2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Truck has slight pull to the right

[RWeiss]

I recently purchased a 97' 2500 and have noticed that it has a slight pull to the right. I have brand new tires and have had the alignment checked twice and its dead on! Was wondering if there was another problem I should be looking for to correct this nagging little problem. Thanks!

 

[TowPro]

My 02 is the same way. I witnessed the alignment, yes its set to compensate for the crown in the road we have around here.



Next it to rotate the tires. If I really wanted to "follow through" with the problem I would swap the front tires left to right, etc. But its enough work just to rotate them so to the back they go!

 

[mjendrejcak]

lean to the left





My 02 2500 does the same thing on secondary roads. It is fine on the highway were I do 90% of my driving. I have decided it is livable in my case.





I had an older chebby that did the same thing, after measuring the front end (ground to bumper) I find the passenger side was about 1/4" low. I replaced the front springs... . still had the problem but far less noticeable.

 

[Joe Mc]

If this happens all the time it could be rear brake drag, low tire psi or, front caliper drag. If it's more noticable when braking then you may have the dreaded sticky caliper. There area plenty of threads on "brake pull" - do a search find one on lubricating the calipers. I do mine every other oil change.

 

[RWeiss]

Thanks for the input... . it looks like the next step is to check the brakes!

 

[Matt42]

Is this a 4x4? If so, it could be a bad track bar. But I'd try all the above suggestions first. Also, a bad steel radial tire will do that. Some brands seem particularly prone.

 

[athompson]

Mine quite wandering when I dumped the Michelins for Goodyear. The thrust push went away, too. No my truck tracks straight and true.

 

[Matt42]

Originally posted by athompson

Mine quite wandering when I dumped the Michelins for Goodyear. The thrust push went away, too. No my truck tracks straight and true.

It's amazing how different two similar trucks can be. My truck's wander went away when i dumped the Goodyears and went to Michelin. The Goodyears on mine were simply dreadful. the worst of them went fifty (yes, 50) miles before separating.

 

[Fireman Dave]

Mine developed a right pull over the winter. It didn't seem to be brake related, so I rotated the tires and it's gone now. I could have a tire problem as they're wearing out.

 

[MLee]

tires pulling

if you go to a tire dealer, give him your scenario, he will trade sides with the front tires. it usually goes away. seams every time i rotate mine, i end up with a slight pull, one way or another. so i just change the front side for side. and every thing is OK, again

just my penny's worth



Marv.

 

[fredflinstone]

I had the same compliant about my 01' adn when I took it too a friend who runs a frame and alighnment shop the truck is within factory specs but in order to compensate enough for road crown he said I would need an offset ball joint. The only real problem being that they didn't make one to fit it as of yet. So I like everyone else have just learned to live with it. Hope this helps ya feel better Seth

 

[RWeiss]

Thanks for all the good info... checked the brakes and all was fine. I have brand new goodyears with less that 400 miles on them and when I rotated the right to the left the problem has disappeared. I really do appreciate all the suggestions you guys have provided. Thanks again!

 

[RustyJC]

C'mon, doesn't anyone have the old official Dodge "fix" for this problem hanging on the garage wall - the funny spacers that people would find on one side of the truck when they pulled the front wheels for the first time. Add spacers as required to the left front until it stops pulling to the right!



(I'm saying this tongue-in-cheek since I remember them from a friend's truck - being a 4x2, my 1996 3500 didn't need them, but a lot of trucks had them back then. Nobody could figure out why back in those pre-TDR days. )



Rusty