Steering - Pulling to the right

[rbox]

New member here. I have a 2004. 5 Dodge 2500 4x4 Automatic. I bought this truck used with about 90,000 miles on it last year. I am hoping you guys can help me straighten out a few problems on this truck that I can't seem to get fixed.



Since I bought the truck, the steering has been pulling to the right. I thought it was just an alignment issue, so I have had it aligned by 2 different shops and the dealership but it still pulls. I have even tinkered with the adjustments myself and just can't get it to quit pulling.



(Tires are 265/70r17 Goodyear Silent Armors)



My shop just told me that they believe it is the tires making it pull. I have had 3 different sets of tires on it since I bought it and it made no difference. They still think it's the tires.



I have heard about others having the right pull issue but my searches haven't turned up a resolution to it. I am about ready to sell this truck and cut my losses. It's really irritating to have to hold it on the road like that. It tracks and steers like crap.



I thought about trying the upgraded parts from genos such as the steering box stabilizer, steering shaft etc. but I don't want to pour all that money into a truck if it isn't going to solve the problem.



Any solution?



Thanks!

 

[GaryOwen]

Check for brake dragging. I had same problem and ended up replacing the steering rack and pinion assembly which corrected the problem.

 

[Hoefler]

You did not say if it has the stock suspension or a lift of some sort. If the tires are suspect, swap them left to right, if it still pulls right I would look into the brakes, axles differential, etc. . Simply swapping out both sometimes will not make a difference, I know, I rotated my tires with no success. Then I swapped side to side, it pulled the other way. As it turned out, I had 2 bad tires out of 6.

 

[Wingate]

There has been considerable discussion about this same issue. I have installed the SBS from Geno's that made an incredible difference in feel. My truck has stock suspension and factory tires. It has always wanted to drift in the road. The truck has never felt like the front end was in the road, seemed to always putting little steering inputs into the wheel to keep it straight. The SBS COMPLETELY fixed that issue. The truck really feels like its in the road and handling well.

As for the slight pull to the right, this is a well documented "quirk" on these trucks. I read somewhere that you can install an adjustable steering damper and adjust the charge pressure to get rid of the pull to the right. Seems like the article was in the last issue of TDR. I haven't tried it yet, but I may soon.

 

[rbox]

No lift. Completely stock.

 

[R.Taylor]

I hate the steering in my 06 2500, With only 47,700 on the odometer it tracks down the road like a drunk chicken. I am the second owner, It's completely stock in the suspension department other than the yellow Bilsteins I installed. I have seen it's service record and the previous owner had brought it in 3 times for steering / alignment issues. I have yet to take it to the dealership even though I do have the extended warranty. I think it's ridiculous that a truck that's labeled "Heavy Duty" is far from that. Obviously Dodge does not care about vehicle longevity, They only want to sell you a $40k+ truck and send you down the line. Funny how many aftermarket parts are being developed and sold to cure Dodge's crappy OEM parts... . Luke's Link, Carli ball joints, Box stabilizers, Steering stabilizers, Bushings and so on. I had my local alignment shop try 3 times to get it right, Not a chance... It's a work out driving my truck, Always juggling the wheel, Drift right, Drift left. If it were not for what's under the hood I'd have never bought this truck. I wont even rant about the other issues that tick me off.


PS: If I wanted a rocking chair I'd should have gone to a antique store and not a Dodge dealer.

 

[rbox]

I hate the steering in my 06 2500, With only 47,700 on the odometer it tracks down the road like a drunk chicken. I am the second owner, It's completely stock in the suspension department other than the yellow Bilsteins I installed. I have seen it's service record and the previous owner had brought it in 3 times for steering / alignment issues. I have yet to take it to the dealership even though I do have the extended warranty. I think it's ridiculous that a truck that's labeled "Heavy Duty" is far from that. Obviously Dodge does not care about vehicle longevity, They only want to sell you a $40k+ truck and send you down the line. Funny how many aftermarket parts are being developed and sold to cure Dodge's crappy OEM parts... . Luke's Link, Carli ball joints, Box stabilizers, Steering stabilizers, Bushings and so on. I had my local alignment shop try 3 times to get it right, Not a chance... It's a work out driving my truck, Always juggling the wheel, Drift right, Drift left. If it were not for what's under the hood I'd have never bought this truck. I wont even rant about the other issues that tick me off.





PS: If I wanted a rocking chair I'd should have gone to a antique store and not a Dodge dealer.

I agree. If I would have known these trucks were such POS's I would have never bought it. I just wish I could get out of it and into a 06 duramax but have you ever tried trading a Dodge for a GMC? They will put the screws to you on the trade in value.



Whatever problems the duramax has it couldn't be near as bad as this truck.

 

[ssanders60]

Pulls to the right??

rbox



I've read many threads from Dodge owners about their truck pulling to the

right, as mine did. I drove my truck 92,000 with a slight drift or pull to the

right, I always rotated my tires, but when I changed them out at 92,000

I decided to see if the tech. could fix it, and he did. He claimed he tweaked

it just a bit with a front end alignment. Aligning your front end by the book

on your truck will not fix the pulling. I could kick myself for not doing it sooner.

Somewhere in this website there is a thread that instructs you how to fix it,

I remember reading it in the TDR Magazine. My tech was a young fellow who

knew exactly what to do, although I had to tell him how to find my water pump leak. (Westside Dodge, Jax, Fl. , now closed I suppose by the Messiah).

You have the best truck on the road, fix it.



2003 4x4 CTD H/O quad cab. 2500.

 

[rbox]

Check this out as well: https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/3rd-generation-ram-forum-no-engine-transmission-discussions/213566-steering-column-yours-crooked.html

 

[Matt400]

I have had it aligned by 2 different shops and the dealership but it still pulls.

Can you post up the current measurements?

Specifically Caster & Camber for both sides.

 

[rbox]

Can you post up the current measurements?

Specifically Caster & Camber for both sides.

I didn't get measurements from the last shop that aligned it. They do it by hand the old fashioned way. Is it possible to take the measurements yourself?

 

[Matt400]

Hrmm, dunno what method they used but I have been using electronic / camera equipment since the 80's

Maybe try a search here for a shop that has equipment that will provide you with the final specs.

 

[rbox]

Hrmm, dunno what method they used but I have been using electronic / camera equipment since the 80's

Maybe try a search here for a shop that has equipment that will provide you with the final specs.

They use long ruler type devices for measurements. They will use it to measure the distance from wheel to wheel for example. They are the only ones I have ever seen that do it that way.

 

[Matt400]

Maybe they are using one of these:

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I have one of those also but its for setting toe only on big trucks. The one our shop uses for vehicles up through 1 ton is this.