Brought home new truck yesterday. Need front end advice

[EBarnette]

I have read TDR for many years but never posted, so here goes. I just brought home my new 3500 DRW Megacab Aisin with 4:10,s. I love it. Nicest truck I have ever been in. I searched around and had to travel 350 miles from my house to get the one I wanted. After driving it and negotiating the deal I wanted I found one thing wrong with it. It pulled to the right slightly. I have test drove several of these trucks and none of the others pulled at all. I told the dealer and they checked it out and printed up the results. They set it to the specs but it still does it. Its not bad at all and I am aware of the crown in the roads causing this at times but it always pulls and just doesn't feel "centered". It feels like it is harder to turn to the left than to the right.
Today I went to my local dealer and talked to the front end mechanic which has done work for me in the past. He looked at the report the selling dealer gave me and said they didn't check the castor. So I made an appt for next week for him to look at it. He said he would try and see if something came from the factory out of adjustment.

Do any of you have any settings I need to pass on to him to make it drive perfect like all the others I have test drove.

Oh by the way I really love the Aisin, it just feels like a heavy duty transmission,it is not as smooth shifting as the 68 RFE but it never seems undecided what gear it wants. It always shifts firmly and decisively. It just feels solid all the time. I can definetely feel the downshifts more with the 4:10 rear end then with the other 3:73's that I drove.

Thanks for the help.

Earl

 

[Steve Martin]

EBarnette,

Try switching the front tires and see if it still pulls....Sometimes you can get what tire guys call a “radial pull”. Not to say thats what it is, but it won’t hurt to try.

Steve

 

[mpaulson]

Does the truck have Ameritrac tires on it? They could be the culprit. Swap the fronts to opposite sides and if the pull switches, then you've nailed the problem. There has been lots of post about the OEM tires being the reason for lots of problems like separations and vibrations etc.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Set the toe in for 1/32". Spec is for more but all that does is cause the front tires to cup on the outer edges. I know from experience. I have used the same frame and axle guy since 1980, he knows what he is talking about.

Chrysler did the tierod end recall recently and I told them what I had it set for and they said they would do the same for me.

 

[MLee]

This is the trick tire guys use when a tire pulls to one side. No explanation as to why they pull. It might straighten out and not pull any more.

 

[Cummins12V98]

This is the trick tire guys use when a tire pulls to one side. No explanation as to why they pull. It might straighten out and not pull any more.

What are you talking about?

 

[EBarnette]

Thanks for the response. The purchasing dealer said he swapped the front tires. But that is exactly what my local mechanic said to that it could be a radial pull. He is going to look at it Tuesday and try to get it straightened out for me. I have the Nexen Roadian tires. So far I have no vibration. My previous 2001 ford came with generals and they were the worst tires I ever owned. I was very disappointed to see that RAM stopped using Michelins and started using cheaper tires. I would not have accepted my new truck with Generals, I would have made them change them out. I have read that these Nexens are not too bad.

Earl

 

[Cummins12V98]

Nexen is still an off brand tire. My next RAM will have either Michelin or BFG's.

 

[EBarnette]

Update on pulling problem. My local dealership checked out my front end. Found that camber was out pretty bad. Could not get it adjusted to Chrysler specs. After mechanic talked with Chrysler engineers several times it was approved to order a new front axle. So in about 10 days he will be installing a new axle to see if that will allow the truck to be adjusted to specs. The Chrysler eng said the axle must be defective or twisted as to not allow it to be Adjusted properly. Other than this the truck has been flawless. Have about 4000 miles on it so far. Just finished a 800 mile trip towing my 10 k travel trailer. It tows great. Pulls harder than my previous modified 04.

 

[photowrite]

Interesting.

Seems an offset ball joint from SPC Performance would have likely corrected the problem with much less work, expense, and surgery, though I'm not surprised the dealership/Chrysler didn't want to take that route.

Hope a new axle works.

 

[EBarnette]

Well being its brand new I will allow them to do this. But if the axle doesn't fix it I might have to get the ball joints.
Thanks for the info.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Well being its brand new I will allow them to do this. But if the axle doesn't fix it I might have to get the ball joints.
Thanks for the info.

Or they can give you a new truck!

 

[EBarnette]

Update. I picked up my truck after New axle housing was installed. The mechanic showed me the print out and now the camber is in specs. He said it lined up like it should have. It drives great. I can let go of the steering wheel and it doesn't run off the right side of the road. I have 7000 miles on it now and no other problems what so ever. I did add a BD throttle sensitivity booster. It makes the truck much more enjoyable to drive.

 

[photowrite]

Very nice update. Glad it went that way for you.

 

[tony1461571]

Glad you got that fixed soundz like you have same truck I have I just love this new truck. We just took It to Fort Bragg and back, It pulled our 39ft 5th wheel like a dream I have always liked the Michelin tires. I've not had any trouble with the Nexen tires Knock on wood. But when I do replace tires it will most likely be with Michelins. Maybe its just the various runs of the tires, and we just got the good batch lucky us! What color is your new truck.

 

[quadidaho]

Hey Tony1461571--- I am getting ready to install my 18K super glide in my new truck--- what did you use for the hitch mounts? I have the factory fifth wheel prep and am going to use the pullrite 4409 adapter for the superglide. I am curious if the set up in your rig sits below the line of the bed rails? I am hoping that after I get my hitch put together that it fits under my soft tonneau! Any info would be appreciated!

 

[tony1461571]

Do you have all the parts you need if not I can give you the place I got mine from. There on ebay have very good prices, and great to deal with fast shipping. Do you have the 4409. is your hitch a 2900 super glide, The 2700, 2900, and the 2300 call for a 4439 adapter. So make sure you have the right adapter. Not really all that hard to install. With the feet that came with the 2900 it sat above bed rails and made my camper sit to high for my liking I just put the ISR Series SuperGlide Low Profile Foot Kit and lowers it about an 1in to inch and a half and it now sit at or just below the bed rails. It should be ok Have you pule with a Super Glide before i haven't and it took a little getting used to hooking and unhooking trailer. can't believe it is 224 lbs I put a hoist in my garage so I could lift it in and out of the truck by myself.

 

[MJWenrich]

EBarnette...would you explain what the BD throttle sensitivity booster did for your truck? Did it stop the turbo lag feeling on acceleration or the dead pedal problem so many of us have had?

Mike

 

[EBarnette]

EBarnette...would you explain what the BD throttle sensitivity booster did for your truck? Did it stop the turbo lag feeling on acceleration or the dead pedal problem so many of us have had?

Mike

Mike,
The BD throttle sensitivity makes the accelerator much more responsive. I still feel like the power comes on a little slow from a dead stop but it definitely makes it much more responsive. It is much more enjoyable to drive and it feels like it has much more power even though it doesn't. Instead of having to push the pedal down so far to get any power you barely have to touch it and its responding. It reminds me of how my 04 felt with the Diablo programmer set on extreme.

I don't think my truck has the dead pedal like I have heard others had. I have never noticed it hesitating to pull out into traffic or turn left at a red light like others have described.

What I do notice is that it brings the power on from a dead stop very easy. My Aisin only stays in first gear for a second or two then immediately goes into second and then it really starts pulling hard. Even when towing it just gets the load rolling and immediately shifts into second and then starts pulling like hell. But the BD TSB really helped to perk it up.

Earl

 

[EBarnette]

Glad you got that fixed soundz like you have same truck I have I just love this new truck. We just took It to Fort Bragg and back, It pulled our 39ft 5th wheel like a dream I have always liked the Michelin tires. I've not had any trouble with the Nexen tires Knock on wood. But when I do replace tires it will most likely be with Michelins. Maybe its just the various runs of the tires, and we just got the good batch lucky us! What color is your new truck.View attachment 90014

Tony,
Yes I prefer Michelins also but so far I cannot complain about the Nexens. They are very smooth so far. I had a 2001 F350 dually that came with Generals and they were the worst set of tires I ever owned. I could not ever get them balanced, the truck always had a vibration at highway speeds until I put the Michelins on it.

I really love my truck also, It has amazed me how good it tows. I had a 04 CTD that was highly modified and I figured this 14 would not even have close to the power I was used to. But it will actually accelerate up the same mountains that my old truck would just maintain it's speed while towing my RV.
Unloaded it doesn't have as much power but it is so much smoother and quieter.
You have a nice truck, looks just like mine except mine is white.
I can't figure out how to post pics.

Earl