Hello fellow Autopians and welcome to another edition of Ask An Engineer. We got a question from a reader a few days ago asking why the steering wheel in his car seems to move up and down as he turns it side to side. It looks like the steering wheel is not centered on the steering column and that it’s “wobbling” as he turns. Our reader was wondering why an OEM would do this, so let’s get into it.
First the email that prompted this story:
I was driving this weekend and while making a U-turn, noticed that the top of the steering wheel moved up and down as it was being turned. I have noticed this before. Most steering wheels are not absolutely concentric with the axis of the steering column. The 12 o’clock position while driving straight ahead seems to be high point. It is not out by much, maybe a half inch or so, but enough to be quite noticeable. I wonder if there is a reason for this? It sure seems like a centered steering wheel that is on center and concentric would be normal, but maybe there is something I am missing?
In case you haven’t noticed this yourself yet, here’s a video of it in action:
View this post on Instagram
In most cases where you see the steering wheel off center, the wheel is placed higher than the column. In other words, the center of the steering wheel is higher than the center of the steering column about which it rotates. There are two main reasons why this is done.
[Editor’s Note: Huibert, The Autopian’s veteran suspension engineer, normally writes deep dives into how suspensions/steering systems work. This time, he’s trying something shorter, simpler, and perhaps more palatable to some. We’re experimenting, here. -DT].
Instrument Visibility:
The first reason is that the position of the steering wheel dictates how much of the instrument cluster is visible to the driver. If the wheel is positioned too low, the rim of the wheel might block the view of the cluster. Something like:
This shows what would happen if the rim in this car were perfectly centered on the column. Notice how the top of the steering wheel rim is partially blocking the view of the instruments. In reality, the wheel in this car is offset upward slightly so that the actual view of the instruments is like this:
It’s a small but very important difference.
[Editor’s Note: As you may have guessed, instrument visibility is a very big deal, and there are lots of regulations that explain just how visible everything needs to be. Those regulations, according to our very own friendly neighborhood car designer Adrian Clarke, are described in SAE J941-92, which is titled “Motor Vehicle Drivers’ Eye Locations.” I asked Adrian to explain these regulations a bit, and here’s what he had to say:
“Because human meat bags come in all shapes and sizes, engineers use what is known as a 95th percentile male human manikin. They haven’t come up with this by say, eyeballing the body shapes of who is in front of them in the lunch queue. It’s an actual standard drawn up by the Society of Automotive Engineers defined in SAE J826, and it defines exactly a set of dimensions that are used to set up occupant position, and more relevant here eye position (although it’s defined as a male manikin, the standard incorporates a 97.5th percentile female as well, so put the pitchforks down). It covers 95 percent of all human body sizes so it ensures most people, unless they are basketball players, should fit your car. Because the eyeball position is known (SAE J941 if you can’t sleep), a projected view can be used to make sure the main instrument panel is visible through the top of the steering wheel.”
Hope that helps. Also, check out what the diagrams are like in SAE J941-42:
Interesting stuff, right? – JT]
You might now be asking “why not just make the wheel bigger?” That is certainly an option but a larger steering wheel might not look or feel nice. Have you ever driven a car with a steering wheel that’s too big? It feels like you’re driving a bus.
Knee Clearance
A larger steering wheel would also get in the way of the second reason steering wheels are sometimes offset upward, and that is knee clearance. Here you can see the knee clearance in our example VW with the wheel straight ahead:
And here it is with the wheel turned 180 degrees:
You can see how much more space there is to my knees with the wheel straight ahead. If the steering wheel were perfectly centered in this car, I would have much less clearance to my knees. For tall people with long legs, like myself, this extra space is very welcome. It doesn’t really matter that the extra space is gone while the wheel is turned since that represents a very small percentage of the time we spend in the car.
OK, so why not keep the steering wheel centered and just package the whole column and wheel assembly higher in the car? In some cases this might be possible and in cars where the wheel is centered that is exactly what they were able to do, but in other cases, like the VW, it may not be possible. The column has to fit with all the other systems in the car (like the brakes, the pedals, the AC system, the electrical system, the body structure, etc.) and the placement of these systems might prevent the steering column from going any higher than it is.
Another reason is that the steering column plays a major part in the safety of the car in the event of an accident. When the airbag goes off in a crash, the steering column has to carry the force of the driver hitting the airbag. The position of the column relative to the airbag and the driver is critical to the overall performance of the restraint system. We can’t just randomly choose a column position, it has to work as part of a much larger system.
Put all of these things together and you could easily have a situation where the rim of the steering wheel partially blocks the driver’s view of the instruments or gets in the way of his/her knees. The easy solution often is to just move the steering wheel up slightly in a way that most drivers will never notice or be bothered by.
Update (August 22, 2022 3:37 P.M.):
What I wanted to add was that the offset in the wheel also allows for a larger opening between the top of the airbag and the wheel rim. Again, better for instrument visibility. As far as wheel adjustment goes, as Adrian noted, the steering wheel is located in the vehicle using a 95th percentile mannequin. This means that the visibility of the instruments would be ideal for someone who matches that body shape and size. For all others who might be taller or shorter than the mannequin, vertical adjustability of the steering wheel and column, i.e. the tilt function, allows for these drivers to also have a clear view. Having tilt adjustability doesn’t eliminate the need to offset the steering wheel though, since everything is setup around this 95th percentile mannequin.
This is so timely! I was just about to ask this, because I recently had a 2022 Mustang EcoBoost Premium rental, which is a car with a perfectly circular steering wheel boss/airbag cover, which makes it obvious that the wheel is not vertically centered.
My engi-nerd, math loving son will love that 95th percentile diagram. I recoil in horror at doing complex math, not sure where he got the love for it but good for him. I prefer to make fire with electricity on metal in the garage.
FWIW, I love the deep dives, and love that y’all can and are willing to nerd out to that extent.
I dont so much mind the wheel hoop being offset….but having circular badges and airbag pods in the wheel and not centering THAT? It drives me nuts.
I want a triangle steering wheel at a 20deg angle.
Reply to parsko: Slightly more mundane were the CryCo squarecle wheels of the 60s. Don’t remember if they were off center or not.
data:image/jpeg;base64,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
Well, obviously THAT didn’t work.
The Koenigsegg CC850’s steering wheel is offset an exceptional amount. It’s probably where the question came from, since the article about that came out a few days ago:
https://www.theautopian.com/the-koenigsegg-cc850-is-a-throwback-hypercar-with-an-insane-gated-gearbox-made-for-people-who-really-love-driving/
And then there is Peugeot with what the marketing calls I-cockpit. If you seat correctly and adjust your wheel accordingly it is great. The instrumentation is at the bottom of the windscreen, over the wheel in direct sight. The wheel is smaller and the feeling more direct. Despite some people complaining, as always, I think it is a smart cockpit arrangement.
RE the new format: I found the new format enjoyable. It was deep enough but not too technical. Honestly, I skipped over the editor’s not regarding standards. It’s just too mundane for me, and I’m a compliance auditor…
Just my $0.02. I figured if you’re experimenting, some feedback may be helpful
Everyone in a GM truck is now going to pay attention to their steering wheel position and realize it isn’t centered to the seat. You’re welcome.
Reply to waremon0
Virtually every GM car for 50 years. Had a 96 Impala SS and if you were centered behind the wheel, the seat was V. uncomfortable because you were not centered on the squab. The pedals were not centered either.
This is only cool if it means more Huibert and not less deep dives.
I think I first noticed this when parking on hills and wondered why it was so much more difficult to get my legs out with the wheel upside down. For a car with a tilt / telescoping steering wheel, why would it still be offset?
Please ignore all of the warning lights of my Touareg. It’s totally fine, nothing to worry about!
Spoken like a true VW owner.
My grandpa had a solution for that. Black tape over them. Hell the EMIL is stuck on in my truck, and mechanics have tried to fix it, but they say it’s just a glitch. Black tape to the rescue!
I might have the steering wheel lowered enough to block the almost constant BMW check engine light for emissions.
99% of why I opened the article is because I recognized a touareg steering wheel/cluster. Didn’t even notice the warnings…
I turned off the brake sensors a little while back since I know the fronts are new and don’t care about the back – you have to replace the rotors every time so might as well wait until they’re metal to metal. Especially considering it is like $250/corner without labor.
And check engine light is just another “feature”. I know why mine is on and I’ll fix it eventually…
HA! I was the one that sent that e-mail! I was wondering if anyone there would do something with it. How cool.
I am also a bigger guy. 6’4″ with a Viking build. The first thing I do in any car is push the seat all the way back and down. Then I hope I can get in. Some cars are just impossible for me to get into. There is no way for me to get into a Chevy Malibu; yet, a Honda Fit is just fine. I tried sitting in an old MG and could not physically close the door, as my leg was stuck between the side of the steering wheel and the door. If I had to drive that car to survive, it would be curtains for me.
Thanks for running with the idea. It seemed to be a good fit. Keep up the good work!
I am going to guess the MG was a Midget. If you like British Roadsters, try a Triumph Spitfire. Similar size to the Midget, but much more leg room. Only issue is if you have long torso, you would look over the windshield.
I like those huge thin clear plastic wheels from 1950’s and 1960’s cars the best. So I am disqualified from having any discussion with an engineer involving logic and reason. Sorry Huibert.
Shameless plug: https://qualityrestorations.com/
That Plymouth Aero 1960 with Metal Flake is beautiful!
The original European Ford Fiesta had the steering wheel noticeably angled side to side. Meaning, the left side was further away from the driver than the right side. It drove me nuts as a kid, as the wheel looked all kinds of wobbly when maneuvering the car.
After reading this article, I saw the light. It was probably for easier egress/entry! Or maybe that is the only way they could package the steering column…
Not to humblebrag, but have you driven an old Ferrari? Fucking thing suggests ergonomics are not a thing in Italy.
I was told that if you can afford a Ferrari you can afford to have the steering wheel moved closer. Moving it further away is harder. My 1960 Maserati ( bought for the price of a Pinto) had wonderful adjustable pedals. It took a half hour with a wrench behind the pedals but it could be done.
Funnily enough there is a cheap mod to bring the wheel closer (an extended hub) but that’s not the problem. Not only is it not aligned to the seat center line the column skews towards the center of the car so the right hand side of the rim is slightly further away than the left.
You own a old Ferrari and a Land Rover. Are you a masochist?
It was a condition of getting hired here.
Chevettes were the same way.
I feel like there’s another benefit to a slightly off-center steering wheel, in that you subconsciously know when the wheel isn’t straight. In other words, I can tell that my steering is turned 180 degrees without looking or the car moving, because the rim is slightly out of position with where I expect it to be. Not super valuable in all situations, but when catching a slide mid-corner your brain can intuit steering angle pretty well based partly off of changes in rim location.
But that probably takes quite a bit of time to adjust to. It helps I’ve been driving the same car for 15 years.
I think old Imperials and DeSotos had “square” steering wheels. The design term is “squircle.”
Quartic. Introduced on the Austin Allegro, but I’m pretty sure early versions of the Rover SD1 had a square-ish wheel as well, because BL never could resist spreading a bad idea.
Mine’s an Allegro 3, so regrettably no quartic steering for me.
Tall people problems here. While “just” 6′-3″, I’m in about the 98th percentile here compared to other people of the USA, and I do not fit comfortably in about 90% of cars to drive them on a daily basis. Specifically headroom is my issue, because my torso height probably puts me closer to the 99th percentile and my legs are pretty “normal”. So I get to have dream cars turn into nightmares when I test them. Without fail, a salesperson says “you know you can adjust the seat height down, right?”. To which, without fail, I say “yes, it’s bottomed out. I couldn’t even get into the car with the seat in its normal position.
I would LOVE for someone to do a study/list of cars that have exceedingly good headroom. You can’t judge a book by its cover. Often the smaller cars have better headroom. I know for a fact that I can just barely drive a VW Golf, but a 4-runner is out of the question too low. I just drove one of my dream cars, a Volvo V60, and discovered much to my dismay that, while I could adjust my seat to not hit my head on the roof (barely), I could not see out of the right half of the windshield because of how high I sit relative to the windshield and rear-view mirrors. I was hoping the Swedes would have had this dialed in for someone like me – I’m only 90th percentile in Sweden!
I have the same body type as you, and yes, it’s annoying. My head brushes the ceiling of my car, but friends just as tall or taller than me have an inch or two of clearance due to them being more “leggy” and less torso.
Same.
The answer is not always Miata if you can’t shut the door with your body inside the car!
I seem to remember an episode of Pimp My Ride with a Kei van. The two big guys got in and couldn’t close the doors. I was dying with laughter.
I have the opposite problem. I’m 6’3″ but more legs than torso. I never have enough legroom. Oddly enough, the only car I’ve ever driven where I did NOT have to put the seat all the way back was a 70’s era Porsche 911!
I’m 6’. My 914/6 is the most comfortable car once I learned to adjust it. I can just barely fit in a Boxster and it’s painful. Vast open space in the 914.
Of course the Boxster would probably make an attempt at not killing me if I got hit from the side, the 914 not so much.
I’m 6’2″ and had no problem in my 986 Boxster, and I have supermodel long legs.
Well, that gives me hope if I ever can afford one of those – although I actually prefer a Cayman, and I’m pretty sure I’ll have headroom problems. I’d go down to the dealer and check, but then I’d be crying all week…
I have this problem too but I’m short. I have long legs, but a short torso I’m 5’9″ my dad is 6′ I don’t have to adjust his seat forward, if anything I have to move it back. The upshot is, Coupe’s are my jam (I currently own two SUVs…)
Ooh, I have the other opposite problem… I’m shortish (5’8″), but with extra short legs. My son is the same height, but when I got in his car yesterday, I slid the seat about 4 notches forward, and still had to stretch my legs a bit. But that means my eye position is both high, and close to the instruments, giving me a steep downward angle to see through the wheel. Now I realize why I can never see the top of the speedo in most cars. I ended up just dipping my head down to check speed in my regular scan. My mini has a nice big digital speed display, but it also has the low and forward windshield brow, which means at some traffic lights I have to tilt my head to one side and peer up to see the light. Probably makes me look like a guilty doberman.
Ever mention lack of legroom to a salesperson only to have them tell you that you can recline the seat? I’m talking LEGS, dammit!
Fellow Tall Man™ chiming in, the PT cruiser was surprisingly great for headroom. I felt like a little kid when riding inside because that was the last time I had so much open air above my head. Google tells me its the same as the V60, but maybe the difference is how low the seats go or the PT seats cheap “padding” was worn out
I’m not quite as tall as you, but my torso is definitely much longer than my legs. Oddly, the Ford Flex and last gen Ford Explorer have some pretty good headroom – like I could put a cowboy hat on comfortably inside them.
Much the same problem here. That’s what impressed me about the Kia Soul. (Easy to get in and out of too, if you’re getting to the point where you’re not so flexible.) They say the new ones aren’t as easy to steal.
Back in the 80s I worked at a Baseball stadium, Triple A club, and most of the players drove 280 Z cars. I was told it was for the legroom. Ballplayers are taller than I thought.
That wheel brings back memories of my 2011 Jetta TDI 6-speed. Not a bad car, but the Dieselgate deal was an offer I couldn’t refuse. I got a bit of a funny look from my wife (then fiance) when I took the cash from the buyback to buy an OLDER car – 2006 TSX 6-speed.
Recently when I measured my Prius steering wheel for a cover I discovered that it’s slightly oval. It’s wider than it is tall, which I assume is for knee clearance since the the steering wheel in that car is mounted unusually low.
For visibility, I can see the appeal of having a yoke, but for use, I would much rather have a wheel.
Of course, there is also the other Tesla solution, just put all the instruments on a giant screen to the right of the wheel.
Mannequin. Sheesh. It’s like you’ve all forgotten the movie.
Wish I could.
No one remembers because the only good thing about it was Kim Cattrall. And I guess Meshach Taylor was funny, I especially like how they made his character gay without actually acknowledging that he’s gay.
McCarthy was awful, and I still don’t get the plot.
If you didn’t get the plot in the 1st movie you could always watch the sequel. It’s the same exact plot only with different actors doing roughly the same characters. Only Hollywood is carried over from the first movie.
Sorry man. “Manikin” is correct. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/manikin
Portal gears would solve this
Ideally just a single gear set, that way left is right and right is left.
I’ve driven a car setup like that. Wow, that screws with your head!
On my brother’s stag do we drove a golf cart that had been set up with reversed steering. For added difficulty, the driver was then blindfolded, and had to take directions from the passenger. On top of that, the navigator wasn’t allowed to use the words ‘left’ or ‘right’, so my brother decided that instead we would use the words ‘cock’ and ‘wank’.
I’ll leave it up to your imaginations how ribald the rest of that morning was.
Like a tiller on a boat.
I sailed a dinghy last week instead of a big boat for the first time in forever. As you point out, with a tiller you push left to go right, and right to go left. If you’re sailing fast you tend to be doing some of that with your steering arm behind your back.
After a few good hours on the water I almost wrecked my car, twice, in the first 30 seconds. I was very confused.
You’re supposed to be looking under the steering wheel?
Through. Imagine there is no wheel, only you, and the instruments.
I used to do the same thing when I watched a Sophia Loren movie as a teen. Sort of.
When I was studying my BA, we had to do a Lancia/Fiat project. I err, happened to use Sophia Loren in my presentation and that was tough afternoon researching images let me tell you.
There was no problem when cars came with a rudder? Probably government regulations.
Or a tiller. Trouble was when you had a tankslapper. Damn thing would break your fingers.
What I meant was under the rim, or as you say through.
The prius is very much look over the top. Lots of cars if I have the seat adjusted the way I like the steering wheel is about as easy to see over as through. IE visibility sucks. If my arms and legs are comfortable generally the speedometer is totally hidden unless I peek over the wheel. If I move the wheel up it usually moves away, then I have to move closer and my.legs get cramped and hit the underside of the wheel even though it’s s up. I’m only six feet tall and most cars ergonomics are awful.
If the designers want me to look through the wheel why is the diameter so small and the rim so thick?
Is there some law that says steering wheels have to be ridiculously fat?
You’re supposed to be looking underthe steering wheel?
“It covers 95 percent of all human body sizes so it ensures most people, unless they are basketball players, should fit your car.”
– this statement is non-inclusive of short people. Consider my pitchfork firmly grasped! ;P
When I briefly worked with test dummies, the standards used were a 95th percentile male and a 5th percentile female. I assume that is what’s meant here, and that statement should read “covers 97.5% of human body sizes”.
No, the 5th percentile manikins are used after the initial setup using the 95th percentile male.
“It covers 95 percent of all human body sizes so it ensures most people, unless they are basketball players, should fit your car.”
It does explain the ever increasing belly clearance in modern vehicles though.
I didn’t want to fat shame.
It’s not fat. I’m just big beered.
Speaking from experience, being fat also reduces headroom as my fat ass makes be sit higher on the seat, and I’m a tall sitting dude without my extra padding.