The J31 does have a fully castoring nosewheel with hydraulic control of the nosewheel 35 degrees either side of centre, if I remember the figures correctly. On nosewheel retraction hydraulic pressure is ported to either side of the steering jack to centre the nosewheel. When reversing the aircraft you had to be a little circumspect about steering the aircraft cos if you went outside the steering range it could get a little difficult getting it back into the correct area.
I will leave you to ponder what hydraulic failures would cause the centering system to foul up. [If this was the cause.]
PS its 17 years since I last flew one of these so the figures are probably wrong!
