Steering Wheel Alignment

[BMWTom]

Hello everyone,

One of my future projects on my 250SL will be an alignment and centering the steering wheel. As it is right now, the steering wheel is not centered when the front wheels are straight, and the turn signal needs to be held down in one direction to operate. My question, is the steering wheel splined so that I can easily center the wheel after a front end alignment? My car is currently in storage for the winter, so I can't go out and look at it at the moment.

With temperature at about 5 degrees above 0 in eastern Washington, I'm thinking of a nice summer day with the top down!

[badali]

To get the steering wheel straight you have to make sure the shaft is straight also.
Remove the pad.  It pulls off.
Look at the shaft for a mark.  It should be centered at the top.  You need a 22mm socket to remove the steering wheel. It is splined.
If the wheels are not straight and the mark at the top you also have to realign the steering coupling from the shaft to the steering box.
The turnsignals will not cancel correctly if not aligned properly.
To realign the steering coupling you have to removethe steering box and reset the position of the coupling.
Line up the wheels and shaft then put the coupling back in then put the steering wheel back on straight.
This would be a good time to replace the coupling as the bushings deteriorate.
Brad

[ja17]

Hello,

Improper adjustment of the front tie rods can also result in a off center wheel.  As Brad has described, check the mark on the end of the steering column and if it is correct, you can simply have the steering "centered" ( by an alignment shop) by adjusting the tie rods.