Truck Wondering

[nmcgillis]

My truck seems to be wondering alot while driving on flat level road, plan on taking it to the steeler tomorrow to get it checked out anything in particular that may be the problem or what to have them check? Thanks in advance.

 

[Dennis Garrett]

Have them look at and/or adjust the bearing preload in the steering box. It makes a big difference if it's loose, and the truck will wander. Mine was loose from the factory, I tightened it myself, & it made a world of difference.

 

[Rob Thomas]

Probobly the Trackbar! do a search on it, they all go bad, some more often than others. Mine went at about 40,000 miles,some as early as 3500 miles.

 

[Bigramguy]

Track bar and steering shaft should be checked as well.

 

[ftb87]

What year is your truck? You could also need off set ball joints.

 

[nmcgillis]

My truck is a 2001. 5 I don't have many miles on it. What are offset ball joints?

 

[Bigramguy]

Offset ball joints are used to adjust the alignment. They are usually only used if the alignment is off in the first place. If your alignment is OK,you won't need them.

 

[seafood]

Me Too

I have a 2001. 5 and since it was new 5000 mile ago I have had the same problem. My wheel is about 15 degrees off center, sure makes driving 'fun'. I plan to take it in as well, just hate taking it to the dealer and have it come out worse than went in. Let me know what happens and what they say.

 

[ftb87]

My truck wandered from day one. I waited for over a year for Ingle products to make an off set ball joint (that is what the alignment shop said would cure the problem). After the install (mine was one of the 1st done on a '01) the wandering problem and the pull to the right was gone!



If you have any additional questions, pm me.



Thanks

Frank

 

[Bigramguy]

Seafood



If it is just your wheel off centre and the alignment seems OK,you can fix it quite easily,without having to go to the dealer. There is an adjuster on the link from the steering box which is used to centre the steering wheel. It will not affect toe at all. Just loosen the two lock bolts and turn it until the wheel is straight.

 

[Chris N5CWM]

Lower your front tire pressure!

I rotated my tires the other day. Simple

front/rear swap, kept them on the same

side so they would continue to rotate in

the same direction. I had 10 PSI

differrence front to rear. I usually run 65

PSI front, 55 rear.



Yesterday I drove my truck which had

tendencies to wander since new. With

the lower tire pressure in front it tracks

like it's on rails! I am going to drop the

pressure 2 PSI per front tire until the

wander is gone. Front tire pressure is at

63 right now and

it drives much better.



-Chris

 

[seafood]

Bigramguy, I would really like to try your idea, could you try and help me understand exactly where the bolts are that you are talking about. Ever since I get the truck delivered, it has been off ceneter, but aI was too excited with the new truck and didn't want to give it to anyone to fix, then I just sort of lived with it.



Thanks

 

[Bigramguy]

There are two threaded adjuster sleeves in the steering linkage. One is for setting toe and the other is to centre the steering wheel. The one for setting toe is in the steering link connecting the two front wheels. DON"T TOUCH THAT ONE. The other one is in the long bar coming off the steering box. This is the one you can adjust to centre the wheel. There are two bolts that clamp the sleeve so it won't turn. you will have to loosen them off,and then just rotate the sleeve until your wheel is centered. You will have to experiment to find out which way to turn it. Then take it for a test drive and see. It may take a few tries to get it dead on.



Here is a pic,you can see the adjuster and bolts,just between the top of the diff cover and the steering stabilizer. Oh,I almost forgot,always make sure the bolts are pointing in the same direction as they were originally or they may interfere with steering operation. When the bolts are loosened you will be able to rotate them (and the little clamp) around to their original orientation.



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[seafood]

You are amazing

Boy, I didn't expect that kind of response with visual aids and all, that is terriffic. I am going to try it this weekend, thank you very much.

 

[Bigramguy]

No problem,anytime.



That's what happens when you get to sit here at the shop all day with nothing to do. At least I'm doing something.



It's either that or sit at home and listen to the wife..... :-{}..... about all the money I spend on my trucks.

 

[Chris N5CWM]

Let me summarize:

In addition to my above post. .



AIR PRESSURE changes will make a

difference!



Too much air will cause the truck to

wander. Not enough air will cause the

front tires to follow the imperfections

in the surface of the road; IE, the crown

and/or the ruts that heavy vehicles

wear into asphalt roads.



Try changing your air pressure

if you've done everything else and

still have a problem with "wander".



My truck was pulling to the right quite

a bit with 14,000 miles on the original

Michelins that had never been rotated.

After I rotated them the pull was gone.



These are inaddition to all the other

items you guys are mentioning in this

thread (steering dampeners, ball

joints, alignment, etc. )



Just my 2 cents worth for the day!

 

[nmcgillis]

back from dealer

Picked up my truck this p. m. from the dealer he did an wheel alignment and set the "toe in" at 1/8" which he said is DC max. setting? I drove it home only about 15mi. and it seems to be better but only time will tell. Thanks for all the info. Guys I Love TDR.

 

[Goddard]

front end problems

i have the same truck 01 3500 4x4, @ 28000 miles the steeler had to replace the ball joints both sides the right side hub and bearings and the track bar!? the truck wondered on the road and the steering reacted slowly! right front tire was almost junk on the outside. after this and a alignment the truck is a lot better. i still am going to have them snug up the steering gear a little bit and see if that will finish the job. hope this helps