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Pulling to the right and caster adjustment

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Drtspike

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New Ram owner here. I bought a 23 2500 6.7 Cummins with 12,000 miles. I had noticed the outside of the front tires were pretty worn, which looking back at pics they were like that when purchased. The more I paid attention I noticed the truck had a pretty significant right hand pull. Took in for oil change, rotation and alignment (first pic below).
IMG_8357.jpeg

As soon as I left I noticed it still had the right pull. I took it back in and the dealer had it for almost 2 weeks with no resolution and the write up below (2nd pic below).
IMG_8358.jpeg
I then took it to an alignment shop and they adjusted the caster to be way off spec but the truck drives straight as an arrow:
IMG_8356.jpeg
I noticed the passenger side now sits about 1” higher than the driver side… it’s pretty noticeable just looking at the truck. Although it drives straight now, I don’t like how much cross caster is in it.

From what I’ve seen online this seems like a common issue. Is it possible something is bent? Or is there more work to do on the alignment, or do I just need to live with the truck leaning to the left in order to drive straight?

Any feedback is appreciated!
 
Read this page here and have it aligned to the specs listed. The factory spec is flat out wrong for a solid axle truck.

The printable pdf linked on the page will explain why your truck is leaning now as well.

www.thurenfabrication.com

2014-2022 RAM 2500 ALIGNMENT

Aligning your Dodge Ram Truck made easy! Get our How-To guide for optimal results. #TruckAlignment #ThurenFabrication #DodgeRam
www.thurenfabrication.com www.thurenfabrication.com
 
jsalbre said:
Read this page here and have it aligned to the specs listed. The factory spec is flat out wrong for a solid axle truck.

The printable pdf linked on the page will explain why your truck is leaning now as well.

www.thurenfabrication.com

2014-2022 RAM 2500 ALIGNMENT

Aligning your Dodge Ram Truck made easy! Get our How-To guide for optimal results. #TruckAlignment #ThurenFabrication #DodgeRam
www.thurenfabrication.com www.thurenfabrication.com
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Thanks! Will try that out. Anything about doing those specs that would void warranty?
 
Nothing with the settings I gave you will have any affect on your warranty.

Those pictures of your caster cams show the problem. That was a terrible job by the alignment shop. The two cams need to be no more than one “notch” off from each other in adjustment.
 
jsalbre said:
Nothing with the settings I gave you will have any affect on your warranty.

Those pictures of your caster cams show the problem. That was a terrible job by the alignment shop. The two cams need to be no more than one “notch” off from each other in adjustment.
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Agreed. When the casters were set “properly” the truck pulled right. With them offset from each other like this it drives straight. The toes aren’t that far off. Would zeroing the toe be enough to fix the root problem?
 
Just following up on this, the other issue I had noticed is vibrations. Seems to be at all speeds but more pronounced at highway speeds. The dealer replaced the front lower control arms which seemed to straighten things out (even now with caster back to nominal), but the vibration/shudder is the same. Obvious thought was tires but got new ones and road force balanced. The vibration to me seems driveline/transmission, but still there coasting in neutral.

I noticed the front drive shaft has a slight runout, but it doesn’t spin in 2WD, and the yoke seems to be free to slide in and out. My concern is the wrong caster potentially bent the front drive shaft (and hence the transfer case). Is that even possible with all the float?
 
Drtspike said:
Just following up on this, the other issue I had noticed is vibrations. Seems to be at all speeds but more pronounced at highway speeds. The dealer replaced the front lower control arms which seemed to straighten things out (even now with caster back to nominal), but the vibration/shudder is the same. Obvious thought was tires but got new ones and road force balanced. The vibration to me seems driveline/transmission, but still there coasting in neutral.

I noticed the front drive shaft has a slight runout, but it doesn’t spin in 2WD, and the yoke seems to be free to slide in and out. My concern is the wrong caster potentially bent the front drive shaft (and hence the transfer case). Is that even possible with all the float?
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So did you have the casters adjusted to be equal on both sides? and doesn't pull either way? I'm about to make this adjustment on my truck as well but don't want to mess up the alignment or cause pulling either way.
 
parylizer said:
So did you have the casters adjusted to be equal on both sides? and doesn't pull either way? I'm about to make this adjustment on my truck as well but don't want to mess up the alignment or cause pulling either way.
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The dealership eventually just replaced both front control arms and they’re pretty close to equal now. It drives straight now! But I’ve been fighting a rear end shudder and vibration and have already burned through 2 differentials now (30,000 miles). Plug one hole and another starts leaking…. No clue what is going on.
 
I own a 2024 ram 2500 tradesman 6.4 and my truck pulls also to the right. Had a local shop perform a alignment because I had some aftermarket wheels and tires put on and it still pulls to the right. They said it was normal but I feel it isn't.
I also noticed my front right and my front passenger are 1 inch difference from eachother.
 
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ChillxPoint said:
I own a 2024 ram 2500 tradesman 6.4 and my truck pulls also to the right. Had a local shop perform an alignment because I had some aftermarket wheels and tires put on and it still pulls to the right. They said it was normal but I feel it isn't.
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Yeah there’s something wrong with these trucks. I’d just live with it because somewhere along the lines they tried adjusting something in the front or rear control arms that led to straining the rear differential and causing more major issues.
 
Im going to add a traxda one inch spacer to raise the front end and also have another alignment done. I'm hoping if I bring it into for warranty they dont say anything. Maybe I should bring it in before I put the spacer in.
 
ChillxPoint said:
Im going to add a traxda one inch spacer to raise the front end and also have another alignment done. I'm hoping if I bring it into for warranty they dont say anything. Maybe I should bring it in before I put the spacer in.
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ChillxPoint said:
Im going to add a traxda one inch spacer to raise the front end and also have another alignment done. I'm hoping if I bring it into for warranty they dont say anything. Maybe I should bring it in before I put the spacer in.
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Spacer should be ok but I wouldn’t give them any reason to not cover you. It will be documented forever and they’ll use anything against you (maybe I’m bitter). I’m not sure why replacing my front lower arms fixed it but maybe there’s a defect. It could be a coincidence that toe was sorted out but I have definitely noticed these trucks are very sensitive to road crown so see if it pulls the other way on opposite slope.
 
The front left to right can be about a 1/4" difference without any bad effect. Should not be much more than that. Setting the TOE to 0 is what you want. Get the Marks about 2 marks back from center. They can be a bit different but not extremely. Follow the instuctions from Thuren.
 
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