When turned to full lock either direction, the inner edge of the front tires sometimes rub on the lower suspension arm. Don't think it causes much harm, but does make a nasty noise. Embarrassing even, sounds like the thing is falling apart. It may be, but not from this.

My truck is a '96 RAM 1500 5.2 l 4WD Sport with off-road and trailer tow options. Tires are a stock size: 265/75R16. No mods, only repairs.

Is there a turn stop that needs to be adjusted or is missing?

Allen

 

Really ... only 265's and they rub? Damn! There should be a bolt on each side ... back it out until they don't rub.

[IMG]local://upfiles/39331/80CE174A77724A99BE13638CD2C1BB39.jpg[/IMG]

 

On my truck the passenger side of bumper is an inch farther back from the driver..previous owner must have hit something..anyway the tire rubs on the plastic since the bumper is back farther....jst throwin out my experience.

 

Where is it rubbing? If it is doing what habeba86's was doing, the best suggesting is rip that stupid plastic chunk off the bumper and toss out. I wasn't rubbing, but ripped mine off anyways...truck looks so much better now.

 

hah, i actually had to take the front valence off when i hit a raccoon. ive been looking for a replacement since shortly after. its a real handful on the highway when passing a truck, feels like the front end gets lift from the air.

anyway, my 265s rubbed when i first got the truck, i did what TMS Bill did, im good now.

 

Okay, so here is my question...are those of you with 265 rub 2x4 or 4x4? I had 265s on my truck when I bought it with no rub, but I have a 4x4...I put 285s on shortly before I leveled my truck with still no rub...and I know that with the spacers I have, I can almost fit 315s (will rub at wheel lock). A buddy of mine has an identical truck to mine (spacers came off his truck after he lifted his) and he never rubbed except with 315 at full lock.

 

My 4X4 1500 is into hardcore tire-to-metal action, no wimpy plastic involved. At full steering lock, the inside rear of a front tire rubs on the lower control arm - that's the beam-like piece going from a pivot on the frame forward to support the bottom of the front axle. (The upper control arm runs above and goes to the top of the front axle). Because it's the outside the edge of the blocky tread that rubs on the lip of the lower control arm, the noise is impressive - really does sound like the front end is gonna fall apart.

Yeah, makes sense to have something to limit how much the wheel can turn, but I don't find anything - no bolt, no nothing. I looked at the Pittman arm, drag link, tie rod and tie rod ends. If DC asked me to design the front end, I would put a "stop" on the part of the front axle that hold the ball joints that would bump into the hub when the wheel is turned "far enough." Does your truck have a bolt that limits wheel turn?

FWIW, PO had put on Cooper "Discover AT" tires not long before selling. For my needs, BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO tires would be better, maybe even narrower size (running and ducking ). But it's hard to dump rubber that still has 10's of thousands miles left.

Allen (needing an explanation real bad)

 

If it is only at full turn, don't turn that far.

 

Gee, that's an idea
Do do that, except when docking in a tight parking lot space thinking about scraping a wee little car I can't even see anymore when I get close - then "brruuppp, groan, brrraattttt."

When I began thinking how DC should not let this happen and how there should be a bump-stop on the steering knuckle, went back and looked - sure enough, there is one. The great 2001 pdf manual (thanks again for that) doesn't say anything anywhere about that piece. Anybody have any experience with that bumper? Can it be adjusted? Replaced?

Allen (trying not to do full lock)

 

No matter what you do you're going to decrease your turning radius to stop it from rubbing. So either turn a little less tight or remove that stop and put a few washers on it, basically adjusting it to decrease your turn radius to the point where at full lock your tire doesn't rub.

The steering stop adjustment is a common thing for guys who put bigger wider tires on their vehicles.

This is a site for Jeeps but the directions should help you, I assume it should work on the 44 front end in our half tons:
http://www.stu-offroad.com/steering/...teerstop-1.htm