I have had my 96 RAM 2500 long box with the 12 valve cummins truck a front end alignment. I had it back 3 times & they tell me it is something other than, tires (they are new) dragging brakes, worn parts that the steering still isn't in the centre & it pulls slightly to the right. My question is the steering box & the preload on it. I know it is adjustable for play could this be the issue? All parts are good & the caster is suppose to be bang on.

 

steering bearing pre-load or over center adjustment will have NO effect on causing a pull to the right, or any direction for that matter, you can test to see if the steering wheel is centered properly by finding a flat level parking lot, turn the wheel straight ahead, remove hands (and do not try to make steering corrections) from the steering wheel and drive slowly ahead,(20-30feet) this allows the wheels to center and if the steering wheel is not centered, find a new alignment shop because the one you went to knows nothing! you can easily center the wheel yourself without affecting the alignment specs by turning the adjustment sleeve up near the pitman arm. all this adjusting sleeve does is center the steering wheel and thats it. to adjust loosen bolts on sleeve, do the drive forward method I mentioned, stop then rotate sleeve to center the steering wheel, best to have an assistant in the cab to tell you when the wheel is centered. once you have it were you want it. tighten the bolts and re-check again

adjusting the steering box will NOT correct a pulling condition. adjustment only removes slop in the steering, IF you adjust it too tight then the steering wheel wont return to center, after comming out of a turn.
when they say the caster is bang on , who's specs are they quoting?? you need the upper limit of spec, or possiblely more than spec's call for.

Try driving in the left lane and see if the truck drifts to the left, if so then the truck is following the crown of the road, and a good alignment shop should be able to correct this, with a little tweeking. best to check around and find a shop that has someone who KNOWS how to properly do an alignment, not just follow a prompt on a screen.

here is a link, with solutions to just about any steering problem

http://dodgeram.org/tech/troubleshoot/steering.htm

here is the link to what your steering spec's should be set to:

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.a...8f247de789d0ef

here is the link for steering box adjustments

http://dodgeram.org/tech/mods/steeri...ear/Adjust.htm

 

I'll have them check & see if they have the same.

 

hi
do the o3 up track bar upgrade it solves a lot of the stearing issues !

 

Took it to another shop today & it ways way out of alignment. Steering is now in the centre & no more pull. Live & learn.

 

The 3rd gen track bar bracket, wiggles around to much for me. I'm going to weld mine in during my next rebuild. There only a few bolts holding into place. Even with 200ft*lbs, the end will bend in the rough stuff. I'm also reforcing the area of where the track bar is attached to the axle. The brace there is very flimsy. I go thru a set of ball joints/hubs and steering gearbox every year. Next time I'm going to install kingpins and free spin hubs.