Steering problems

[boomchadda]

I have a kore chase suspension system on the truck with 35 inch Mickey Thompson ATZ tires. I have gone to a couple of good wheel alignment shops they told me that the camber needs to be adjusted on my truck but its non adjustable on dodge rams?!? If my steering wheel is straight my truck starts going to the left. . the faster im going the more it goes to the left?!? For me to go straight my steering wheel is 90 degrees to the right. . this has been bothering me since i got the truck. . I really want to fix this please help me somebody!! PLEASE!!:{

 

[MickeyMiller]

NASCAR Truck?... Couldn't help myself. Did the alignment shops do a 4 wheel alignment, and do they experience the left drift when they test drive the truck? If the alignment shop experiences the drift but can't fix it, get another shop! I would think that both camber and caster could be adjusted via the eccentric (adjustable) ball joints. Just today, Left Coast Diesel installed Carli upper ball joints, Moog lower ball joint, and complete '08 steering upgrade on my truck... . only driven it 30 miles but the change is dramatic! Of course, one of the old ball joints had over 1/2" play... .

 

[Matt400]

If my steering wheel is straight my truck starts going to the left. . the faster im going the more it goes to the left?!? For me to go straight my steering wheel is 90 degrees to the right.

Doesn't sound like anything is wrong then, (other than your steering wheel position) your truck will go the direction you turn it.

Never mind the wheel position for the moment. . while traveling on a straight level road and not looking at the steering wheel position, what happens when you briefly "let go" of the wheel for a moment?

• If it stays straight then the shop needs to correct your steering wheel issue
  
• If it pulls to the left on its own then we need the measurements from your invoice
  

A good alignment shop would not give it back to you with a wheel off center like that.

 

[boomchadda]

While Im traveling down a straight road and i let my steering wheel go my truck will go straight. However when im driving and holding the steering wheel

in order for the truck to go straight like when i let go of it it has to be held on a 90 degree angle to the right. #@$%!The alignment shop told me the camber needed to get adjusted but the problem was that it's not adjustable on our truck. Thats why the truck doesn't track/drive straight down the road . Thanks for any info on my issue

 

[Matt400]

That is easily fixed by adjusting the drag link collar, you need a different alignment shop.

A good tech can do that without an alignment machine (on this model) but since you got it back with the wheel that way it would be a good idea to recheck the other measurements.

You could do a search here make some calls and find out which ones either do or recommend alignments.

 

[WoodChuck]

While Im traveling down a straight road and i let my steering wheel go my truck will go straight. However when im driving and holding the steering wheel
in order for the truck to go straight like when i let go of it it has to be held on a 90 degree angle to the right. #@$%!The alignment shop told me the camber needed to get adjusted but the problem was that it's not adjustable on our truck. Thats why the truck doesn't track/drive straight down the road . Thanks for any info on my issue

Sounds to me like your truck does drive/track straight down the road. Your steering wheel just needs to be centered, your alignment guys are idiots if they don't know that. I wouldn't trust anything they've told you including the camber being off.

The factory spec for '04 I have is Camber . 25* +- . 5*, that means it is allowed to be from anywhere between -. 25 to +. 75 with a max difference from side to side of . 5*.

Like Matt said you can adjust the drag link length to center the wheel or you could pull the steering wheel itself and recenter it.

 

[boomchadda]

OK im going to go to a shop and get my steering wheel centered. I hope that fixes my problem that ive had for so long. Its just weird to me why would my steering wheel not be centered? how could of it changed? was it the lift? i have a kore chase kit on the truck and i think its like 3 inches in the front and inch and a half in the rear. does this need to get done when you lift the truck and the mechanic didnt do it? what are some reasons it would be off center?

 

[Matt400]

It needed an alignment once the lift was put on as that will for sure change your steering wheel position. If you take a hit to one of the wheels pretty hard like in a ditch off roading, that can also cause the wheel position to change.

 

[Bob4x4]

Like Matt said you can adjust the drag link length to center the wheel or you could pull the steering wheel itself and recenter it.

No,do not pull the steering wheel to center. It is master splined



Bob

 

[boomchadda]

I took the truck today on a flat even road and to my suprise it does pull to the left. . If i let the steering wheel go the truck will go to the left. . Sorry for the misinformation but what are my options now? Truck has just had a wheel alignment? I dont understand this ****?!? its really annoying driving like this.

 

[WoodChuck]

Do you have an aftermarket steering stablizer on it?

I do and if you just jack up the front end it has enough pressure to steer the wheels left.

 

[Matt400]

Can you post up your alignment measurements form your invoice?

 

[EDankievitch]

Pulling to the left means too much positive camber on the left wheel... Ok except for the the fact that we don't have camber adjustments unless you install the Moog adjustable upper ball joints. I'm willing to bet your upper factory ball joints on your passenger side are failing. This would show up with your larger tires and lift kit... ... Time for Calli ball joints... I had the same thing happen on my rig.....

 

[Regcabguy]

Less ss nitrogen pressure?

If you've got the Kore Chase w/Kore steering stabilizer,the pressure may need to be decreased. The ss is trying to expand,thus giving you the left drift. Thuren's site states this and HRC here locally has to play with it sometimes.

 

[EDankievitch]

Easy to see if it's the dampener causing the problem just remove it and take a short drive.....

 

[Matt400]

Regcabguy's post is a high probability, notice the fine print at the very bottom the page here:

Thuren Fabrication- Dodge ram steering stabilizer kit still it would be good to see the measurements from your alignment as this will help narrow your trouble. Tires can also cause this and thats easily ruled out by switching side to side (not front to back) and comparing the drift condition.

 

[WoodChuck]

Do you have an aftermarket steering stablizer on it?

I do and if you just jack up the front end it has enough pressure to steer the wheels left.

Didn't anyone see this post?

 

[Matt400]

Didn't anyone see this post?

Well there ya go boomchadda. . check it out

 

[WoodChuck]

So to sum it all up, the drift to the left is probably normal (given the aftermarket stabilizer) and the wheel not being centered is unrelated and not normal.

You still need a good alignment shop to look at it.

The spec on an 04 for camber is 0. 25* +- 0. 50* so anywhere from -. 25* to . 75* is within an acceptable range. Max difference L to R is . 50*.

Caster should be at 4. 5* or 4. 7* depending on wheelbase 4. 0* min. to +. 75* max with max difference from L to R of +-. 5*.

Total toe in is . 20* +-. 10*, individually . 10* +-. 05* with a max difference L to R of . 01*.

Let us know what you find out.

 

[WoodChuck]

BTW, Moog and one other company do make aftermaket balljoints that allow anywhere from 1/2* to 2* of adjustment via an offset in the taper bolt where it connects to the steering knuckle.

Personally I'm going for the Carli uppers along with their front end upgrade kit, Moog greasable lowers and the PSC SBS.