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Holding 1-2* of wheel to steer straight after alignment

TankerTrash

TankerTrash

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Hey folks.

2021 2500 CTD, got the truck aligned under warranty after the first couple hundred miles. Tech showed me the paperwork of the old numbers and new numbers. Doesnt pull to the right like it used to. Problem ive been having is on *most* roads, the truck seems to guide right with the wheel straight, such as interstate/highways.
I do notice that on my residential street, the truck tracks straight with the wheel centered. My thought process is that uneven roads (roads with camber, not offroad with potholes) will cause the truck to drift. If I am in the center or right lane, the truck guides right with the wheel centered, where as if I am in the left lane, the truck guides left with the wheel almost centered...

I am probably well past my point of going back to the dealer to fix the alignment if it is indeed the problem, but am wondering if anyone has shared these same feelings? Is the truck really that sensitive to uneven roads?!

65 psi in the fronts and 55 in the rear, no difference driver to passenger.
 
I may be over thinking your description but can you clarify whether you do or don’t have a pull in either direction? Can you clarify what you mean by “guide”? Do you mean the direction the truck naturally wants go when you’re holding the wheel at the straight 12 o’clock position?

A change in castor can affect how hard the truck wants to travel in a straight line on its own, vs very little road crown that allows it to “drift”

Some alignment shops leave a tiny bit of castor heavy on one side to battle road crown.

Or you’re simply talking about your steering wheel being slightly off center, which is a relatively easy driveway fix.


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Burton12387 said:
I may be over thinking your description but can you clarify whether you do or don’t have a pull in either direction? Can you clarify what you mean by “guide”? Do you mean the direction the truck naturally wants go when you’re holding the wheel at the straight 12 o’clock position?

A change in castor can affect how hard the truck wants to travel in a straight line on its own, vs very little road crown that allows it to “drift”

Some alignment shops leave a tiny bit of castor heavy on one side to battle road crown.

Or you’re simply talking about your steering wheel being slightly off center, which is a relatively easy driveway fix.


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Click to expand...

Sorry, poorly explained on my end. On flat ground, wheel centered, truck drives straight. On roads such as the interstate, wheel centered, the truck will naturally want to go to the right.

I dont think that my wheel needs to be centered
 
If it tracks straight on flat ground I don’t think you have any major issue to speak of.

My truck wants to follow the crown slightly on heavy crowned roads but corrects with very little user input, but I’ll be holding the wheel in that position a couple degrees off center.

You can combat this effect by adjusting the caster and tow slightly, but you’ll have trade offs in other areas. There is a happy medium that exists, but you risk making other handling characteristics worse.

Some of this is just the nature of the beast of running a solid front axle, being more sensitive to road crown.

You could always try a shop that specializes in big trucks and or lifts. They’re often times better versed then your run of the mill alignment shop that only cares about the computer read out. Finding someone who cares, and actually knows what they’re doing and how to combat different characteristics your feelings without solely relying on the computer, are few and far between these days.


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Try looking at Thuren Fabrication’s website. I used their specs on my 2019 3500. Drives great and the outside edges of the tires don’t get worn as badly. There is good alignment info on the site.
 
Yea thats a very sloppy alignment way to much tow looks like the guy just did the bare minimum to get in the green
 
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