This truck has been to three alignment shops since doing the balljoints and the new tie road/drag link assembly. first they thought it was the steering box then they said tires which i could believe my bfg's were pretty wore out. But now today i put new Nitto terra grips on e rated to boot and this truck is ALL OVER the road even the slightest movement of the wheel will whip my GN around and make the truck almost track sideways. This is not deathwobble, this is not bump steer this is outright Wander like flat tire style wander grab and go with truck experiencing the feel of drifting sideways at highway speeds.

Ubolts are tight all control arms are in tip top shape and tight


OK lets list what i have done.

Free spin hubs and spindles at 60k. packed every15-20k

Balljoints at 90k miles

New tie rod/drag link pitman arm and stabilizer at 92k the straight tie rod kit from mopus. no visable free play in the steering linkage when turning

Steering box new from mopar at 95k

steering shaft is tight

Lazar smith steering box stabilizer.

Bushings in the panhard bar are new too.

So what gives are these guys setting the toe in too tight? three shops granted they all set it with the 315/70r17 bfg's but i have never had a problem going from a bigger tire to a smaller and having this profound of an effect.


All the problems started at 70k when the ball joints started to go by 90k when i put the new ones in i expected the handling of 70k miles to return it never has and problems have gotten worse since then. right now i wouldnt drive this truck 2 miles but next week its going to CO and utah so some help sure would eb handy at this point

truck is at 100k miles and i am at whits end and tire of sending it to alignment shops only to be told that everything is fine.

I am all ears

 

When the ball joints were replaced were they greaseable. I know this is an odd question but Iown an alignment shop and have had problems with ball joints locking up. Take the tie rods down and see if the spindle turns freely.if it does then they are good.

 

well the ball joints are greasable


thats an interesting idea so popped em off to check

the spindles still flop freely with tie rods removed.

handy having the computer in the garage.

thank you

 

Your welcome. What are the alignment reading when they are done? You were having the same wander with the old tires as well, right? The track bar may be bad. put the truck down on it's feet start it and move the steering wheel side to side, while you check everything for movement need help on this .let me know

 

will do.

but hate to say it, it will be tomorrow gotta wrap up some bids for tomorrow otherwise i'll never be able to pay for the tires.

thank you for the time.

i'll post more when i have better data

 

When stopped can you turn the steering wheel without the tires turning? if so get a friend to turn the steering wheel while you are under the truck looking for what is the weak link.

Had this problem in my jeep, well still do, but it is just my toy,

Turns out that the tie-rod was bent.

 

I had the similar issue where any touch of the steering wheel would send my truck all over the road. Also would have to try to correct all the time.

I had a PSC steering brace stabilizer installed, and when they did it they put the bearing on upside down. I took it apart, and back together. Truck drives like a dream now

 

The wiggling as I would describe it all over the road is just due to the new tires. It's just like you have a flat. It takes a while for the sealer to wear off the tires. You will feel it in the backend. Pull out on the road and give it some pedal, it feels like the backend is stepping out and goes left to right. It's a pain.

 

DD, mine does the same thing. My story is almost identical. I have done everything you have. Granted mine was hit in the front left tire, but it did it before the hit. As soon as I replaced the ball joints it started. I don't think it is the tires (i am no authority here), I have Toyo MTs with 25k on them. My wife hates to drive it. I have had everything adjusted and readjusted, not sure what I can do next.........

 

I wonder if the rearend is out of align (not square). Every now and then you will hear of this issue.

 

Spooler, if the rear end is out of square, the truck would crab walk down (dog track) all the time it would not steer strange. You said the ball joints were replaced then you started to have the problem, were they offset joints? What are the readings?

 

Check the track bar to see if the bushings are shot or if the mount is wabbed out (hole). Mine was a little loose after my leveling kit install and was giving me the wiggles till I tracked it down.

 

settings to be posted soon. i just got back in town.

the shop was able to simulate it and is on the phone with Moog to discuss further.

its odd at low speeds below 45 its not an issue above 45 the truck is darty. if thats a word to discribe it, like driving rack and pinoon steering.... horribly quick on response 1/8"-1/4" turn of the wheel and you are in the next lane. bump in the road or a rut and it grabs and swaps lanes.

I know caster was 3* and 3.5* but i don't know the camber nor the toe in. the balljoints were straight up joints though. T

he shop said they would call me back with the specifics of the camber and caster settings

The steering box on the truck the part number was for an 08 dodge i dubt the ratio changed must be that the 03 part number was superceeded by the 08 part number.


Track bar holes werent oblonged out


What the shop did find was when they backed the preload off on the steering box (new box with factory setting mind you) by a full turn the trucks handling improved imensly. So my steering box went to crap and the new box from chrysler was too tight?

 

you need more caster up around 5 have heard people going to 6 on caster

 

DDESTRUEL, the box being to adjusted too tight will make things real jumpy.Alittle pressure on the steering wheel then a little more and all of a sudden it jumps.I wouldn't go too much more on caster as long as the right has more then the left.