Everything You Need To Know About Telescoping Steering Wheels | Mercedes, TX
Reading about all the features that a vehicle offers when buying a car for the first time can be overwhelming for new drivers. What’s a suspension? Does it matter if the engine is turbocharged? Only the outboard seats are heated — what does that mean?
Often, one of the most confusing terms for first-time car buyers is “telescoping steering wheel.” In this guide, the experts at Bert Ogden Auto Outlet have defined what a telescoping wheel is, offered instructions for adjusting a telescoping steering wheel, and provided details on other types of steering wheels on the market.
What Is A Telescoping Steering Wheel?
A telescoping steering wheel is one that you adjust by either pulling it toward you or pushing it farther from you. It gets its name from a telescope, which you adjust by, well, pulling it toward you or pushing it farther from you.
Originally, you would need tools to provide such an adjustment, but automakers eventually made it more convenient by adding a simple lock beneath the steering wheel that would allow you to unlock, adjust, and relock when satisfied. This is likely what you will mostly come across when shopping for a used car on our lot.
However, if you are looking at used luxury models, you may even stumble upon cars, trucks, and SUVs with button-activated steering wheel adjustments (called power telescoping steering wheel adjustments). Much like you might adjust an exterior mirror with a button, you can position your steering wheel without ever touching it.
How Do I Adjust My Telescoping Steering Wheel?
This depends entirely on the type of telescoping steering wheel you have. If you have a classic car, you may actually have to put on your toolbelt and unlock the steering console. More recent vehicles will have the built-in lock we mentioned.
And now for ideal positioning: If you are average height, you will have an easy time finding the sweet spot for your steering wheel, but super tall and super short drivers may have to make more concessions.
While it can be tempting to push the steering wheel far from you for extra leg room or way up close to your chest so you can comfortably lean back, it is much safer to position your steering wheel somewhere in the middle. This will allow you the range of motion you need but will not make it too difficult to grab the steering wheel.
The experts say that, when properly positioned in your seat, you should be able to place your hands on 3 and 9 o’clock on the steering wheel and turn it so that your hands are on 6 and 12, without having to shift forward or bend your arms awkwardly.
And remember: You should never attempt to adjust your steering wheel while driving. This is very dangerous. If you find the setting to be a bad match for your position, put on your hazards and pull over to the shoulder of the highway safely to readjust.
What Other Types Of Steering Wheels Are There?
The other main type of steering wheel is a tilt steering wheel, which allows you to adjust your steering wheel up or down. Automakers also offer tilt and telescoping steering wheels, which let you adjust up and down and in and out.
An older steering wheel type is the swing-away wheel. This was an almost exclusive feature of 1960s Ford models that swiveled the wheel to the side to make entering and exiting the vehicle easier. This has obvious safety implications, and eventually it was phased out entirely.
Check out the inventory of high quality pre-owned models at Bert Ogden Auto Outlet in Mercedes, Texas.
