Crooked steering wheel after replacement

I feel like I already know the answer to this, but just wanting some opinions. Recently I replaced my steering wheel with a new one that was in better shape. After install of the new one, I noticed it was crooked when driving. In my attempt to take it off and try re-installing it straight, I was a bone head and accidentally pulled apart the clock spring and broke it. I managed to get my wheel back on (again crooked) and next move, I took the truck to the dealer to have a new clock spring installed. Driving off the lot, I notice the steering wheel was still crooked, so I went back and asked them if they could straighten it out. They told me they tried several times to get it on straight and to spec and after getting an extra opinion, determined the vehicle needed an alignment to properly straighten out the wheel. My original wheel was perfectly straight. Are they just trying to screw me over? Or did my alignment somehow magically change during this time? For what it’s worth, they acted like they felt bad and offered me a discount on an alignment.

 

Mark the splines on the steering wheel with a sharpie so you know it's current position, then remove and reinstall in which ever direction will make it straight. If you do that and it's still not perfectly straight, then you'll need an alignment.

 

Exactly.

 

Thanks, that’s what I thought. The dealer claims they tried that and it was still crooked so maybe it is just an alignment issue. I’m inclined to try it again myself. But after breaking the clock spring last time and paying hundreds of dollars for a new one, I don’t know if I can bring myself to take the wheel off again

 

Was your replacement steering wheel an OEM takeoff from another 3rd gen Tacoma? In my experience, not all the steering wheels have the splines broached the same way, so the new one could be off by half a tooth. The only way to correct this would be an alignment. You could DIY it if you want, just lengthen/shorten the two tie rods in, say, 1/4-turn increments. Shouldn't be difficult if you're mechanically inclined enough to replace your steering wheel.

 

Ive never swapped my steering wheel for a different one without it being a bit crooked after. That splined piece has to be pressed into the wheel in the exact same position as the old wheel for it to be a perfect match. Due to errors and tolerances in manufacturing, it aint gonna be perfect between different steering wheels.

Talking about the little splined bushing that connects the wheel to the steering shaft.


Go get an alignment, problem solved.

 

It’s an OEM wheel I got off of eBay, out of a 2018 Tacoma from a junkyard. I was wondering if that could be an issue as well. I’ll call the dealer Monday and see what kind of discount they’d give me on alignment. I’m one of those guys that tries to fix something and breaks something else, as you can tell

 

Thanks for the advice. Wish I’d have known this before I attempted to re align it. I’ll get an alignment and report back