Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Infamous pull to the right....Who has it?

[kevincook]

My truck pulls to the right as well, the dealership was no help. I do need new tires and I will have a alignment shop look at it as well! Thanks for the help!



KC

 

[AFacey]

update.....

I had the dealer (prestige/longmont) fix the pull as advertised. The ball joint they used was adjustable and has a grease fitting. It came from specialty products. The pull to the right is gone now and seems to drive straight. yeah! All the work was covered under warranty...



BTW- I called another shop in brighton for the same fix and was told that dodge would not cover this type of fix and they had never heard of it.

 

[slo-ryde]

I test drove a total of four trucks (all were 4x2 ETH/DEE) before buying and everyone of them pulled to the right. After driving the second one I started bringing my pressure gauge with me on test drives. When I checked tire pressure it was always identical at all four corners. It might not have been correct per the placard on the door but it was nonetheless the same. I was figuring they must have had a run of trucks where the alignment equipment was out of whack at the factory.



I mentioned this to the dealer and he dismissed it as an alignment problem which could be easily corrected by the service department. Before taking it to Dodge I had my favorite wheel and brake shop look at it. The alignment was prefect but they agreed that it was definitely pulling to the right. Swapping the front wheels made the problem worse (or so they thought). They replaced the tires under warranty at no cost to me. As I was driving it home I could tell the problem was still with me. When I take the truck in to the dealer to have it looked at I'm told that it's because the roads are crowned. Why do the service writers automatically assume that everyone walking in the door is a complete idiot? Of course the roads are crowned, but not enough to make the truck pull this hard.



To make a long story short, my truck's alignment is perfect, the front tires were replaced, Dodge brushed me off with the lame crowned road excuse, and my truck still pulls to the right.

 

[athompson]

Like I said before, my pull went away COMPLETELY when I got rid of the the POS Michelins. My new Goodyear tires, even with the aggressive tread, ride and control much better. When it would rain, the Michelins would slid the truck to the right. I had to put the truck in 4hi to keep it going forward. Maybe it's the back tires.

 

[jkern]

how did you guys talk your dealer into replacing the ball joints??? mine replaced the tracbar, told me another $450 for even looking at the front end because i have a winch on it, and now it is 10 times worse with a new trac bar than it was with the old one. if i let go of the wheel, i make an immediate and hard right hand turn only to be made worse if i touch the brakes. looking at EGR brakes, will that help???



Jeremy

 

[AFacey]

Avoid the advisor... I spoke directly with the diesel mechanic and mentioned that others are getting it done under warranty - the advisor knew nothing!. OR have them call Prestige in Longmont, CO -.

 

[aconnors]

For those of you with CTD's in warranty beware of the dealers "excuses". I advise you to keep all your recipts and learn about your states lemon law. After a horrible GM experience: Truck began to pull after a tire rotation, asked them to rotate the tires back, they sent the truck out for multiple alignments... the Lemon Law saved me from making payments (they refunded my payments, paid off the loan and lawyer). Its your hard earned money! Don't accept any BS. My 2 cents.

 

[GMcLean]

Hey guy`s, check out the thread back on 09-27-2002

" Frt end pulls" by TY584. I replied to his post with a steering box adjustment that has worked very well for me!! When all else fails and you`ve replaced all there is to replace, there`s no harm in trying this. . For all those who try it, let me and all others know, how much if at all, it helped then we may all be the wiser

 

[tking]

Thanks GMcLean, I may give that a try. I will be due for tires soon, so I may wait til after the new tires are on to see if that helps.



Todd

 

[SnoKing]

Man, my 2001. 5 pulls to the left and has always done that except when on a road that really crowns off a lot to the right. So I will trade someone for a little right hand pull to offset my left hand pull. SNOKING

 

[tking]

That Works for me! It' a long way from Indiana to Washington though. I'm assuming the trucks would have to be toghther... . and alone!



If I could just sent you some right hand pull, that means I'd know how to remove it from the truck.



Todd

 

[GMcLean]

Did I mention that with having a tighter steering box that it has also eliminated the dreaded "death wobble" on a number of vehicles... Garth

 

[Turbo Horseman]

Garth's worked on my truck alot. He knows of what he speaks... well, I have been told I'm easy to fool.

 

[Turbo Horseman]

Seriously, Garth has been good to my truck.

 

[GMcLean]

Thanx for the kind words Michael. It`s not too often a person hears good feedback, especially from afar!! By the way, how are things up there in the greater white north. Been getting a bit of cold weather here lately with some snow.

Can`t wait to pull the sled out and do some highmarking on the hills.

Again thanx for the sunshine, and hopefully somebody will give it a try and be happy with their truck afterwards. Garth

 

[Turbo Horseman]

Garth. Just about decided on a fuel pressure gauge set up. Looking at the Dakota Digital stuff. Also comes with trans. temp. Will be down in December, you around then?

 

[GMcLean]

Yep, should be around then between hunting and sleddin .

Boyd hurt himself riding them pi$$ed off cows a month ago so he`ll be down for up to 6 months but should still be around for a coffee when your down in the area. Garth

 

[slo-ryde]

Thought I should update everyone on my "pull to the right" experience. As mentioned earlier, my truck was pulling to the right and the dealer basically blamed the problem on crowned roads.



I went on a camping trip across Nevada, Utah, and Arizona recently. While in Arizona I spent a couple days exploring the Glen Canyon Wilderness (near Page, AZ). Most of the roads can be navigated without 4WD although signs posted everywhere recommend it. There were places where the road was almost washed away and required some slow careful driving. All the bumps and ruts were giving the suspension a serious workout. On more than one occasion I was bounced off the seat high enough to bang my head on the roof.



Well, after this "workout" the truck quit pulling to the right. Only problem was that it wandered all over the road and made the return trip a lot more work than it should be. I took the truck in to Dodge for the wandering problem. They replaced the shaft between the steering wheel and the steering gear box, and they performed a four wheel alignment. The caster on both front wheels was off according to the printouts. I've only driven it 20 miles since getting it back but it seems to be handling perfectly now. I sure hope this is the end of the problem!



I might purchase the aftermarket steering shaft if it's really better than the original. Does anyone know if the 2002 still uses the crappy shaft that wears out every 5,000 miles?