2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Truck dog tracts!

[Piston Slapper]

My truck runs down the road sideways! I think they call it dog tracts. I done a search and didn't find much. I read on some post that the Center Locationg Pin was loose. What is this? Is it the bolt that holds the leafsprings together? The one between the U-bolts? I guess to tighten it you have to drop the axle?



Searching the internet found that the thrust angle is off. I think this is what's wrong. I measured from the front of the rear tires to the outer lip of the fender well. One side was 4", other side was 4. 25". Is this an accurate do it in the driveway measurement? I also found on this site that someone used a come-a-long to pull axle forward/backwards to get it back into place. I did this and got both sides to measure out the same using the above method, right or wrong. Worked for a few miles, about a 100. Now it is right back to where it was. Is this something that can be fixed in the yard or do I need to get an alignment? I just didn't like the fix I read on the internet where they adjust the front alignment to match the rear thrust angle to make it tract straight. I would rather just fix what is causing the thrust angle to be off, instead of bandaiding it with the front adjustment.



My terminology may be off here as I know nothing about doing an alignment. Really would like to fix it myself. Tired of fighting the steering wheel all the time!



Muchas Gracias,



99 2500 2wd Auto, No silencer ring, BHAF, Resonator only.

 

[BV]

Dog Tracking

By the sounds of it your on the right track. I had a 66 F100 that went down the road like a 3 legged dog and it ended up being the rear spring mounts got welded to the frame with 1" difference between front and back so it was not straight with the front. The alingment shop can adjust the front to track with the back if it is out a minimum. Mine had to be cut and re-welded.



Also - I have seen a few Chevy/GMC's that the center pin that you mentioned was sheared off which allows the spring pack to slide out of alignement with the axle tube.

 

[Piston Slapper]

What points is it that I need to measure to and from?



Also, should you be able to turn that nut on top of the Center Locating Pin that holds the leaf springs together? I put a socket and rachet on there and the nut and bolt both turn... ??

 

[ronco]

BARRINGTON,



I was told once that not all vehicles are built with equal distance center to center on both sides. The front wheel maybe be offset to ease stress on components when hitting RR tracks or parking lot concrete stops. I don't know if your Ram should measure the same, but don't be surprised if it does not. A quality alignment shop should be your next stop. Does anyone know of a shop in his area? Let 'em know.



Ronco

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

has the truck every been in a wreck, or has the track bar been changed??

 

[Piston Slapper]

Don't know if it has ever been in a wreck. Bouth it used 30,000 miles ago. Thought the out of round tires on it was causing the problem till just recently got new michelin sneakers and still had the same problem. Was following the ol lady home, she was in the truck, and noticed the 3 legged dog syndrome. Something ain't kosher for sure. Aggrevating as cuss after many miles on the road. Go to scratch your nose and clean out a ditch! Just kidding, not that bad! It all boils down to I am a cheap a_ _ and hate to pay people to fix things if I can fix it myself. I usually am disatisfied with their service and feel I could have done better myself anyway. It's one of them things where you can fix it, if you just knew what to fix!



What would the track bar have to do with thrust angle Cowboy?

 

[illflem]

I used to see a lot of dog trackers down in Mexico the result of bent frames from overloading. Remember one in particular that was going down the road at about a 45° angle, bed loaded front to rear higher than the cab with concrete block.

 

[Piston Slapper]

How can you tell the frame is bent??? I think I read here before that 1/4 difference is thrust angle will look like a foot going down the road.

 

[illflem]

Buying a used truck tip

A fast way to check is to see if the space between the bed and cab is even especially on the sides, you don't want to see a taper. This isn't always correct because the bed may be on crooked, they do try get them on straight at the factory though.



I've seen how they check a unibody car, not sure if it would apply to one with a frame but it should. They hook a tape measure to a point underneath in center, some have a bolt hole just for this, then measure to several points on the bottom on each side that should be the same. The body shops with straightening machines enter the numbers in a computer, the machine then grabs the car and hydraulically bends it back.

 

[Hummin Cummins]

Mine does the same thing (so i'm told)

I've never been out of my truck when its moving



I replaced my track bar thinking that was it (it centers the front axle, right?) Never had it aligned after that and now steerwheel is off center and the truck still dog tracks. I thought I read where sometimes the track bar needs "adjusted" i. e. bent to be right because each truck is different. Could be b. s. though.

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

I noticed your truck is a 2 WD so you will not have a track bar like the 4x4 guys. I used to buy wrecked trucks and resell them, the biggest problem i found was bent frames, you can do just about anything to pull a unibody vehicle around staight but a framed vehicle when you go to pull it back straight it usually throws something else out of wack. i did have a small pick up that had a thrust angle problem and the alignment shop recommended shimming the real axle. I didn't worry about it cause the truck drove fine and straight. check with carfax it can tell you all sorts of info on any vehicle, wrecks odo tampering etc.

 

[MCampbell]

My truck looks like the back end tracks to the right of the front. I believe that it actually has to do with the fact that the bed of the truck is narrower at the back than the front.

 

[Blakers]

Sounds like a broken center bolt to me. Take the U-bolts off the side you say you can turn the center bolt with a socket. Then jack the truck up off the axle and you can see if the whole center bolt is turning or just the top. Now you can replace it and put things back together. Make sure the whole in the spring pad is not oval shaped - may have to weld it up a little.



Blake

 

[tgbol]

It is pretty easy to check for a bent frame. Using a plumb bob hang it from a bolt that in the same spot on both sides of the frame. Like the rear bolt of the sway bar bracket in front. Mark an x on the ground. Do the same for the rear using the spring eye bolt of the rear spring. After you have the 4 "X"s on the ground move the truck. Now measure diagonally front to rear. The measurements should be the same plus or minus 1/4 inch.

 

[emjay]

Blakers hit the nail on the head -- the centerbolt holds the leaves together and the head is supposed to poke through the hole on the axle spring mount pad. If you take it apart, put a c-clamp on the the spring pack before removing the centerbolt. If you take the U bolts out and the spring pack expands, the center bolt is definitely broken.

 

[SSchirmers]

dogtracking

If you would like give me a call at home and I can help you with your tracking problem as I have been doing frame and suspension work for way to many years. This is easy to check but hard to write to explain how to do this. # 952-447-6752 ask for steve





Good luck

 

[Blakers]

emjay,



Thanks for mentioning using the c-clamps. That is an important step. I've had spring packs literally explode when removing the center bolt - especially if there is rust between the leaves.



Blake

 

[emjay]

My pleasure. Ever try to put the leaf stack back together after it flies apart? It's a experience.