So I've messed with my cars' alignments numerous times, but have not yet had to deal with centering the steering wheel. Until now. What's the best way to go about doing this? The tie rod ends on my car have a machined shoulder for measuring. I assume that I pop the tie rod ends, then even out the rack so the shoulders are equidistant from the rack body as a starting point, center the wheel, hold it in place, re-attach the tie rod ends, set the toe, drive...
No? Yes? Tips/tricks?
Center wheel then set toe. Readjust as necessary to get wheel centered.
I found out after not having my truck's centered and creating a widespread thread argument on weather alignment was necessary after tie rod replacement (which it wasn't) I found a hash mark on the F150 wheel and a dot on the shaft. Match them up and there ya have it. Centered.
You may have a similar set up, you may not. Good luck.
I rebuilt the front suspension on my mercedes and I took it to a shop to have it alligned and even though they did it twice they couldnt seem to get the wheel straight. I ended up just taking the wheel off and putting it back on pointed the right way. Depending on the car, either just set the wheel straight and adjust the toe, or set the toe with the same number of threads showing on the end of the tie rod on each side, then take the wheel off and put it back on so its straight.
You guys are all doing it the hard way. If the alignment is good all you have to do is adjust the tie rod ends in on the side you need to move the wheel towards and out the same amount on the other side. The alignment is not altered and the wheel is now straight!
I just wish more alignment shops WOULD align the steering wheel. None of the ones around here will
First, make sure the steering wheel is centered in relation to the gearbox or rack- turn to one stop, note location of spokes, turn all the way to the other stop, spokes should be a mirror image. Now adjust toe. On a proper alignment rack, the steering wheel will be locked in the center position, and each wheel will be adjusted individually. If you are doing it on the floor with string or a tram bar, set toe to required, test drive and note position of steering wheel. If its off center, lengthen one tierod and shorten the other until the wheel is centered. ( Hint- which way you turn depends on whether the tierods are ahead or behind the wheels. Hold your hands out in front of you with thumbs up, visualize. This is beyond some people, I'm afraid
) Recheck total toe, and you are done.
Don49 wrote: You guys are all doing it the hard way. If the alignment is good all you have to do is adjust the tie rod ends in on the side you need to move the wheel towards and out the same amount on the other side. The alignment is not altered and the wheel is now straight!
What he said. I have done it that way many times.
What don and iceracer said. Did it that way when I worked for Mercedes back in the 80s and 90s. It's not so easy to properly pull a steering wheel with an air bag.
Just remembered for Mercedes there is a special bolt that goes in the steering sector in place of the drain plug that locks the sector in the centered position. Guess what happens if you try and drive the car off the rack with that bolt still in place? Yeah that's why I never used the bolt.
Right, so I'm an idiot: last week I thought is was the alignment, then, this weekend I thought it was the power steering going south, but now I'm pretty certain it's the alignment, really. 
I thought it was the PS cuz when I measured toe with the steering wheel level, it was correct. This crack addiction can be a struggle sometimes. 
So, thanks for the help so far. One more question: how do you set the car up in your garage to be aligned when you don't know exactly how far off the alignment is? In other words, how do you get the wheels oriented in their natural but incorrect position? The steering wheel is about 30* off at times.
Pretty much what everyone has said. I center the wheel when I set the toe. If I get the toe where I want it and the wheel is just a tic off, I've been known to adjust some little bit on one side and the same on the other. Works just fine! On my Celica and Capri, you can unhook the wheel at the steering coupler and turn it a tooth, but that's always been a bigger swing than I needed.
I'd advise against pulling the wheel and putting it on straight. Will probably put your turn signal canceling device all out of whack.
fast_eddie_72 wrote: I'd advise against pulling the wheel and putting it on straight. Will probably put your turn signal canceling device all out of whack.
not if you do it right, LOL.
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