Are good alignment and straight braking a paradox ?

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My truck was afflicted with the wouldn't brake straight syndrome. After numerous trips to the dealer it was solved by putting some bushing on the stud on top of the steering knuckle. This seemewd to work.
I never noticed any unusual tire wear till a couple of sets later. So I got a new track bar and alignment yesterday. The man moved the bushing. The truck now pulls to the left when braking. He says if ye puts it back the way it was, my tires won't wear right.
Has anyone else had this happen? I'm starting to think that perhaps the bushing installation was not the correct sloution to the original problem, and it took this long for it to catch up with me.

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"Roadrunner"-96 4X4 club cab-12v-auto-3. 54 gears-Amsoil bypass filter - all Amsoil fluids-trans filter-britebox-shelfit-DeeZee boards-Rhino liner-Rancho 5 speed shocks-Hellwig rear antisway & overload springs-Warn 12000 lb. winch-dual redtop optimas-combo gauge and trans. temp gauge in pillar mount-255/85R16 Kelly MSR tires-custom pinstriping- Walker muffler-Cummins mudflaps

 

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I agree with you, straight braking and good front tire wear are diametrically opposed functions. My former 1995 2500 4X2 pulled to the right when braking. After 4 front end alignments by the dealer, the problem was solved (I don't know what they did). 10,000 miles later the front tires were shot. 2 new tires and my mechanic did the front end alignment. The pull came back.

Now I have the 1998. It pulls to the right. Not as bad as the '95 truck though. I let the dealer try to fix the pull. They got it the first time. I then took the truck to my mechanic to check what the dealer did. He said if I leave it that way, my tires would not last. He realigned it again and I just live with the pull. It really is not bad and I have adjusted to it. I currenty have 33,500 miles on the OEM tires. They still have at least 5,000 miles left. Probably more. And yes the truck still pulls when braking. Oh well!

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1998-1/2 2500 Quad Cab, ISB, Auto, 3. 54 LSD, LWB, RBW 15K 5th wheel hitch, Rhino Liner, US Gear Dual Range underdrive,Weston Smirf bars, Bilstein shocks, AMSOIL bypass filer, synthetic engine oil and differential lube, Mag Hytec diff cover, Turbo Diesel Life Saver, Trans. temp guage, Boost & EGT dual guage, Stone Guard headlight protectors, 5" monster chrome exhaust tip, Better Built diamond plate tool box & bed rail covers, louvered 5th wheel tail gate, custom cummins stainless steel rocker panels.

1998 Alfa Double Slide 5th Wheel RV

 

[Archive]

Originally posted by CaptainEric:
I agree with you, straight braking and good front tire wear are diametrically opposed functions. ...

With all due respect, I must disagree! I wore off a maddening amount of my 19. 5" Yokohamas until I found an alignment shop that could do the job right. (The toe-in was *waaaaaaay* off. ) After the successful alignment, the truck stopped diving out of the pavement ruts *and* the pull to the right
disappeared.

I would humbly suggest that y'all try to find an alignment shop that works with trucks. Or at least a shop that has a rack long enough for your truck and a tech who can tell you what's wrong with your truck just from your description of all the steering symptoms.

If you have problems with brake pull, tire wear and/or some form of steering wander, you likely have an alignment problem. My '98 always had brake pull, and it would kind-of jump around on rough roads. But the OEM tires gave me 50K miles (even with anti-spin rear diff). The pull is almost gone, the nasty wear on the 19. 5s is about gone, and the steering on rough roads is *far* more stable now. It was almost all due to toe-in (or toe-out, as the case may have been). Another (previous) shop did replace the track bar, which helped some, but not enough.

If you happen to be passing though the Chicago area, give SpringAlign in Palatine a call. The alignment tech has been there for some years, and he is good. He also enjoys what he does!

Spring Align of Palatine
2312 Rand Rd, Palatine, IL 60074-1161
Phone: (847)934-1525 

Fest3er

 

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I've only had the pulling problem on my '95 once and that turned out to be a belt separation on a rear tire. The Michelins on it now are wearing well. The track bar is still within specs and no slop or other funny stuff in the steering. I've replaced the stock joke shocks with Monroe Sensitracs and the handling really improved. 140K+ on it now. Do I have an exception?

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Joe George
Eureka, CA

'95 2500 CC auto 4X4,Combo EGT/boost guage,custom switch panel,PacBrake,TST #5,BD valve body,Automatic motorhome steps on both sides,Foldacover hard bed cover,Cummins chrome kit,Black steel grill guard,Front hitch receiver

 

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My "99" had a periodic pull to the left the first 20K I owned it. Took truck in for minor repair work, mentioned the pull. Have another 12k on her now and the pull has not materialized again. Handling, the truck will go as straight as the road allows it to.

Is it another observation or do you folks that ordered your truck have more of these problems than ones that bought off the lot???

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99 QC/LB,ISB w/auto,4x4, 3. 54, VDO (trans, boost, pyro) Westin SS Nerf Bars, Westin Grille Guard, Contico tool box, CP Industries pivoting 5th wheel, K&N, VA CPC, and Mag-Hytec transmission pan. 28200 miles (5/9/00)
89 Plymouth Voyager -- 201000 miles (original engine)
87 24ft Terry Resort 5th Wheel, 86 "Classic 16" Alumacraft, 00 Honda Rancher

 

[Archive]

If you can't figure out the problem, use a old back yard mechanics trick and let some air out of the left front tire.
Also if rear(left/right) tire air pressure isn't the same this will cause it to pull to one side.

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Missouri Mule 96 White 4X4 ST club cab,(grey int. ),5 spd, 3. 54 reg dif, 8 ft bed, 1 ft high cheater boards, front and side of bed,Pofile V bug shield,
99 Freight liner FL60 blue Cummins 24v 215 hp, 520 torgue,6 spd 3. 59 no spin rear, 16 ft dry box (white) 19. 5 low profile tires,Weight 11,000, gvw 23000, 11 to 12 mpg
Bill Thomas (Wild Bill)