[lexxxel]

had an alignment done on the truck, the steering wheel was sitting off to the left somewhat (a few inches). Alignment made no difference to the steering wheel position.

this has never happened to me before... always got the steering wheel back straight.

Thinking I might pull it off and put it back on looking straight? Or anyone have any other ideas? I hate the wheel being off center

 

[fordsforever73]

I would take it back or get your cash back. A wheel alignment should end up with the steering wheel centered. Adjusting the draglink will center the wheel.

 

[chuckster57]

I hate the wheel being off center

I agree :thup:

If the tires track straight and true, then I would consider taking the wheel off and re centering it.
Might want to use a piece of tape on the wheel and mark it for reference at "center" for the wheels. then turn stop to stop and make sure the wheel moves the same amount each way. that way you'll know for sure that center is truly center and your not losing turning radius one side or the other.

 

[drinkypoo]

On my '92 with tilt the wheel is keyed, you can't do that. Have to make the adjustment elsewhere. Pitman arm's keyed, too. I pulled the wheel to try to realign it to discover this. '92 manual p.04-00-14 says "The F-Series and Econoline steering linkage has adjustments in both the tie rod and the drag link." You are supposed to check if the wheel is installed properly (I'm not sure if you can install it 90 degrees off or not, I don't remember how well it was keyed) and then put a wheel lock on it while you adjust toe so that it stays centered.

 

[cdnsarguy]

Shop had to replace a steering box seal recently......the box has 4 master splines where the pitman connects just for that reason. Your shop should have set the steering wheel and locked it at the proper mid point before doing any adjustment.

Did you do any steering part replacement recently......

 

[Blind DrIver]

If you pull the wheel to center it, it may throw off when your turn signals will cancel. Take it back to the shade tree alignment shop.

 

[drinkypoo]

If the box is going/needs tightening then you could easily lock the wheel and still end up with the center off. I suspect that's what's going on in mine

 

[drinkypoo]

If you pull the wheel to center it, it may throw off when your turn signals will cancel. Take it back to the shade tree alignment shop.

Unless I am wrong and mixing it up with another vehicle you can't do it anyway because it's keyed! IIRC it has four splines and one is fat so you can't install it any way but straight. Pretty sure I'm thinking of that one though because the only steering wheels I've pulled in a while are my MBZ (which is NOT keyed) and my Ford. The Ford wasn't canceling correctly but then I got alignment. Now my wheel is off a few degrees but my canceling works fine AFAICT.

 

[LMJD]

The wheel isn"t centered (and can't be) with the pitman arm, it's centered with the tie rods like any truck with "conventional" steering. Evidently your tow-in must have been OK or they would have affected the un-centered wheel somewhat when setting toe-in. It's standard practice to test drive after an alignment, odd they didn't catch it then.

If you pull the wheel to center it, it may throw off when your turn signals will cancel.

No it won't, it will center the canceling tab. Chances are the steering shaft has a master spline like most so that can't be done anyway.

On Edit: I see you have a '91, they DO have a master spline, the wheel can only go on in one position.