Pull to the right

[machinemover]

I had my truck to the dealer twice for a slight pull to the right. It's more of a drift then anything, but irritating. First time I don't think they did anything, the second they sent it out to a tire shop and said they adjusted the tow in/out which I believe, as I checked underneath and saw scratch marks where they used a wrench. However it is still drifting to the right, I first thought it may be the crown in the road but even in the middle of the road I can not let go of the steering wheel and go straight. I am afraid that my complaint may re-adjust the pull but set the tire alignment off causing excessive wear on the tires if I complain anymore. I am just looking for some advise as I want to get this in before my warranty runs out.

 

[MMeier]

Relax, it was designed to do that!! See other posts on topic.

 

[wlowe]

Might be a brake caliper sticking just enough for the pad to lightly touch the rotor. Check it with a temp gun or jack it up and spin tires by hand.

 

[CATCRACKER]

no biggie just get used to it. mine does it also. after 15000 miles my tires are wearing perfect.

 

[rbattelle]

If you got a brake shoe dragging then you got more problems than a slight pull to the right! The '03s have discs at all 4 corners!

 

[DKizerian]

Originally posted by CATCRACKER

no biggie just get used to it. mine does it also. after 15000 miles my tires are wearing perfect.

Why should we "Get used to it"?!?! I paid over 30K for a truck, and it shouldn't have anything like this to get used to!!! I can understand having to get used to the way the stereo works, or where the gauges are... But why on earth should I have to put up with a truck I can't trust to go in a straight line?

 

[rbattelle]

Does it still pull to the right if you are on a road that slopes to the left?

 

[MMeier]

DK, read previous posts!!

 

[DKizerian]

Mine does... . I tried driving on the left side of a crowned one-way street thinking it may pull left, but alas, it still pulled to the right... but at least it pulled less!!!

 

[Grayhackle]

Had my truck to the dealer last week for the same problem. My steering wheel was cocked to the left. They adjusted that and the truck seems to be ok I did take one short trip and it seemed to be alright. They also said the truck's alignment was withing specs. Tried to search for previous posts but was unsucessful .

 

[DPKetchum]

Bunches of them PULLS/DRIFT right. I don't agree its suppose to!Some roads its a pull,some it drifts but its a pain to drive. TOE dosent affect PULL/caster does. I have let D. C. 18009921997 know about this several times. Alignment was checked at dealer. Next stop is a pro alignment shop and the FULL treatment. Specs recordered/tires rotated all which away etc. As many pull right as DRONE and Shift KNOBS ROTATE. There is something not right. Oo.

 

[Ron Bissett]

As a second generation owner I know how you feel with a new third gen, truck but the same problems seem to have filtered down to the new trucks . what to do ,have them (DC. dealer send you to the same place that the fire ,garbage, Bus , large truck, RV, have there alignment done not at the dealers ,small car and truck shop ,. The steering wheel should be center and wheels straight away and the truck should drive straight down the line on a flat surface and not pull to the right or left. Here in Louisville its Tony's alignment shop that dose the big stuff and thats what they do for a living . I had same problems with local dodge shop. they could not lift the 3500 TD with there lift . Had them send me to Tony's on their bill . Hope this helps Ron Bissett in Metro Louisville KY. :-{}

 

[KCJackson]

For alignment issues, always go with a pro shop. My dealer won't even attempt to align my 96 - they farm it to a truck-tire place down the road when suspension work was done.



Back in February, I got sideswiped by an inattentive driver on I-80 (how do you not see a Ram 3500 right next to you on your side?) - the driver hit my right front tire with the left front corner of the car (missed everything except the tire, not the bumper, not the diamond plate running boards). Truck was functional but the steering wheel was now a full 90 degrees to the right. Took it to a HD suspension shop (these people align Kenworths). They replaced the tie rods, steering damper and assembly, and the track bar, then aligned to spec. $850 parts/labor/tax. I swear... the truck didn't drive that straight when it was brand new.

 

[DPKetchum]

Most large dealrs align their own. We did. did'nt farm nothing to nobody if possable. The dealer I used was set up for duallys and it was ONE techs domain. But it still pulled right. Has been some discussion about a adjustable ball joint on that side correcting this. But I'm still gonna check specs etc. eleswhere.

 

[DPKetchum]

It may not be a SPEC problem but a design/not enough spec problem. what gets me is they release trucks/autos etc. with inherent things such as drones/pulls etc. and had to have KNOWN this when testing!Later they publish TSB's!

 

[JHardwick]

My '03 4x4 DRW does it and so did my '99 2x4 DRW.



The '99 was checked out by two different guys thay I know and trust ... ... ..... nothing! The '99 seemed to have more of a brake pull than a drift, but after pads, rotor and caliper were replaced, ABS checked and alignment checked ... ... ... ... still did it!

 

[geusterman]

Go to a shop that does caster/camber and has been at it for years. I had to do that on my new 2002 last year. He printed a sheet for me. Found an ajustable pinion thing and sent an appraisal with me I took to the dealer. Dealer said OK and I had it done. Been 10K and straight as an arrow. Just do it. Like medicine--gotta be your own doc. Nobody watches out for you like you. Don't be a liberal geusterman