97 CTD steering/allignment issue

[NATO4x4]

I have been driving my uncle's 97 dodge 4x4 for a while and it pulls to the right like a mofro. He said he has been to multiple allignment shops and it is within specs. In a search all I found was track bar issues. Is this what I dealing with on his truck? Do they all pull to the right? I'm about to sell my 03 Chevy 2500 gasser and get a 99-00 CTD, and want to educate myself a little on the steering.

Can the steering box or drag link be adjusted to fix a pull? Also his steering stabalizer looks shot. Is there a prefered stabalizer that you guys use?

[jnau99]

I am not a big fan of Dodge steering. I just had to replace my steering box because once the panhard bar wears out like they do it starts to use the drag link as the centering device. The newer dodges fixed this problem, like in 02'ish I think.

If your drag link is worn out It would probably cause some pull depending. There is no adjustment and a stabalizer wont fix it. I would check your rotors and brakes. See if the right side is screwed up or not. Usually if an allignment shop says its good then it is something else.
Jack it up and spin the tires see if there is more drag on one then the other.
All in all I am happy with the dodge, but it wont drive near as nice as an indepent suspension chevy.

Justin

[NATO4x4]

Ill try jacking it up and spinning the tires.

If I remember correctly the wheel bearings have both been replaced so that should not be an issue.

So your saying panhard rod goes to shit, followed by the drag link, which in turn screws up the box. Seems like tightening up on the drag link and adjusting the steering wheel to the right might help. I don't want to do too much since its not my truck, but no one else can diagnose it. Thanks for the input.

[fabtoys]

The dodge actually has a caster adjustment aftermarket they make an upper ball joint with offset race to compensate but the track bar is not part of the pull that would be tracking it would wanders or the bar will clunking sounds . Also try swap the front tires side to side pass on drivers side vie versa sometime a tire will cause a pull also check the brakes if a caliper is sticking on the right side . check the lower conrol arm bushings and if the lower bolt with the eccentric is loose goood luck

[NATO4x4]

I jacked it up and spun the tires. If anything the driver side had some resistance. The resistance seemed to be consistant as the tire rotated and in my limited experience with sticking calipers usually the rotor warps. The tires were recently relpaced. It was the same with both sets. The control arm bushings look shot. Not sure how deep the dry rot goes but it does not look good. I'll investigate poly bushings. Anyone ever replaced these?

[rpm4x4]

Does it pull less or more when you step on the brakes? If a caliper is hanging up it will generally pull harder or sometimes change directions alltogather. Also try swapping the front tires side to side. It could be a radial pull.

Mike

[NATO4x4]

Does not pull when brakes are applied. When I first learned of the problem the truck had 245 michelins. For a while he ran the truck with less air in the driver tire to counter the right pull. On a trip from South Carolina to New Mexico he got stuck on the side of the road in Texas and so he switched to 265 bfg ats. I have not checked the pressures yet but im assuming they are close to each other. Its still pulling the way it was when it had 245s.

[fabtoys]

sometimes new tires will cause a pull doesn't matter for the bushing never changed any on a dodge but usually replaace with stock less noise than poly

[SeahawkDodge]

You might check if it has a spacer on the right hub. Mine did, and I had a bad problem with it pulling while braking.
I recommend looking at the track bar, as I know mine needs replaced. I have some pull to the right myself.
I also am looking to replace the radius arm bushings, as they are shot.

Check out this post on track bar replacement.
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=409460

[rpm4x4]

I would still swap the front tires from side to side to eliminate that as a cause. I work at an allignment shop. almost every single pull on a straight axle truck is tire related, followed by brakes, and then gearbox. To eliminate the gearbox, get it up to speed where it pulls, shift to neutral and shut the truck off. If the pull goes away the gearbox is leaking internally. Be carefull not to lock the steering while doing this.

Mike

[rpm4x4]

Also be sure that the person doing the allignment did a caster sweep. Most mech wont do a caster sweep on a straight axle. Dodge does have a caster adjustment on the lower controlarms. Many allignment mechs do not know that.

Mike

[rpm4x4]

Duplicate post, sorry, cant figure out how to delete.:shaking:

[NATO4x4]

Someone did mention at some point some kind of valve in either the pump or box that might be causing a problem.

Is there any way I could test any of this by jacking up the front end with the truck running? Im guessing no. If I get brave Ill try the speed test.