Steering problem

[SimplyDaniel]

I have a '99 2500 4x4, quad cab, long bed and for the most part all stock. Ever since I have owned the truck, it has pulled to the left. To keep it straight down the road, I have to constantly hold the steering wheel to the right. I put on all new tires about 18 months ago. Nothing changed. At the same time I had the alignment checked, everything was ok according to Dodge specs. Any ideas to correct this before it drives me even more crazy? Thanks for your help.

 

[Happy Camper]

Do a search on the archives and you should receive enough posts on this subject to keep you busy for awhile. I am lucky and have never had the problem.

 

[Fast 1]

A truck alignment shop that knows what thier doing should be able to fix it!! Mine is getting fixed next week. Part on order so i'ts possible to adjust the caster. I'ts always pulled to the right. Other shops have said its within factory specs. You don't want it within specs, you want it right on the money. Thanks DC.



Fast Coolers



Verlyn Fast

 

[1tuffram]

Like mentioned above, Dodge spec covers a broad range. There is a tread somewhere in the archives from a Dodge tech who addressed the alignment specifications our trucks need in order to drive straight. Many have had their trucks alighned to the specs he mentioned and had no further problems. I can't remember who wrote the thread or it's name. Either do a search or someone might be able to post the link for you.

 

[Ron Bissett]

I'll say it again.

Look at your truck when after pulling along side a striped parking space wheels straight and stearing wheel positioned in normal T position ?if not the truck will pull to the side constant left or right . whent through dealer fix no go took it back and dealer ok'ed trip to Toneys alignmet shop here in Louisville dealer asked for start specks and finish specks . Toneys did all the Bus fire trucks , garbage, large tractors, heavy wheel vehicle plus motor home and RV's Fixed mine first time out still going strong after two years. Look for the place that dose the work on the big stuff in your area take it there they can do the job ,Its what they do for a living . Hope this helps Ron in Louisville KY

 

[JTroiano]

When ever I have a car that is pulling I always check tire pressures and then cross rotate the front tires even if they have been replaced. I have seen alot of cars that have pulling issues due to tires. Then I would align after verifying that it isn't tires.

Hope this helps.

Jon T

Oh ya, any real good mechanic can make it go straight. It just takes a little work.

 

[RATTLINRAM]

OK, my turn............

When I bought the truck originaly, it had no pull, but the steering wheel wasn't straight. Dealer did front end alignment and I'm not sure if they adjusted anything else, but the steering wheel was straight and no pull. Everything was fine for next 15,000 miles until I cross rotated just the front tires from one side to the other, due to the fact that the fronts still had less tread wear than the rears (Just eyeballing them). Now I've had a slight pull to the right ever since. My first explanation to myself was maybe It was comming from the way the road was crowned and most of my turns are to the right (exits and entrance ramps on the freeway to work and highly crowned country roads around home), I'm not really sure if this is even fair LOGIC. Anyway, I'm going to cross rotate them back and see what happens. It just seems weird that there was no pull until I rotated them the first time. Any ideas? I will still probably take it to the dealer and have front end checked before warranty runs out (2700 miles left) NOTE: The truck has never had any kind of brake pull at any time.

 

[JTroiano]

When I align a car I always want input from the customer. Does it pull? I can adjust a car to pull left or right but if I adjust a car to go a certen way and it had a tire pull then the next time they rotate or put a new set of tires on the problem is back. To straighten the steering wheel on our coil spring trucks it is a 5 minute job and you have to loosen two bolts, no alignment is needed. If you find the long bar that goes from the steering box to the right front suspension, there is a splice that has threads on it. loosen bolts and turn it one way or the other to straighten the wheel, make sure the bolts don't hit anything in there new position when turning the wheel. These trucks have a solid straight axle and I can't believe that it would cause a pull. There is a caster adjustment and it would not cause any tire were if you messed with it in you driveway. Toe and camber cause tire wear if not correct. More caster causes the the steering wheel to center quicker but may make the wheel harder to hold when turning. To make the car go right you need either more positive caster on the left or more negative on the right and visa-versa to make it go left. Hope this helps. Got to go back to work.

Jon

 

[mediccummin]

adjustable ball joints

This is a sore subject for me if you read my past *****ing about my dealer. But anyway adjustable ball joints is what finally corrected my pull. It took a year but finally done. When the dealer does the alignment all there concerned about is that it is within specs, there not concerned with wether it still pulls or not. Also my truck was dog tracking real bad you might want to check that also. Even after the ball joints were installed under warranty I took my truck to a real alignment shop after the level kit install and had it done correctly. Now it handles like a new truck should. Ingle products has the ball joints, I can't find the number, if you do a search you should be able to find it. Good luck... .