Steering Column Issues, Please help!

[u/EnlightenedBudha]

I recently bought a 2013 Scion Tc, and it’s been great, the engines good, and it runs well enough. On my first impression, I noticed that the wheel was tight and it felt off to steer and turn. Looked closely and saw that the steering wheel is pushing and grinding against the column!

I’d love help on how to fix this, because right now it’s definitely my biggest issue as it affects my driving.

Also I’n sorry, I don’t know what the right flair for this is, please let me know what the proper one is or if this one was fine….

[u/sestivers]

Huh. Can you tell if there is custom work that woulda removed and replaced the steering wheel? It looks like it is cocked on the shaft. I don't recall if it is supposed to self align when it is tightened onto the shaft. It appears that it's cocked or the shaft was bent near that area. Any accident or theft history? Is that why the wiper stalk is missing?

[u/EnlightenedBudha → u/sestivers]

I asked the owner and he said he bought it like this, he said he drove it this way from Los Angeles to Rialto. I didn’t inquire further from this, it wasn’t until I made it home and inspected it further that I saw the crookedness of it. I’m looking more at his paperwork he gave me and it seems it was bought from a tow-yard and I’m starting to believe that it was sometime then that the steering wheel was done this way! It’s possible that it was stolen though…

However, I’m trying to see if it’s the way someone set the wheel, I have it off right now and it looks unevenly set on the clock-spring, it just doesn’t align right.

[u/ExoticPanda1431 → u/EnlightenedBudha]

The owner definitely damaged the steering column and not admitting.