Pull To The Right

[EErmert]

Yesterday had the '03 3500 6sp. in for warrenty work... The dealer was going to charge me for tire rotaton, balance ($40. 00), front-end alinement,($42. 00), and an oil change($55. 00), the truck was starting to pull to the right in a big way... also did a reflash for gage lites (TSB). 7 hours later, had a new steering box (cost?), no charge for the front end alinement, no oil change, and only a $41. 00 bill! Anyone else had this pulling to the right? Also, it's a 5 star place, the folks are nice, but still try to squease some extra...

Eric near Memphis it's a 4x4, HO, swb,srw, has 26. 6k miles, seem's to run stright!

 

[champspa]

don't know about the newer ones but most all the 2nd gens have had that problem of pulling to the right ( I thought they had cured that. )

 

[Matt400]

Better ck the ball joints, reports on the 3rd gen's with bad ones as little as 3000 miles. Mine were toast at 22K. Bad ball joints will cause caster and camber changes that can cause a pull.



I am confused about your 2 statements...

the truck was starting to pull to the right in a big way...

has 26. 6k miles, seem's to run stright!

 

[PJ]

Ive owned 4 new Dodges and every one has pulled to the riight. Why Dodge can't figure out how to fix it is beyond me. The 04 I traded in 2 months ago needed ball joints at 12k and had 7 or 8 allignments. I hope my new one is a bit better

 

[Matt400]

The 04 I traded in 2 months ago needed ball joints at 12k and had 7 or 8 allignments. I hope my new one is a bit better

I hope who ever is doing your alignments gets their act together cuz you can't set alignment and expect the numbers to hold out on the road with bad ball joints. A complete chassis inspection is the first step to qualify a vehicle for an alignment.

 

[PJ]

My first 4 or 5 alignments were done by the local dealer but the last 2 were done by a local tire shop that dodge sublet the truck to. (Les Schwab) It was the tire shop that found the bad ball joints. By that point, I was totally burnt out with the truck. They actually remarked to me that "This truck is UNSAFE at ANY SPEED!). It also toasted all my tires, that I might add Chrysler wasnt willing to replace. I think that the new ball joints fixed the alignment, but it was within 2 weeks that I traded it back to them on my new truck. They offered me a deal I couldnt refuse! I got my new truck at 1% under invoice along with another 1% off for the college grad deal. Actually my 2nd deal was a thousand dollars better than the 04 10 months earlier! Plus, I now have a 3500 that drives soooo much better and actually has a better turning radius. Go figure. . I now can make the hair-pin turn into my driveway without having to back up once. That in it self was worth the trade! Im very happy with my new truck. I have the smoke at start up problem, even after the tsb. I think I may have gained a mile or two per gallon, but it would sure be nice not to smoke out my driveway every morning. It goes away after I get to the main road (1/4 mile) but I would much rather not have any smoke at all.

I was in Medford yesterday and stopped at the local Cummins Dealer and asked several questions. One was an additive to the fuel. They stated that they were all snake oil. If I really wanted protection, just add a littloe ATF to my fuel. The only problem with that would be the red tint it would give the fuel. I wouldnt want to get pinched by the local trooper for running "off road" diesel and still be paying full price. He also said that I shouldnt worry about the start up smoke and just live with it. As for the crappy mileage, it should improve within 10k miles. That was the head guy at Cummins talking. Well, I guess Im just going to drive this one and if it breaks, let the Dodge boys put it back together. I have the D/C 7 year 100k zero deduct warranty. By 100k, Ill most likely be in a new truck. Sorry for the long post and if I got a bit off subjsct but I just wanted to say everything that i have been through in the past regarding this truck and the 04 that had the alignment problems.



That is all

 

[MMeier]

Mine has pulled ,or as the "dealer" sez, "drifts" to the right ever since I drove it off the lot 2 years and 55. 2K miles ago!! Zone reps say" heres the specs, heres your specs, its within specs therefore no problem! WTF? I have just grown accustomed to thids unfortunately, does not seem to wear out tires unevenly or anything, so... . !

 

[EErmert]

it's ME, with more news, just had a drive from MEM to VT (Va. Tech, Blacksburg, VA) then on to Newtown, Conn. The pull to the right is history, and also the balljoints were checked, they are fine!All in all it's a good fix... by the by, hand checked mpg = 19. 5, at 65 - 85 mph!

 

[Matt400]

Zone reps say" heres the specs, heres your specs, its within specs therefore no problem!

Thats when you have to say... thats nice, glad the specs are good- thank you for checking the alignment and confirming that is not the cause.

Now would you please correct the pulling trouble?

 

[PJ]

Thats when you have to say... thats nice, glad the specs are good- thank you for checking the alignment and confirming that is not the cause.

Now would you please correct the pulling trouble?

That is basically what I did and look what happened! I ended up with a new truck and more options!