Pulling Left 2001 4X4

[Jeepthing]

My truck has been pulling left since new but not all the time , mostly on the highway ( more like drifting left). All tire pressures are set even. 2001. 5 QC SWB 4X4 eth/dee. Its been back to the dealer 3 times. First time they realinged it and rotated tires . Worked for awhile. Next two time theychecke alignment and said was in spec and nothing wrong. Need ideas for next step to resolve problem. Thank You

 

[nps]

Look at the brake pads to see if there is more wear on the left. Can also look at whether the left side is getting a heavier coating of brake dust than the right. Could be the caliper sticking.

 

[Jeepthing]

Good idea . I'll look

 

[mediccummin]

pulling to right

My truck was doing the same thing but to the right, been back to dealer 5 times now. Even seperate dealers to try to get it fixed. Been alligned 3 times, same answer here. Well anyway my dad was following me down the road and said my truck is rolling down the road sideways. When you follow behind you can read the dodge emblem on the drivers door. Cant really tell from inside, good thing he saw this. I've been battling over this for months and I threatened arbatration and lemon law. They finally admitted it to me today that my truck is deffinately crooked. So tom. there suppose to figure out where it is off and fix it. Just an idea, hope you figure it out. Good luck Dwayne

 

[Ron Bissett]

J/t try this pull along side a straight line with wheels parrell to line,stering wheel in normal position ? stand in front of truck look at it from a distance of twent feet looks like straight or one or more wheels look out of line ? If so find a good truck alignment shop that works on fire, school bus ,trans bus , garbage ,and big Rv ect . thats the place to get help . Hope this works for you . Ron in Louisville KY

 

[MidwestMotorman]

try this

Take a tape measure and measure the distance from one point on the front wheel or axle straight back to a point on the rear axle or tire. Repeat for the opposite side and use the matching locating points. The measurements should be the same or within 3mm.



The truck may be square sitting still, but a bushing or something else may flex when driving causing a tracking problem. A vehicle will pull toward the side with the narrower wheelbase. A tracking problem will cause tires to scuff on the edges as well. A mismatched rim, different in offset or width, will also cause funny handling and pulling.



You can also try driving in the oncoming lane and see if the pull changes direction. If it does, that means your front end follows the curve of the road. This applies if you live somewhere that the roads are curved for water runoff. The quadcab longboxes are really sensitive to the wind and are quite picky on the curved road surfaces.



Dwayne--Good luck with getting your truck fixed. If they can't get it fixed, Dodge will be forced to buy it back. Then the truck will be sold to some unsuspecting person who will continue to experience the troubles. Your truck has to be fixed, otherwise accellerated tire wear and poor handling will be with the truck for the rest of its life. And heaven help you if you ever drive on ice, that truck will want to turn sideways at 25mph as the axles push the truck in two different directions. I have personally seen this in one of my vehicles, and it is scary.

 

[Jeepthing]

Thanks for more ideas . I'm going to get somebody to drive my truck and I will follow them and look at aligment that with also tking measurements

 

[JAlford]

The dealer replaced the front calipers on my truck while it was in for the hitch recall. They said they found it was pulling to the left, and determined that the problem was the proportioning between the calipers. They said that this was a known problem with the trucks. I never knew it was pulling. It did pull a few times, but only when towing my 5er under heavy braking, and I thought the problem was the trailer. My truck is straight and I haven't had it aligned.

Jeff

 

[Jeepthing]

Ok , I had my brother-in-law (until driving my truck a power-puck bragger) drive my truck and I followed . IT is out of aligment . Rear axle is misaliged to front at least 3 inches in tracking. Calling dealer today. Thank You for Ideas

 

[mediccummin]

rear axle 15/16 off

Got my truck back from dealer they said the rear end was out of allignment by 15/16", they fixed that problem. But now I'm back to square one with the pull to the right. The dealer tells me they can't fix it because it is a manufactuer defect in our front ball joints that there is no cross camber adjustment in the 2001. They said Dodge is working on a TSB to replace the ball joints, ya right thats the same thing they told me when i bought the truck, 15,000 miles ago. Well the pull isnt so bad but I'm still going to take it to a real allignment shop and have it done again and see what they say. Can you believe they also ask me why I down graded my shocks from the stocks to Rancho's, they said the stocks are better than all the aftermarket products thats why there on the truck. ahh bull&$^#. Late Good luck Jeepthing

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

O. K. Guys, Are you ready for this S**T... ... ... I have been back and forth from the dealer to the point that I have given up. My truck pulls to the left too. It has since day one. 5***** wheeler/dealer says it is fine. The mechanic said he could feel it but said it was fine. i took it to a front end shop in town and this 80 year old man took it for a test drive. What I found out is there is a proportioning valve in the steering box. It has to have the exact same amount of pressure from the steering box. When we went for the drive every little bump in the road(even the smallest crack) would send the steering wheel to the left I was told that I would need to replace the steering box to correct this. The old guy really knows his stuff. I had him check the alignment and he found it to be better than within the specs from the mighty"DC". Went back to the dealer armed for battle and was told the guy was crazy. They realigned the truck until it sits at 0 degrees camber and caster. Tow is set to perfect specks too. Still pulling I have no clue what to do. This steering box test was done at around 5 mph. flat ground,hill it doesn't matter. Let go of the wheel(when it is safe) and see if yours pulls to the left or right. This valve is supposed to center the wheel after a turn or bump. If it isn't just right, your truck will pull one way or another. At this point I will not pay $$$$$$$$$ for a new box. I am still under warranty... NO GOOD SON OF ******, sorry. I will not cuss the Mighty "DC"