Here's my sure fire, guaranteed, never fail steering wheel centering method. It won't make your alignment worse- but it won't make it any better, either. It's cheap, and you have an excuse to buy something!! Feel free to send me liquor !!
Go to your local Petco, Fryes, Radio Shack , or wherever, and buy a laser pointer. (Petco sells 'em to tease your pet with, for about fiive bucks. )
While you're driving home, note carefully the position of your steering wheel when your car is going straight.
When you get home, put your car on jackstands in your driveway 6-15 feet from your garage door. Put your steering wheel in the aforementioned position, then lock it by removing the key.
Cut a length of 2x4 long enough to span the diameter of your front tire. Tape the laserpointer to the edge of the 2x4 parallel to its length. Hold the 2x4 horizontally against the side of the front wheel, then push the button so that the laser dot shines on your garage door. You may have to space the 2x4 out far enough to clear the fender.
Have a friend ( You DO have a friend, don't you??) mark the spot where the laser hits the garage door with chalk or something else washable. Duplicate the procedure for the other wheel.
Replace Whatever The Heck you have to, but DO NOT take the car off the jackstands!!
When you're done with the suspension work, unlock your steering wheel. Put it in the position you'd like it to be in when it's centered, then take the key out again.
Hold the 2x4 & laserpointer against the front tire as you did before, and shine the laser on the garage door again. Adjust that tire's tie rod so that the laser hits the same point on the garage door ( laterally, at least) that it did the first time. Repeat for the other wheel WITHOUT moving the steering wheel.
Lock down the tie rods & take the car off the stands. You're done.
[This message has been edited by Jim Gregory (edited 04-05-2008).]