Replacement steering wheel not aligned

[Ashrev]

I replaced my steering wheel today. It looks and feels so much better. The old one was crumbling and the cruise control switches were worn into non existence. It took lot of force to get the old one off with a puller. The new one went on OK but it is misaligned anti-clockwise by about 10 degrees. Is this correctable? Did I do something stupid like misaligning the splines? That didn't seem possible - the keyway lined up. I got a wheel alignment a few weeks ago, after I replaced the upper and lower control arms. Do I just need to go and get another alignment?

 

[bobbywalter]

file might be needed to make it easy

 

[rubydist]

I have seen a lot of seemingly identical wheels that are clocked differently. I don't know if Ford did that intentionally or if there is that much tolerance in the manufacturing process. I would get a new alignment.

 

[pentode]

Alignment should fix it- I'm curious how much slop there is if you loosen off those 4 torx screws.

Edit: because I doubt it's possible for there to be that much tolerance in that center casting, I wonder if maybe it's that next assembly step where the variance creeps in.

 

[Ashrev]

Thanks, yes it's not a lot of angle, I guess it's just within acceptable error in manufacturing.

 

[Ashrev]

I pulled apart the old wheel. The 4 Torx screws just hold the horn/airbag spring switch in place. The central shaft spline ring does look like it is pressed or cast into the wheel casting so there could be any amount of manufacturing error there.

 

[pentode]

Ah, wow, cool, thanks for taking a closer look. That does indeed look like a spot where slop could creep in. Unfortunately it does look like you'll need an alignment to get that wheel straight.
Depending on how much of a perfectionist you are, you could make that adjustment yourself, especially if your jam nuts have been loosened lately and everything's free. When my OCD kicks in and I can't stand the wheel being off like that, I carefully mark the original position of everything, then lengthen the appropriate side a half turn and shorten the other a half turn. In your case, I doubt it would take more than that to get the wheel straight.
And if you're worried about alignment, I did my car in France, where alignment is an inspection item and they use high tech gear to check it, with a piece of string and a ruler and the inspector said I got it closer than some of the local shops get it. If your tires aren't $500 a pop, I'd say give it a try- worst case, you'll just have to go pay to have it aligned anyway.

 

[Ashrev]

OCD, tell me about it! I had some good reasons for buying a rough looking old truck but of course now I'm trying to fix everything and make it spic and span. Oh well.
I'm actually thinking of investing in a Firestone Lifetime Alignment. I know I've got more repairs to do, so I think it might work out well.

 

[pentode]

OCD, tell me about it! I had some good reasons for buying a rough looking old truck but of course now I'm trying to fix everything and make it spic and span. Oh well.
I'm actually thinking of investing in a Firestone Lifetime Alignment. I know I've got more repairs to do, so I think it might work out well.

If that's a thing and they don't have too many conditions on using it and it's not crazy expensive, yeah, might be a good choice.

 

[Ashrev]

Alignment fixed it. Thanks folks. It was actually only a tiny bit out at the wheels.

 

[Brain75]

OCD, tell me about it! I had some good reasons for buying a rough looking old truck but of course now I'm trying to fix everything and make it spic and span. Oh well.
I'm actually thinking of investing in a Firestone Lifetime Alignment. I know I've got more repairs to do, so I think it might work out well.

I bought the lifetime alignment from firestone (on my Pontiac G6), it was 2 years old and <30k miles when I got it, figured it was a lifetime car. Every time I take it there they either try to persuade me to get shocks, struts, brakes or some other non-sense (claim my rear control arms are worn out). I always tell em NO then go check it myself. One time they told me the rear control arms and the next week I had a recall apt at the stealership so I asked em to look at em. Stealership said they were perfect, no wear, basically brand new.
Now that said every single time except one they have done it and not charged me. The one time they refused was because my front lower A arm bushings were wore out.
I had 2 bent rims from a gaping huge pothole filled with water - thank you Colorado DOT. The bent rims caused those alignment pieces to wear out. It was legit wore out to the point you could not perform an alignment . I got the arms from advanced auto, swapped em and took it straight back to firestone. Firestone aligned it on christmas eve.

 

[Ashrev]

Oh interesting. Well it is good to know they mostly honor it. I ultimately decided against it, they wanted nearly $300. I can't really afford that at the moment. I figured I might not need all that many alignments after all.