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Alignment/Steering issues

iB@R

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Need some help here... So I ordered a new 2022 Ram 3500 Laramie MEGACAB DRW . When I picked it up from the dealership I noticed it had a pull to the left and call my sales person and reported it. He tells me that they would have to do a wheel alignment. I said "ok" and proceeded to tell him that "I was taking the truck to another dealership to have a level kit and adding 20" rims and that they the other dealership would have to do the wheel alignment because of the level kit installment". After said Installments and wheel alignment were done the truck still had a LEFT PULL. I took it back to the dealership that did the wheel alignment and they performed another Wheel Alignment. Again the pull and steering Wheel was off. So the truck Pulls Left steering wheel is turned Slightly to the right. "What the Hell" So I set up an appointment with the dealership I order it through. In the mean time I had an Auxiliary fuel tank and a tool box professionally installed to the bed of truck and I mounted the Demo Fifth Wheel Bracket in the 5th wheel puck system. Went to the dealership where I bought it from they did a wheel alignment. I received it back and the pull was worse. I turned around took it back so now it sits a the dealership and the service manager and the Tech proceeds to tell me that because of all the accessory that were added is the cause of my issues. I said NO and that this truck was pulling left and steering wheel was 15 degrees off to the right when I originally picked the truck up. I honestly believe that there is wrong with this truck from the manufacture. The Dealership obvious does not no what's wrong with this truck. The dealership sent it to a specialty shop and I received it back with the same results. Anyone else having this problem or have any ideas what is wrong?
 
Yes a left pull is not normal at all. Did they give you a printout of the alignment angles?

Also is it actually pulling left? If you get on a flat road and let go of the wheel does it drive straight regardless of the steering position? Or is the steering wheel just not centered properly
 
If it were me I would put it all back to stock and then start the process over again. Not trying to pick on you or be critical, but if the truck was doing that from day one, It would have been better to address the alignment issue before adding all the aftermarket B.S. to it. There’s obviously something wrong and they need to make it right. Did you read the post / info about setting the truck’s alignment to THUREN specs? There’s a lot of good info in there.


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My 21 PW alingment was out of spec from the factory. I had it aligned at a independent shop and had them use the Thuren specs. Much better now.
 
Mine had a right pull for a long time. I have 33/12.5r20 with -40 offset. Finally found a shop that installed a -.5 degree offset ball joint on the right side, aligned all to spec and she drives straight as an arrow now.

I mean with -40 offset it drives as straight as it’s going to according to the road. It will hold a straight line for a long time is the road is good.


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Does the truck pull left when you let the steering wheel loose? Or does it go straight?
Or does it pull left when you have the steering wheel in a 12 o'clock position?
Is the steering wheel turned slightly to the right, like 1 o'clock when the wheels are straight?
Is the issue at any speed or just low speed, or high speed?
Can you post the alignment sheet from the dealer?
 
Yes a left pull is not normal at all. Did they give you a printout of the alignment angles?

Also is it actually pulling left? If you get on a flat road and let go of the wheel does it drive straight regardless of the steering position? Or is the steering wheel just not centered properly
No I did not receive a printout either time. Yes the truck pulls to the left on flat roads and when I drive straight holding the steering wheel it's off to the right about 10*-15* even when I'm to the far right lane with the crown of the road sloping to the right it still pulls to the left.
 
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If it were me I would put it all back to stock and then start the process over again. Not trying to pick on you or be critical, but if the truck was doing that from day one, It would have been better to address the alignment issue before adding all the aftermarket B.S. to it. There’s obviously something wrong and they need to make it right. Did you read the post / info about setting the truck’s alignment to THUREN specs? There’s a lot of good info in there.


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Yes, I read that post and will be going back with those spec's and have them try those thanks.
 
Does the truck pull left when you let the steering wheel loose? Or does it go straight?
Or does it pull left when you have the steering wheel in a 12 o'clock position?
Is the steering wheel turned slightly to the right, like 1 o'clock when the wheels are straight?
Is the issue at any speed or just low speed, or high speed?
Can you post the alignment sheet from the dealer?
Yes, pulls left when I let go of steering wheel. If I have the steering wheel at 12 o'clock the truck will drift to the left. Yes, the steering wheel is off to the right when going straight and it doesn't matter what speed I'm going but worse at higher speeds.
 
Sounds like the tech didnt do the alignment correctly. First you align the wheels. Then you align the steering wheel to the wheels.
Been there, done that.
 
The steering wheel situation is "easy".
The steering wheel needs to be set straight and then the toe left and right need to be set to the same values. I have not done it on the truck but on my racecar many times.
Challenging might be getting the steering wheel centered and lock it in that position during the toe adjustment. If you do not lock the steering wheel in the center it makes it nearly impossible to get it straight.
With pull in one direction that is a difficult one. First I would check if all alignment is within the manufacturer specs.
There are tolerances and the shops will not adjust anything if the numbers are within tolerances. These tolerances are sometimes pretty large.

I would push them for adjustment so that left and right values are very close to each other.
If you are a salesman that might be good for the negotiation process there. :)
Also make sure that tire pressures are all similar.
Wind can push the truck in a certain direction on the street. Test the truck with low wind.
Drag on one wheel makes the truck steer on its own. That one wheel gets slowed down by the brake system is unlikely with a new truck but if a caliper has drag, it tries to steer the truck.
Feel the rotors with your hands after driving for a few miles. They should be all the same temperature left to right, front and rear might be different. Don't burn you fingers.
Also I would try to test drive another new truck, as if you want to buy a truck. Just to compare your truck against another brand new one. Have your buddy make a video of the experience to show the dealer.
 
Can someone post the Stock and Thuren Alignment specs for a 2022 3500 Megacab SRW Cummins (4WD)
 
Tons of issues with aligning these things for some reason. Only way my truck has ever driven straight is with some cross caster. But problems is, it will lean to one side or another. Its very ****ty, I think something is wrong with the build of these front ends from the factory.

Be careful when you align it, when you get it back measure all 4 side from the top of the tire to fender. My was 1in lower in the passenger side till about 4 alignments and some twerking later, it’s now 3/8” lower on passenger side. Something im going to have to deal with if I want it to drive straight I guess. Sucks, but I don’t know what else to do.

I also have 33/12.5r20 -40. So that may now help but they are the biggest or most negative offset either.

Thuren specs didn’t work AT ALL for me. It drove like **** on Thuren specs. Pulled left pretty good.


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Tons of issues with aligning these things for some reason. Only way my truck has ever driven straight is with some cross caster. But problems is, it will lean to one side or another. Its very ****ty, I think something is wrong with the build of these front ends from the factory.

Be careful when you align it, when you get it back measure all 4 side from the top of the tire to fender. My was 1in lower in the passenger side till about 4 alignments and some twerking later, it’s now 3/8” lower on passenger side. Something im going to have to deal with if I want it to drive straight I guess. Sucks, but I don’t know what else to do.

I also have 33/12.5r20 -40. So that may now help but they are the biggest or most negative offset either.

Thuren specs didn’t work AT ALL for me. It drove like **** on Thuren specs. Pulled left pretty good.


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Glad I’m not the only one that’s been driven crazy by how these things drive down the road.

The only thing I’ve really found that seems to help is drastically lower tire pressure (which is irritating because of needing to constantly adjust if if loaded/unloaded)

The best I’ve been able to do is set the toe to zero, ensure the steering wheel appears mostly centered on straightish roads, and then just deal with the right drift for crown when it’s there. Oh well…..

A left pull is weird though….
 
hub failure of new ish 2022s reported in the main thread. any chance you might have bad wheel bearings in the left front that would be causing it?

also, another vote for these rigs really following the crown of the road. there was a time i was convinced the truck was pulling right, but it turned out that it was just crown of the road. i started being hyper aware of it and noticed it would follow the crown just as hard to the left if i was ever on a road sloping that way.
 
hub failure of new ish 2022s reported in the main thread. any chance you might have bad wheel bearings in the left front that would be causing it?

also, another vote for these rigs really following the crown of the road. there was a time i was convinced the truck was pulling right, but it turned out that it was just crown of the road. i started being hyper aware of it and noticed it would follow the crown just as hard to the left if i was ever on a road sloping that way.

Same exact experience here. Makes me crazy at times but oh well…
 
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