Howdy all,

I own a 2004 Ram 2500 - 43k miles. Love the truck, but I recentlyhad the front end go on it. I had my mechanic from work replace my upper and lower ball joints & U joints. My mechanic mentioned the upper ball joints were adjustable (?) Afterthis I tookit and got it alligned. I did noticesome difficulties steeringafter the front end work was done - and before the alignment, but it seems to have gotten worse now - or maybe I'm just driving it more now...

The symptoms are hard to explain. I have trouble keeping it straight- especiallybetween 30-50 mph. It's not aspronounced above or below this range, but you still notice it. I find myself oversteering and then correcting often. It get's worse on bumpy roads, and I almostwrecked the truck in a spring snow storm because the steering is goofy... It almost feels like you turn the wheel a slight bit and you get nothing, you turn it a fraction of an inch more, and BAM - your in the other lane!!! The strange part is, if you are on a staight section of smooth road, and let go of the wheel - it will drive staight & doesn't pull at all. Seems like the allignment is OK.

There is a slight amount of play in the wheel when parked & engine off - 1-2 inches tops - I feel that this could be due to the rag joint wearing out. I plan to replace it, but I don't think this is the problem. When you are parked w/ engine on & turn the wheel back & forth, you can feel the play in rag joint -then if you turn past it the power steering engages, and it almost feels like there is alittle more play before the wheels start to turn on the pavement. I did adjust the steering box, and it didn't help at all. Could something be loose? What should I check? Help!!!

Thanks in advance for any help offered...

 

Did you get a print out of your alignment specs after your alignment? Sounds to me that maybe the alignment tech just adjusted tow and didnt bother with caster and camber. The feeling you describe when going 30-50 definitely seems like a caster problem.

 

I am having the same problem... I have an '06 Mega Cab 2500 4x4. Running a Kore Pre-Runner series kit w/37s and 78K miles. Just replaced ball joints, uppers and lowers, both sides... All tie rod ends and the Track Bar bushings on both ends... after the alignment it wanders like a drunk horse... before, even with the bad parts the truck handles very predictably. Slow handling ( it is a big truck) pushed in the corners, but never had this wandering and hyper-sensitive steering.

There is no Camber adjustment, but there should be some caster adjustablility...

I was an ASE certified Alignment, Suspension & Steering, and Brake technician in College ( albeit, 17 yrs ago) and am a competent and capable mechanic. But this has got me scratching my head beyond description.... as many others have mentioned on here, I have adjusted the steering box, almost to the point of too tight. I am concerned that the additional preload on the gear is going to wear it out completely... has there been an info out there regarding steering box failure on these trucks?

The driving sensation is hard to explain, but as you mentioned... drives straight and true whenyou let go of the wheel, but if you change lanes at speed, >40 mph, you have to over correct, then almost go into a fish tail trying to keep the thing in control. It is not the tall tires either, as I have over 20K miles on these tires before the front end work was done... yes they create slow handling, soft sidewalls and all, but nothing like this...

Caster was within spec as well, but I am wondering if the tech might have just 'tapped the sensors'... as some of you 'ol alignment guys' out there can attest too... ;-)

enough rambling... I would appreciate any thoughts or information someone on this forum could provide

 

negative toe (toe out) causes the 'wandering' condition you are talking about.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toe_%28automotive%29

 

xfeejayx - thanks for the info. I took it back to another shop or an alignment check, and both sides were toed out slightly... but the original print out was dead on perfect, so I suspect the new parts 'settled in' a little and the toe needed readjusting... at any rate, the 37s exaggerate any toe issues.

Thanks for the help. New to the forum, will try and get some pics up of my rig soon...