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Desert Fox
Veteran
Date registered: May 2013
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Vehicle(s): G500 2002
Posts: 191
| steering wheel off center
Hello. The last few times I've come back from offroading, my steering wheel has been way off center to the left. Vehicle doesn't pull in any direction; it is just that the steering wheel is off center when the vehicle is going straight.
The last time this happened, I had an alignment done at the dealer and it took care of the problem, but I don't want to have to go to the dealer for an alignment every time I go off road.
Any suggestions?
2002 LWB G Wagon.
(Drag links and tie rods were replaced a few months ago. They appear to be in good shape).
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Desert Fox
Veteran
Date registered: May 2013
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Vehicle(s): G500 2002
Posts: 191
| Re: steering wheel off center
When I look at Jeeps forums, it appears Jeeps's drag links have a turn buckle that can be used to straighten the steering wheel. I don't see that on my G drag link; however, I saw on a G wagon forum a photo of a 2016 G with a turn buckle on the drag link and the poster said he used that to straighten the steering wheel. Anyone know if there is another G wagon drag link with a turn buckle? |
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Desert Fox
Veteran
Date registered: May 2013
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Vehicle(s): G500 2002
Posts: 191
| Re: steering wheel off center
This thread has a pic of the G with the drag link with a turn buckle:
https://mbworld.org/forums/g-class-w460-w461-w463/718756-steering-wh...
The poster writes:
It should be straight. My G wagons steering wheel was also not straight. I was able to correct it by a simple adjustment. If you look under the car you will find a large rod that goes from the steering box (drivers side) to the tire rod on the passengers side. At the end of that bar where it onnects to the tire rod you will find an adjustment. Loosen it and move it till you get your steering wheel straight. That will not affect your toe adjustment since that is adjusted by the large rod that connects between the back of the front wheels. Hope this explanation helps.
Here is a photo of my 2016 G wagon. You need to loosen the two 5/8 bolts then twist the center threaded rod one way or another till you get your steering wheel centered. In my truck I had to twist the threaded rod upwards about a quarter of an inch to get my steering wheel straight. You will probably have to make several adjustments before you get it right. I suggest that you mark with some paint the position of the threaded rod in relation to the rods so you will a reference point.
I see something like that on the tie rod, but not the drag link. I have a 2002 G Wagon. Are the drag links different on newer models?
Edited by Desert Fox 12/28/2020 8:38 PM
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J.R.
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Southern Maryland
Vehicle(s): 00 G500, 09 911 4S, 11 Cayenne S, 86 280GE (sold)
Posts: 828
| Re: steering wheel off center
Off the top of my head:
- Most likely front panhard rod bent. It has two manufactured bends in it. The earlier ones were not robust enough so MB built a stronger one. It can be bent if the tires get bound or not rolling while steering. Once it's bent, time to install the beefer one. take a look at page 15 http://fourbyfourclub.com/Manuals/W463249Introdustion.pdf
- Not likely, but I would check the end of the steering rod female connector and its male spline mate on the power steering gear, but again, not likely.
Edited by J.R. 12/28/2020 8:56 PM
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J.R.
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Southern Maryland
Vehicle(s): 00 G500, 09 911 4S, 11 Cayenne S, 86 280GE (sold)
Posts: 828
| Re: steering wheel off center
I just found some older posts on the panhard rod and steering within P3 |
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Desert Fox
Veteran
Date registered: May 2013
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Vehicle(s): G500 2002
Posts: 191
| Re: steering wheel off center
Thank you J.R. Much appreciated. |
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AlanMcR
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, CA, Los Altos
Vehicle(s): G300DT E300DT 230SL
Posts: 3500
| Re: steering wheel off center
Very likely the panhard rod. Could be the front or back one though.
 (PanhardDimensions(small).gif)
Attachments
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 PanhardDimensions(small).gif (50KB - 1 downloads)
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Desert Fox
Veteran
Date registered: May 2013
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Vehicle(s): G500 2002
Posts: 191
| Re: steering wheel off center
Thanks, everyone.
QUESTION. Would 33inch tires, a 2 inch spacer lift, and/or 1 inch wheel spacers have anything to do with the alignment being knocked out more easily?
I had all of that added a few months ago, and the 2 times I've gone off-roading since then have resulted in my steering wheel going off center. Coincidence or causality? |
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Desert Fox
Veteran
Date registered: May 2013
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Vehicle(s): G500 2002
Posts: 191
| Re: steering wheel off center
Problem solved! So I had the dealer re-align after some four wheeling. I had them print up the alignment report, and it showed the metrics before the alignment and then after. I noticed that they weren't much different. That was consistent with the fact that the vehicle drove quite nicely prior to the alignment; it was just that the steering wheel was about 10 - 11 o'clock when going straight. It didn't pull, and I didn't have to fight the wheel--it was just off-center. Seemed to me that maybe a minor adjustment was all that was needed.
So when I went four wheeling again, after the alignment, I came back with the steering wheel at 10 - 11 o'clock, again. This time, I decided to try fiddling with the turnbuckle mentioned in the other post. It sits on the rod behind the driver front tire. I loosened the two bolts, and then started turning the turnbuckle in between them a quarter turn and then a test drive. At 3/4 rotation, clockwise, the wheel was centered, again. Drives great! Good to know!  |
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Braingears
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: St Petersburg, FL
Vehicle(s): G320 & ML320
Posts: 1450
| RE: steering wheel off center
I just replaced my drag link due to my ends being worn out. Both my old and new one could be adjusted the same way. |
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Desert Fox
Veteran
Date registered: May 2013
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Vehicle(s): G500 2002
Posts: 191
| RE: steering wheel off center
Good to know! Thanks. |
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jambo
Regular
Date registered: Jul 2007
Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Vehicle(s): '91 300GD SWB, '92 300GD LWB OM606
Posts: 78
| Re: steering wheel off center
Desert Fox - 3/6/2021 11:09 PM
Problem solved! So I had the dealer re-align after some four wheeling. I had them print up the alignment report, and it showed the metrics before the alignment and then after. I noticed that they weren't much different. That was consistent with the fact that the vehicle drove quite nicely prior to the alignment; it was just that the steering wheel was about 10 - 11 o'clock when going straight. It didn't pull, and I didn't have to fight the wheel--it was just off-center. Seemed to me that maybe a minor adjustment was all that was needed.
So when I went four wheeling again, after the alignment, I came back with the steering wheel at 10 - 11 o'clock, again. This time, I decided to try fiddling with the turnbuckle mentioned in the other post. It sits on the rod behind the driver front tire. I loosened the two bolts, and then started turning the turnbuckle in between them a quarter turn and then a test drive. At 3/4 rotation, clockwise, the wheel was centered, again. Drives great! Good to know! :)
The fact thet you have to re-centre the steering after each outing indicates a bent drag link. It happened to one of our fellow G drivers after an outing. He accused all of having turned his steering upside down while we were having a BBQ. Later he did find out the drag link was bent. Be carefull with adjustment as you could be at the end of the thread and it could rip out. I would replace the drag link. |
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Desert Fox
Veteran
Date registered: May 2013
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Vehicle(s): G500 2002
Posts: 191
| RE: steering wheel off center
Interesting. I had the drag link replaced when I had my 2 inch spring spacers and 1 inch wheel spacers installed. Had this steering wheel issue on my first off-road excursion right after that.
Went off-road, yesterday, and once again, the steering wheel is off center, again. Noticed underneath that the "turnbuckle" adjustment behind the driver tire was in the same spot (I had marked it with paint).
I'm going to turn it some more to re-center the wheel, but I am a little concerned about 1) this happening every single time I go off-roading 2)turning that adjustment too far (especially with your warning of running out of thread)!
Maybe I got a faulty drag link.
Edited by Desert Fox 3/15/2021 2:13 PM
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Desert Fox
Veteran
Date registered: May 2013
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Vehicle(s): G500 2002
Posts: 191
| Re: steering wheel off center
Here's a pic of where I'm making the adjustments (blue paint):
https://photos.app.goo.gl/bLPuouL87FhQCA7SA |
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AlanMcR
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, CA, Los Altos
Vehicle(s): G300DT E300DT 230SL
Posts: 3500
| RE: steering wheel off center
From the factory, the Panhard rod is horizontal. With any lift the panhard rod get set at an angle. This also has the effect of offsetting the axle to one side. While you can lengthen the rod to re-center the axle, that doesn't fix the problem of the angle.
When the rod is horizontal and you hit a bump at speed there is little force on the rod. When the rod is at an angle and you hit a bump at speed, the rod receives forces that try to shorten it. While they are strong, they can be bent. I'm guessing that this is the source of your alignment change. The solution would be to lower the mount for the fixed end of the panhard rod so that it is the same distance from the ground as the axle end of the rod.
Edited by AlanMcR 3/15/2021 2:37 PM
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Desert Fox
Veteran
Date registered: May 2013
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Vehicle(s): G500 2002
Posts: 191
| RE: steering wheel off center
Thanks, Alan. That's really interesting. Anyone have any info on how to lower the mount for the fixed end of the panhard rod(s)? |
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Desert Fox
Veteran
Date registered: May 2013
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Vehicle(s): G500 2002
Posts: 191
| RE: steering wheel off center
This link has some good pics of panhard bars. Looks like this is lifted and and the bars are at an angle if I'm understanding this correctly:
https://www.g-wagenaccessories.com/products/adjustable-panhard-bar-t...
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Desert Fox
Veteran
Date registered: May 2013
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Vehicle(s): G500 2002
Posts: 191
| Re: steering wheel off center
Maybe this helps? Says it is a track bar (panhard bar) specifically built for 50 mm lifts:
https://vikingoffroad.com/g-class-track-bar/
Anyone have any knowledge about this?
Thank you.
Edited by Desert Fox 3/15/2021 6:35 PM
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AlanMcR
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, CA, Los Altos
Vehicle(s): G300DT E300DT 230SL
Posts: 3500
| Re: steering wheel off center
See attached section of the factory manual. Not included is the part about straightening out the steering wheel. That is done by adjusting the length of the steering rod coming off of the steering box. Of course, if your panhard is bent that needs to be dealt with first. P3 won't let me attach the document. PM me up on ClubG and I'll give it to you.
Edited by AlanMcR 3/17/2021 12:50 PM
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Desert Fox
Veteran
Date registered: May 2013
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Vehicle(s): G500 2002
Posts: 191
| Re: steering wheel off center
Thanks, Alan. I just registered with Club G Wagon. Waiting for the confirmation email. Then I can PM you, there.
I was reading a on a Jeep forum:
"Don't forget that in many cases the wheel has gotten off center because the front axle has shifted laterally and isn't centered."'
I'm wondering if the fact that my axle is off-center about a quarter inch or so toward driver's side (due to 2 inch lift and original (length) panhard rod) is causing the issue. I have a call into a mechanic to see if he thinks adjustable panhard rod(s) would help alleviate this issue. (I can also ask him about welding on a bracket extender for the panhard rod to level it out per your idea on that)
Also, I don't get how to adjust the rod going from the steering box to the front passenger wheel--it doesn't have a turnbuckle like Jeeps do (or like the one on the tie rod behind the G wagon driver side tire).
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