Got alignment twice, still have a crooked steering wheel!

[shaaans]

Got my alignment done a few weeks ago, steering wheel was still a bit crooked after it (aftermarket steering wheel) Got the alignment re-done yesterday, and still crooked lol. I told them that if the alignment doesn't fix it I'll prob just adjust the tie rods and maybe it really isn't an alignment issue. Owners brother (who did the alignment) told me that it wasn't an issue with the steering wheel or anything, and maybe the alignment got messed up and he'd happily re-do it for me. Once he re did it and it was still crooked, I offered them a test drive to confirm. The owner declined and said it wasn't an issue with the alignment, and that the alignment was perfect. And that it was actually an issue with the steering wheel itself. So I was getting 2 different answers from them.

Not sure if I should just find a different alignment place or just do the DIY method that was posted here a few years ago. Issue I'm having is, to go straight I need to hold my steering wheel a bit to the right, and if I straighten it, car starts going to the left.

https://www.supramkv.com/threads/diy-steering-wheel-centering.7117/

There's also a video that Bros Fourr Speed posted showing how he fixed his crooked Supra steering wheel -

Big reason why I didn't want to do this is I didn't know if messes with the alignment of the car to much, I was really hoping the alignment shop would've fixed it but it unfortunately didn't work out. I'm going to attempt it sometime this weekend I think.

What would you guys do in my situation? Different alignment shop or just do the DIY adjustment?

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[licklobster]

The wheel is splined, so you can be x degrees off. It's possible that two different spline alignments could both be set to neutral but the alignments would be radically different. If the wheel isn't straight, the toe is off. You can add/subtract toe from either side until the wheel is straight at the time rod, but you'll have to reset camber/caster which will move slightly.

 

[itzTang]

Or aligner has crooked eyes when putting steering straight for alignment. like most hood vent cutters on here

 

[Eastwood]

Your alignment shop is no good. Take it somewhere else.

I had one of those CF wheels before I went with JQ Werkz. It was slightly off centered and I got an alignment and they fixed it without issues.

 

[lucky phil]

Your alignment shop is no good. Take it somewhere else.

I had one of those CF wheels before I went with JQ Werkz. It was slightly off centered and I got an alignment and they fixed it without issues.

Seems I've seen quite a few of those aftermarket steering wheels with the indicator band not centred on the wheel. Seem off by a slight but noticeable amount.
Phil

 

[Alex117]

I had a similar this with a Rexspeed wheel. Splined steering wheel so def was the wheel off.
Interesting we are in a hire car and I noticed the wheel off center from factory. I wouldn’t notice it normally but with my supra and the stripe at the top it’s more noticeable.
When mine was aligned to the wheel 3 attempts I also reset the steering angle sensor. So if they are adjusting that make sure they do that so it’s doesn’t throw an implausible reeding.

 

[exe36m3]

So, if you want to save some sanity. Grab painters tape.

Turn wheel to how/where YOU THINK it is centered.

Put a strip at the 12 o'clock position on the steering wheel.

Put another strip on top of the gauge cluster so it lines up with the strip on your steering wheel.

This rules out the tech not getting it centered to your preferences.

 

[razorlab]

I use this when I do my alignments and it keeps the wheel centered even when yanking on suspension components.

 

[exe36m3]

I use this when I do my alignments and it keeps the wheel centered even when yanking on suspension components.

Yep, you know its a decent alignment shop when they have this!

 

[shaaans]

I had a similar this with a Rexspeed wheel. Splined steering wheel so def was the wheel off.
Interesting we are in a hire car and I noticed the wheel off center from factory. I wouldn’t notice it normally but with my supra and the stripe at the top it’s more noticeable.
When mine was aligned to the wheel 3 attempts I also reset the steering angle sensor. So if they are adjusting that make sure they do that so it’s doesn’t throw an implausible reeding.

The wheel is splined, so you can be x degrees off. It's possible that two different spline alignments could both be set to neutral but the alignments would be radically different. If the wheel isn't straight, the toe is off. You can add/subtract toe from either side until the wheel is straight at the time rod, but you'll have to reset camber/caster which will move slightly.

Your alignment shop is no good. Take it somewhere else.

I had one of those CF wheels before I went with JQ Werkz. It was slightly off centered and I got an alignment and they fixed it without issues.

Seems I've seen quite a few of those aftermarket steering wheels with the indicator band not centred on the wheel. Seem off by a slight but noticeable amount.
Phil

The wheel I got (from BerkTuning) I'm pretty sure uses an OEM Wheel Core, can the wheel still be at fault even if its an OEM Wheel Core?

 

[shaaans]

I use this when I do my alignments and it keeps the wheel centered even when yanking on suspension components.

Yeah, I asked if they locked the steering wheel last time they did the alignment, I was sitting inside the shop while they did it the first time, and this time I stayed near the car and he did indeed pull this contraption out and showed me that he locked the steering wheel haha.

 

[shaaans]

This is the steering wheel in question. Just a basic OEM wheel with a flat bottom, and added magnetic paddles with custom paddle shifters (exactly what I wanted) I love the wheel a lot so I’m really hoping it’s not an issue with that and I can just fix it adjusting the tie rods

 

[lucky phil]

The wheel I got (from BerkTuning) I'm pretty sure uses an OEM Wheel Core, can the wheel still be at fault even if its an OEM Wheel Core?

It depends on what criteria you are using to establish "straight" Is it the wheel spokes and flat base OR the centring stripe? I mentioned I've seen aftermarket wheels where it appears to be just the stripe thats slightly out not the wheel structure itself. If the splines are cut fractionally out of "clock" then it's obviously a "wheel" issue but if it's the stripe then it's paint issue and then you'll only be able to correct one or the other unless you modify the stripe. The splines would only need to be out a degree or 2 to make the wheel itself misaligned at the circumference a noticeable amount.

Phil

 

[lucky phil]

This is the steering wheel in question. Just a basic OEM wheel with a flat bottom, and added magnetic paddles with custom paddle shifters (exactly what I wanted) I love the wheel a lot so I’m really hoping it’s not an issue with that and I can just fix it adjusting the tie rods

Ok so if the original OEM wheel was aligned and this is the "straight ahead" position of the new wheel then it's the wheel splines that are clocked incorrectly. The wheel can only be fitted in one position due to the "Master" spline used. Looks a long way out.
Phil

 

[itzTang]

take it to another alignment shop

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