Freightliner steering (smartwheel) adjusting

I pull the steer wheel off and center it and tighten it back down. Probably will need a steering wheel puller to get it off. A less expensive one would be at Harbor Freight store. Looks like you have a smart wheel (by the buttons on it). All i ever had to deal with is the horn button. So when you lift it, keep an eye on things/ pieces. If you have never pulled one you may want someone who has experience to assist. Not that big of a job, but just say'in.

 

You could also pull off the steering shaft at the gearbox and reposition it there, but you may have to reset the yaw sensor if equipped with one.

 

They should have centered your steering wheel first of all...
Adjusted your rears then ajusted your front-end to your rears..

 

You never center the steer wheel first. Many things are, or could be changed during alignments. Shims added or taken out, bushings replaced, even steer axles have been known to be slightly bent to aquire proper alignment. So centering the steer wheel first would be putting the cart ahead of the horse.

 

You don't have the amount of adjustment at the box, or the steering shaft. The splines at the box and connector have a notch with a pinch bolt that has to be inserted at a certain position. It is not a pull off ,and push back on situation.(at any position). At the steering wheel, it can be pulled off the splines and reset at any position desirable position.

 

That may be true on some newer trucks.

My truck has a Ross/TRW TAS65 steering box and there’s no specific place to position the steering shaft on to, the spline is not position specific.

 

Ok, so why is Op's steering wheel of center after alignment?

 

Because they may have put shims under the u-bolts on the steer axle to get alignment correct. Even on older equipment without anyone changing anything your steering wheel can gradually be slightly off, over time and miles. Bumps, and wear and tear. Next time your talking to a alignment teck ask them. I may be wrong, but this i can say for certain. After alignment is all done and correct, then set steering wheel where you want it. Done it many times over 45 years.

 

Hey, if that's what works for you than more power to you..