Steering not re-centering after brake work

HOPNUT

MEMBER
2012 HONDA CRV
2.0L
4 CYL
MANUAL
57,000 MILES

Had a garage replace my brake discs and pads, front and rear, and a rear o/s shock. After collecting the car, the steering no longer re-centers. Can work carried out on the brakes affect the caster, or return-ability of steering? Garage say it is nothing they have done, but it was fine on the journey to the garage!

5 Replies

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
12,950 POSTS

Welcome to 2CarPros. Brake work shouldn't effect the caster as none of the involved parts would alter the caster. However, if there was an issue with a caliper sticking it could cause a pull that might effect the steering. Do you have a pull to one side? Does applying the brakes change anything? One other thing could be if there are other worn parts and just the act of lifting the car up to work on the brakes caused those parts to move/bind when weight was placed back on them.

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Thursday, May 23rd, 2019 AT 7:11 AM

HOPNUT

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Hi Steve,
Thanks for the prompt response.
No, there is no pull to one side when driving or braking.
The steering is just off center, with the wheel needing to be ever so slightly to the right to keep the vehicle straight, but the main symptom is the failure to self center, more so after a left turn.
It just seems a coincidence that this has manifested itself during the 8 hours they had the vehicle in.
Could these symptoms be intermittent? And maybe it has been doing it in the past, but coincidentally more so yesterday than before?
I just wanted to know whether it was conceivable that they had caused this, or whether it was more likely that I just hadn't noticed it before.
They are now saying I am likely to need a new electric steering motor and rack.

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Thursday, May 23rd, 2019 AT 9:23 AM

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
12,950 POSTS

That could be a lightly dragging caliper. Take it for a short drive. Coast to a stop. Get out and put the back of your hand down near the rim, preferably over a hole in the rim so you can feel the heat from the brakes. Compare the left and right in front and back. If the left side is noticeably warmer it is likely a caliper issue. If they all feel the same it could be a tire that is starting to fail. Did they by chance rotate the tires as well?

The rack and steering motor could cause it but you might want to get a second opinion.

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Thursday, May 23rd, 2019 AT 12:29 PM

HOPNUT

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Hi Steve,

No they did not rotate the tires. Also, the front tires were literally new last week.

On another note, they also replaced the rear o/s shock when they did the brakes, and now the ride in the back of the car seems very much firmer, so much so that the rear is giving out a lot of banging and rattling (struggling to identify what exactly is clattering, but suspect it is inside the car). Are shocks adjustable? If so, is it possible that it needs to go back to them be 'softened up' a little?

Thanks again,
Sean

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Friday, May 24th, 2019 AT 1:55 PM

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
12,950 POSTS

Okay, just wanted to rule out tires, but if this started after the brakes and tires, you might want to see if rotating the front tires to the rear as a test gets rid of the pull. I've seen new tires that were junk. As for the shocks, I would never install a single shock or strut. They wear and weaken over time and replacing only one could cause problems as the new shock will dampen better and may also have a different dampening profile that can cause suspension problems. Most are not adjustable, however there can be multiple versions of a shock depending on which suspension option a vehicle has as well as who made them. Personally I'd get a mate to the one they put on and replace the other side to avoid some of those issues. I would expect a firmer ride with new shocks, the fluid valving and bushings are all new.