DCPNN - how did the car behave before the steering wheel swap ?
Placebo affect --- in addition to road crown effect .

Alignment wise, I have yet to bring my car to the dealer for a alignment. They generally average $175 ++.

I do tend to get the X aligned every spring though just to keep things in check after all the winter potholes. Local tuner runs me about $100 per alignment off a John Beam Visualiner rack.