diff --git a/include/SDL_haptic.h b/include/SDL_haptic.h
index 18c74eff6..c27da1186 100644
--- a/include/SDL_haptic.h
+++ b/include/SDL_haptic.h
@@ -337,21 +337,12 @@ typedef struct _SDL_Haptic SDL_Haptic;
 #define SDL_HAPTIC_SPHERICAL  2
 
 /**
- *  \brief Uses first axis only.
- *  For some device with only one axis (steering wheel,...),
- *  SDL_HAPTIC_CARTESIAN does not work. SDL_HAPTIC_FIRST_AXIS can be used in 
- *  this case.
- *  Using SDL_HAPTIC_FIRST_AXIS is equivalent to :
- *  \code
- *  SDL_HapticDirection direction;
- *  direction.type = SDL_HAPTIC_CARTESIAN;
- *  direction.dir[0] = 1;
- *  direction.dir[1] = 0;
- *  direction.dir[2] = 0;
- *  \endcode
+ *  \brief Use this value to play an effect on the steering wheel axis. This 
+ *  provides better compatibility across platforms and devices as SDL will guess 
+ *  the correct axis.
  *  \sa SDL_HapticDirection
  */
-#define SDL_HAPTIC_FIRST_AXIS 3
+#define SDL_HAPTIC_STEERING_AXIS 3
 
 /* @} *//* Direction encodings */
 
@@ -461,7 +452,7 @@ typedef struct _SDL_Haptic SDL_Haptic;
  *  \sa SDL_HAPTIC_POLAR
  *  \sa SDL_HAPTIC_CARTESIAN
  *  \sa SDL_HAPTIC_SPHERICAL
- *  \sa SDL_HAPTIC_FIRST_AXIS
+ *  \sa SDL_HAPTIC_STEERING_AXIS
  *  \sa SDL_HapticEffect
  *  \sa SDL_HapticNumAxes
  */
diff --git a/src/haptic/darwin/SDL_syshaptic.c b/src/haptic/darwin/SDL_syshaptic.c
index 55d28b80e..f37a10c5c 100644
--- a/src/haptic/darwin/SDL_syshaptic.c
+++ b/src/haptic/darwin/SDL_syshaptic.c
@@ -765,7 +765,7 @@ SDL_SYS_SetDirection(FFEFFECT * effect, SDL_HapticDirection * dir, int naxes)
             rglDir[2] = dir->dir[2];
         }
         return 0;
-    case SDL_HAPTIC_FIRST_AXIS:
+    case SDL_HAPTIC_STEERING_AXIS:
         effect->dwFlags |= FFEFF_CARTESIAN;
         rglDir[0] = 0;
         return 0;
@@ -817,7 +817,7 @@ SDL_SYS_ToFFEFFECT(SDL_Haptic * haptic, FFEFFECT * dest, SDL_HapticEffect * src)
     envelope->dwSize = sizeof(FFENVELOPE);      /* Always should be this. */
 
     /* Axes. */
-    if (src->constant.direction.type == SDL_HAPTIC_FIRST_AXIS) {
+    if (src->constant.direction.type == SDL_HAPTIC_STEERING_AXIS) {
         dest->cAxes = 1;
     } else {
         dest->cAxes = haptic->naxes;
diff --git a/src/haptic/linux/SDL_syshaptic.c b/src/haptic/linux/SDL_syshaptic.c
index b8e7f1338..3a2fbf695 100644
--- a/src/haptic/linux/SDL_syshaptic.c
+++ b/src/haptic/linux/SDL_syshaptic.c
@@ -718,7 +718,7 @@ SDL_SYS_ToDirection(Uint16 *dest, SDL_HapticDirection * src)
             *dest = (Uint16) tmp;
         }
         break;
-    case SDL_HAPTIC_FIRST_AXIS:
+    case SDL_HAPTIC_STEERING_AXIS:
         *dest = 0x4000;
         break;
     default:
diff --git a/src/haptic/windows/SDL_dinputhaptic.c b/src/haptic/windows/SDL_dinputhaptic.c
index ea7526aca..019e50865 100644
--- a/src/haptic/windows/SDL_dinputhaptic.c
+++ b/src/haptic/windows/SDL_dinputhaptic.c
@@ -589,7 +589,7 @@ SDL_SYS_SetDirection(DIEFFECT * effect, SDL_HapticDirection * dir, int naxes)
         if (naxes > 2)
             rglDir[2] = dir->dir[2];
         return 0;
-    case SDL_HAPTIC_FIRST_AXIS:
+    case SDL_HAPTIC_STEERING_AXIS:
         effect->dwFlags |= DIEFF_CARTESIAN;
         rglDir[0] = 0;
         return 0;
@@ -641,7 +641,7 @@ SDL_SYS_ToDIEFFECT(SDL_Haptic * haptic, DIEFFECT * dest,
     envelope->dwSize = sizeof(DIENVELOPE);      /* Always should be this. */
 
     /* Axes. */
-    if (src->constant.direction.type == SDL_HAPTIC_FIRST_AXIS) {
+    if (src->constant.direction.type == SDL_HAPTIC_STEERING_AXIS) {
         dest->cAxes = 1;
     } else {
         dest->cAxes = haptic->naxes;