The tire spinning/brake method only works well if there's no binding anywhere.
With everything loosened off, including axle pinch bolts (but not loose enough to drop the forks through the clamps), give your front tire a hearty spin, and tap your front brake. The gyroscopic force of firm braking does a good job of lining things up, or it can indicate some parts are binding.
This is one of those areas you'll want to use a torque wrench and your manual when it comes time to tighten. A bent fork tube is neither easy nor cheap to fix, but it is amazingly easy to overtorque clamps. Go slowly, small adjustments, check everything over. Serve, and enjoy.