Q7 2015 (old shape) crooked Steering Wheel
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Q7 2015 (old shape) crooked Steering Wheel
Hi all,
I have an Audi Q7 2015 (old style) Sline Sport and the steering wheel is a bit crooked.
I have gone for a 4 wheel alignment at Kwik Fit and there were out a bit but the wheel is still not straight.
Any idea how to sort this?
Cheers
I have an Audi Q7 2015 (old style) Sline Sport and the steering wheel is a bit crooked.
I have gone for a 4 wheel alignment at Kwik Fit and there were out a bit but the wheel is still not straight.
Any idea how to sort this?
Cheers
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 4,567
Likes: 1,456
From: USA - NM
If your car has air suspension, you need to be sure they align it using the correct settings for air suspension, which is different, and also requires they plug into the car and verify the steering angle sensor, etc., when setting the steering wheel. There is a defined, Audi alignment process they should be following for this car, and if the 'tech' is trying to align your Audi by simply eyeballing the setup, then it'll never be right. Same basics apply for steel suspension cars.
I had the '10 w/steel susp done; no issues (Firestone shop, TX). Got '15 w/air susp done (Firestone, LA), and it took them 3 tries to get it right thanks to goobers employed at that location. First time they aligned it for steel susp, and wheel was to left. Be sure you read the description at top of the alignment readout to ensure it matches your car's suspension type. Next, they aligned for air susp, wheel was to right. Finally, the shop's 'master-tech' took over and hooked into the car's steering sensor and did it correctly...third time's the charm
. I got the lifetime alignment also, since it was only $200 for the 4whl align, forever, with free check-ups & do-overs as needed.
I had the '10 w/steel susp done; no issues (Firestone shop, TX). Got '15 w/air susp done (Firestone, LA), and it took them 3 tries to get it right thanks to goobers employed at that location. First time they aligned it for steel susp, and wheel was to left. Be sure you read the description at top of the alignment readout to ensure it matches your car's suspension type. Next, they aligned for air susp, wheel was to right. Finally, the shop's 'master-tech' took over and hooked into the car's steering sensor and did it correctly...third time's the charm
. I got the lifetime alignment also, since it was only $200 for the 4whl align, forever, with free check-ups & do-overs as needed.Last edited by '10Q7TDI_Prestige'; Mar 13, 2022 at 08:14 PM.
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 4,567
Likes: 1,456
From: USA - NM
One more time; there is a standard 4-wheel alignment done on older cars, and then there is what the Audi requires to get your wheel dead-center aligned at zero degrees offset. If you took your Audi to a generic place, then they likely are not following protocol for this car, or don't have an alignment rack/machine that is rated to support this car. As mentioned, it took 3 attempts for the Firestone shop to get it right using the latest & greatest alignment machine. That was all operator error due to not looking up the vehicle to see what it required, entering the wrong suspension type, and not hooking up to the OBD2 port to grab the info off the steering's angle sensor to get the wheel set straight. It's not rocket science...you just have to do all the steps in the correct order, and have the correct equipment that supports this car. It used to be that only Audi dealers had the right type of machine that plugged into these cars, so you had to pay the $$$ Audi labor rate for the alignment, but now most of the big chain shops have the latest alignment racks, so that's no longer the issue. Finding someone that can/will read instructions on how to do the job correctly becomes the issue. You can't just 'wing-it' on this car when aligning it; they've got to follow the established protocols.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 597
Likes: 66
From: Alabama (formerly Michigan)
If all of the toe / camber / caster values are currently within specs, then both of the Tie-Rods can be adjusted, in the same direction and by the exact same amount, to straighten up the steering wheel. A competent shop should be able to do this.
Trending Topics
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 597
Likes: 66
From: Alabama (formerly Michigan)
Not many shops will go to the trouble of centering up the steering wheel, they take the path of least resistance and do only what is needed to align the wheels to the chassis. My wife's VW had the steering wheel slightly off center when it was brand new, took it back to the dealer...asked them to adjust it. They said they hardly ever align cars at the factory because all of the various parts suppliers are held to such tight tolerances, that they can just bolt things together and it will be right. (Yeah....okay....sure...) They then said it's a very complicated procedure...etc. I told them how to do it and said I would do it myself and turned to walk out of the dealership...they finally said they would do it...took all of about 10 minutes.
AudiWorld Stories
Bringing Audi to Life for Audi Fans
10 Strangest Audi Designs That Actually Made Production
Joe Kucinski
2027 Audi Q7 and SQ7: Audi Upgraded EVERYTHING!
Michael S. Palmer
Audi Unveils Absurdly Cool New Supercar: 10 Things You Need to Know!
Verdad Gallardo
The Highs & Lows of Every Audi C-Class Generation
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Audis Ever Sold on Bring-A-Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Audi Features & Options We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Audi Recreates Crazy-Looking Speed Record Breaker From 1935
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilder Recreates the 1995 Audi TTS Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Every Audi V10 Car Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 4,567
Likes: 1,456
From: USA - NM
Talk to the Shop Manager
You've already paid a shop to do the work; take the shop manager out to your car if it is obviously out of alignment from the wheels. If it's not so obvious, you may need to let that person take a little drive so they can both observe and feel it being off-center, which is really annoying, especially with a styled, spoked wheel that supports the optimaly/proper placement of one's hands when driving. Normally the reason the wheel is off-center, is that the alignment tech didn't check it or do the requisite quality check at the end. As noted, Audi kind of makes it simple for them; they just have to plugin and verify the reading off the steering angle sensor, etc.
