What's new
By:
Ram Heavy Duty Forum

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Alignment issues w/ brand new 2024 3500

So yesterday I was reviewing the new alignment print-out in greater detail and I noticed that while the caster left/right measurements are right where they need to be according to Thuren specs, the tow was a bit out of spec at .07. So, heeding Thuren's warning that the tow is the MOST important part to get right and that it MUST be within spec (.00 to .05), I called my alignment dude to let him know what I noticed, so he said no problem, bring it back in and he'll see if he can get it closer to 0. I took it back in today and he got it right at 0. When I drove the truck after he was finished, guess what? It was back to pulling right and the steering wheel cocked to the left 11 o'clock position again. Not as bad as it was originally but definitely not right. So, I said to hell with that, and he put it back to where he had it in the first place. Now the steering wheel is back on center and it tracks straight. So even though the tow is .02 out from Thuren spec tolerance, for MY truck, this is what works. For me, I'd rather risk a smidge of possible tire wear than to have the damn thing pulling and the steering wheel outta whack. So in my specific circumstance, tow at .07 works well and .00 does not.
 
Last edited:
I’m headed to pick my truck up now. Alignment and inspection yesterday after I put the 1” level in. Stay tuned….


Sent from me
 
ErikTheRed said:
So yesterday I was reviewing the new alignment print-out in greater detail and I noticed that while the caster left/right measurements are right where they need to be according to Thuren specs, the tow was a bit out of spec at .07. So, heeding Thuren's warning that the tow is the MOST important part to get right and that it MUST be within spec (.00 to .05), I called my alignment dude to let him know what I noticed, so he said no problem, bring it back in and he'll see if he can get it closer to 0. I took it back in today and he got it right at 0. When I drove the truck after he was finished, guess what? It was back to pulling right and the steering wheel cocked to the left 11 o'clock position again. Not as bad as it was originally but definitely not right. So, I said to hell with that, and he put it back to where he had it in the first place. Now the steering wheel is back on center and it tracks straight. So even though the tow is .02 out from Thuren spec tolerance, for MY truck, this is what works. For me, I'd rather risk a smidge of possible tire wear than to have the damn thing pulling and the steering wheel outta whack. So in my specific circumstance, tow at .07 works well and .00 does not.
Click to expand...
If the steering wheel was crooked and it was pulling then it sounds like he didn’t adjust the drag link properly.

Edit to add: Pull doesn’t come from toe, pull comes from caster being off on one side.
 
Last edited:
jsalbre said:
If the steering wheel was crooked and it was pulling then it sounds like he didn’t adjust the drag link properly.

Edit to add: Pull doesn’t come from toe, pull comes from caster being off on one side.
Click to expand...
Honestly Im just not knowledgeable enough about front-end geometry to fully understand the adjustments and effects of all the components, but yeah, I was kinda thinking the same thing, that pulling doesn't have anything to do with toe adjustments. All I know is the first time he aligned it, it drove fantastic. No pulling, no crooked steering wheel. When I took it back in to adjust the toe, it pulled again and the steering wheel was at 11:00. I don't know enough to question what he did and certainly not enough to argue it. But according to his print-out, toe is slightly out of spec (.07), caster is in spec, and it drives/feels great. When he adjusted to 0 toe, the caster was still in spec but it pulled slight right and the steering wheel was off. I dunno.
 
Got the white Night back today.

In the past few weeks I replaced the Transforce ATs with Milestar Patagonia XTs, installed the Traxda 1” level up front and removed the front sway bar. It drove ok prior to the tires, lift and sway bar removal at 31k. No drifts, wheel straight, etc.

After aligning the truck at zero toe the guys had to play with swapping tires and caster to get it driving nice. It has the slightest bit of drift to the right. I could honestly deal with that as some roads it will track straight for a good clip. The crooked wheel bothers me. It’s like I’m aiming for 12:15-12:25(think clock…just past center and right) to drive straight. Probably no big deal to many but I’m not pleased. With the wheel canted off the road it’s odd to me. Like reverse what I would expect with road crown and other normal factors.

The guys are great. I know they tried. I will probably give it a bit and tune it up in the driveway to straighten the wheel.


Sent from me
 
whitexc said:
Got the white Night back today.

In the past few weeks I replaced the Transforce ATs with Milestar Patagonia XTs, installed the Traxda 1” level up front and removed the front sway bar. It drove ok prior to the tires, lift and sway bar removal at 31k. No drifts, wheel straight, etc.

After aligning the truck at zero toe the guys had to play with swapping tires and caster to get it driving nice. It has the slightest bit of drift to the right. I could honestly deal with that as some roads it will track straight for a good clip. The crooked wheel bothers me. It’s like I’m aiming for 12:15-12:25(think clock…just past center and right) to drive straight. Probably no big deal to many but I’m not pleased. With the wheel canted off the road it’s odd to me. Like reverse what I would expect with road crown and other normal factors.

The guys are great. I know they tried. I will probably give it a bit and tune it up in the driveway to straighten the wheel.


Sent from me
Click to expand...
Straightening the wheel is very easy, it may just take you a few tries to get it where you want it. Just loosen the drag link pinch bolt and turn the adjuster a small amount. Tighten the pinch bolt back up and go for a drive. repeat until you have it where you want it.
 
jsalbre said:
Straightening the wheel is very easy, it may just take you a few tries to get it where you want it. Just loosen the drag link pinch bolt and turn the adjuster a small amount. Tighten the pinch bolt back up and go for a drive. repeat until you have it where you want it.
Click to expand...

Yes sir. Been here before lol. Thanks!


Sent from me
 
Parked the truck on flat concrete today to do some tire-to-fender measurements. The front left and right measurements (according to my unscientific redneck tape measure method) are within 1/8", which is an improvement from the stock measurements before the 1" lift and alignments, and such a minor diff that its of no concern to me. The rear though, oddly, is just a scosche over 1/4" diff, with the right rear being higher. Why would this be?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top