So a while back i was driving along and i am going through a turn that i have done many time when i start to slide i end up finding out somebody put gravel there wtf any ways i end up jumping the ditch got off the ground pretty good at that and hit pretty hard at that point i thought i totaled it got out and looked it over other than the lip on the front everything seemed fine i drove it back on the road started to drive it home i noticed my steering wheel was not straight any more but i had mud in the rims so i thought nothing about it got home parked it went out the next day and washed it take it for a bit of a drive and the steering wheel was not straight still at that point i thought i bent something so i took it to a local shop and got it on a lift me and the mechanic looked it all over nothing looked bent or out of place so i thought maybe one of the wheels is out of balance so i got it balanced and rotated still did not fix the problem the car still drives perfect and handles grate it just the steering wheel is not straight any suggestions on what happened


IMG_20140312_114706_428_zpsf5b905b0.jpg Photo by ss28gogeta | Photobucket

 

Did u try getting an alignment?

 

Yup u need an alignment.

 

If your steering wheel is that crooked after an impact then you need a new mechanic. Something is bent, broken, or shifted. Get under there yourself and start measuring or find a trustworthy and knowledgable mechanic.

 

Bent control arm

 

Can't tell if serious or trolling...

 

And what has common sense taught us today class?

 

I'm being serious

 

Find a new mechanic. You have broken/bent/shifted front end components which could break while driving so the sooner the better.

 

Well I've been under the car myself and saw nothing out of place still Handels like it did before this happened I've been driving it for a while like this ill try and get an alignment and go from there

 

You sir are a frickin moron.

 

Really and why do you think that i was goin to get an alignment and that would tell me if it was the alignment or something more serious i never said nothing could bent i just did not see anything bent or out of place i could have missed something as I'm not a pro mechanic but i want to try the alignment firs before i start ripping the suspension out of my car

 

So how well do you know the cobalt suspension and steering system to say nothing is out of place? The wheel being off center is a clear indication something ISN'T correct, stop driving it everywhere and get an alignment, the company performing the alignment should be able to tell you what is wrong.

 

Could also be a bent or broken steering column or intermediate shaft
Something def wrong though be careful

 

Mine has been like that since I got it 4 years ago. Not sure why.

 

Theres a procedure to get it back in place
But if eithrt end of the intermediate shaft is disconnected the wheel could turn independently of the wheels and lots of these cars have had columns or shafts replaced at one point or another

 

Interesting

 

Hmm. It never bothered me. But I do need an alignment.

 

The easiest way I have found, is to get it aligned, then pull the steering wheel and put it on straight. I had a mustang that was a half a round out. I had it aligned and the alignment shop pulled the wheel straight then aligned it. The wheel was straight afterwards.

 

aintgonnahappen.com. The Cobalt has a master spline on the steering shaft. Nice idea but this is not a fox body or whatever.

undamaged suspension parts and a proper alignment can fix this.

 

^^^ this.
its no mystery. the tie rods must be adjusted equally each side same length to whatever toe in is required. If they are not equal length this can happen.

If the suspension is damaged this can happen.

If the rear beam is damaged or moved this can happen. etc ad nauseum

The control arm bushings need to be in good condition along with all the other parts. It is possible to screw with the intermediate steering shaft, to straighten the steering wheel, but that is nonesensical, and if you do take the IM shaft off, you risk excess rotation at the steering wheel, damaging the clock spring in the steering wheel hub and that will cost a lot of dough.

 

I schedule an appointment for monday for an alignment ill see what happens i pland on going with a racing suspension this summer so if parts need replacing it won't bother me to much will also give me an excuse to replace them lol

 

He mad

 

Got the alignment done the suspension checks out and my steering wheel is straight now when I go down the road

 

Great !!