560SL steering offset

[lystgl]

Is this normal? My steering wheel looks to be closer to the dashboard on one side than the other. I'm hoping this is normal and doesn;t mean the steering box or something is worn out. Again,my thoughts are that since the steering wheel is fixed and doesn't tilt, Mercedes deliberately put that angle on to make it easier to get in behind the wheel? Can anyone confirm or refute? Thanks

[97 SL320]

I can't speak about your car, but in general steering columns are canted towards the center of the car to meet the steering box.

The most obvious of these was the Chevy Chevette / Pontiac T1000 where the angle was so severe, the steering wheel was actually canted the other way to compensate. ( Turn the wheel 180 and it was super close on one side. )

[abiby]

Yes, the wheel on the 107 is canted slightly to one side.

[LandYaghtLover]

Well the rage joint prevents the need for the shaft to be in a straight line to the box generally. But in most cars I have owned the steering wheel does indeed sit closer to the dash on the left side than the right. Hard to explain, but if you put a long board across it horizontally, the left side would have a shorter distance to the front than the right.

[lystgl]

Thanks fot the info. I was asked by a prospective buyer to take that picture and, when I looked at it, was taken aback a bit. Never noticed that before.

[nobby]

Originally Posted by lystgl

Is this normal? My steering wheel looks to be closer to the dashboard on one side than the other. I'm hoping this is normal and doesn;t mean the steering box or something is worn out. Again,my thoughts are that since the steering wheel is fixed and doesn't tilt, Mercedes deliberately put that angle on to make it easier to get in behind the wheel? Can anyone confirm or refute? Thanks

This is normal based on the geometry of the steering column location and the frame rail.