is the steering wheel "up"
(wheels straight ahead).

DS

 

I own a new Honda Accord EX and noticed that when I turn the steering

I can't recall ever owning a vehicle (Honda or otherwise) that DIDN'T do
this.

 

More I read this NG the more I think you should have to pass a test to own a
Honda...

 

(polypheus) quoth thusly in

Anybody remember the orginal Austin Allegro "Quartic" steering wheel? Two
points if you do...

What you've got is NORMAL. NO modern steering wheel is guaranteed to be
perfectly circular, with all points of the periphery equidistant from a
single axis.

 

My dad had an '83ish Electra that was so bad in this regard on the other
axis (front to back) that you had to anticipate it when you allowed the
steering wheel to return after a turn, or it would slide right out of
your hand. It had a good inch and a half of delta.

 

(polypheus) decided to join the conversation on
20 Nov 2003 with message

I think this is normal.. My 96 Civic is like that.. My parents' 99 CR-V
is like that.. I'm pretty sure 91 Civic is like that too.. it might be a
little less off center though..

--
-Chris

http://www.ChrisGarcia.com <- My Homepage
http://www.chrisgarcia.com/cars/ <- *NEW* My cars
http://www.chrisgarcia.com/dogs/ <- *Sort-of NEW* My dogs
http://starwars.chrisgarcia.com/ <- Centerpoint Station, the "ghost-
town" of the Star Wars Universe!

 

But then you couldn't buy one.

 

I think it would be great if everyone had to pass a more than basic
automotive repair course to own a car/have a license. I'd make it
cover basic engine operation, basic electrical, sensor failures and
how they may effect the operation of the car, and how individual
systems from cooling to suspension work. Overhauling components,
emissions and the explanation of power flow in an automatic would
probably not be covered! But make it so that people had a strong
understanding of how the individual systems in a vehicle worked. It'd
at the very least keep a lot of people who really shouldn't be driving
off the road, and that wouldn't be a bad thing in my opinion. And
since most people are so dependent on their cars, I certainly am, the
more consumers know -- the better.

__________________
Note: To reply, replace the word 'spam' embedded in return address with 'mail'.
N38.6 W121.4

 

I own two.

 

I agree. I've heard so many wacky tales during my time working at a body
shop...and seen so many poorly maintained cars that wound up in "accidents"
it's no wonder people are regularly screwed by 1) insurance companies, 2)
car dealers, 3) repair shops. If auto consumers were better educated in auto
maintenance a lot of scumbags would have find a real job! At the very
least-read and understand and follow the owner's manual.