I have an RT that been back to the dealer twice for front end work. First the right font was out of wack, The dealer did a complete front and rear alignment in accordance to the Service bulliten. Now it is in the shop for right front caliper hanging up.

Has anyone else had these issues.

I love the car best hands down handling car I've owned.

Brad

 

I have a SXT and I thought it seemed to be pulling to the right myself, but i thought it might be the bad roads that I live by, what was the service Bulletin?

 

I took it in for an oil change and told the service manager that it was pulling to the right. He then told me that a service buliten came out on the problem that day. You could call Jerry at Jack Caruso's Dodge in Jacksonville, Fl 904-642-4236. He has all the info.

Good luck,
Brad

 

Yeah, the always the chance you take when you get the first few of a run... you get to be the one that finds all the little things they didn't do just perfect. I haven't run to anything that serious, I have a bit of a "rap on heat shielding during wide open throttle" that I need to look at. I think the exhaust may be too close to the pipes towards the trunk, or some jerk that test drove it took the spare out and didn't bolt it back in tight...

 

My original plan was to wait a year before buying it. To let Dodge ge the little bugs worked out. I was in the process of buying a 2004 Hemi Ram, when this car showed up, I test drove and bought it that day. The dealer had the RT on the lot less than 18 hours.

 

Here's the bulletin:

NUMBER: 02-003-04

GROUP: Suspension

DATE: May 25, 2004

SUBJECT:
Right Lead

OVERVIEW:
This bulletin involves adjusting the alignment to revised specifications.
MODELS:
2005 (LX) 300/Magnum
NOTE: This bulletin applies to vehicles built prior to April 25, 2004 (MDH 0425XX).

SYMPTOM/CONDITION:
The vehicle operator states the vehicle leads to the right.

DIAGNOSIS:
Drive the car on a FLAT road. If the car tracks straight, the vehicle operator is experiencing
crown sensitivity. If the vehicle tracks to the right, perform the Repair Procedure. Crown
sensitivity can not be eliminated in all the cases. Vehicles built on or after April 25, 2004
already have the alignment biased and no further action should be required or taken by the
dealer other than verifying the vehicle is set at the revised specifications listed in this
bulletin.

NOTE: Before evaluating the vehicle, it is important to check the following:
1. Tire pressure - Adjust tire pressure (if necessary) in all four wheels to
the pressure stated on the door placard.
2. Tire size & type - Verify that all four tires are the same size and type.

NOTE: When evaluating the vehicle, always drive the same road in both directions to
get a feel for the effect of road crown & cross wind.

NOTE: When aligning the front end to induce right caster bias (the vehicle will tend
to track toward the side with the least positive caster), target the cross caster
to be -0.8 degree and no more than -1.3 degrees. That means you will have
more caster on the right than on the left. Cross camber should be set in at
+0.2 - +0.3 degree. That means you will have more camber on the left than on
the right. Utilize the cradle shift method PRIOR to using the caster/camber
adjustment bolt kit, p/n 05134117AA. The adjustment bolts only provide
about 0.2 - 0.3 degree change and should only be used as a last resort. When
shifting the cradle, the passenger side of the cradle will move forward in car
and the driver's side will move rearward in car.

NOTE: After the cradle has been shifted, torque all 4 cradle bolts to 175Nm (130 ft.
lbs.).

CAUTION: If an adjustment bolt is to be installed do not allow the bolt head to turn
during disassembly or assembly, the cradle tension link joint or the lower
control arm bushing inner metal sleeve will be destroyed and require
replacement. THE NUT MUST BE UNTORQUED AND REMOVED, BEFORE
THE BOLT. Once the nut is removed the bolt can be slid out.

REVISED ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS
FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT - PREFERRED SETTING - ACCEPTABLE RANGE
CAMBER - LEFT -0.1° -0.60° to +0.40°
CAMBER - RIGHT -0.20° -0.70° to +0.30°
Cross-Camber (Maximum side-to-side difference) 0.20° -0.30 to +0.60°
CASTER - LEFT +10.30° +9.00° to +12.10°
CASTER - RIGHT +11.10° +9.00° to +12.10°
Cross-Caster (Maximum side-to-side difference) -0.80° -1.30 to -0.50°
INDIVIDUAL TOE 0.10° -0.05° to +0.15°
TOTAL TOE** +0.20° 0.00° to +0.40°
Maximum side-to-side difference 0.00° 0.06°
RIDE HEIGHT - INDIVIDUAL 328mm (12 15/16 in.) 318 to 338mm (12 1/2 to 13
3/8 in.)
CROSS RIDE HEIGHT 0 -12 to +12mm (1/2 in.)

REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT - PREFERRED SETTING - ACCEPTABLE RANGE
CAMBER* -0.75° -1.25° to -0.25°
Cross-Camber (Maximum side-to-side difference) 0.00° -0.50 to 0.50°
INDIVIDUAL TOE 0.10° -0.05° to +0.25°

FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT - [b]PREFERRED SETTING - ACCEPTABLE RANGE[/b]
THRUST ANGLE 0.0° -0.50° to +0.50°
RIDE HEIGHT - INDIVIDUAL 296mm (11 5/8 in.) 286 to 306mm (11 1/4 to 12
in.)
CROSS RIDE HEIGHT 0 -12 to +12mm (1/2 in.)
Notes:
Vehicle height and suspension alignment values reflect after vehicle spring settling values.
* For reference only. These are non-adjustable angles.
** TOTAL TOE is the sum of both left and right wheel toe settings. TOTAL TOE must be equally
split between each front wheel to ensure the steering wheel is centered after setting toe. Positive
toe is toe-in and negative toe is toe-out
-3- 02-003-04

 

I have around 4300 miles on mine and have experienced this from the beginning. I can say for sure, however, that my problem is crown sensitivity as it pulls to the left (slightly) when the road slopes away from the crown to the left and vice-versa for the right. I noticed this in both of the R/T's I test drove before buying this one but not in the SXT I drove first.

I was wondering if a tire swap would do some good (although TireRAck has no toher brands in the OEM size). I don't really mind the tires but they do seem to cause a bit of understeer in the rain and I would take oversteer to understeer any day in the snow. Let me know if anyone knows of a high performance all season in OEM size.

Nick

 

I just bought an SXT. I didn't notice on the test drive, but a day after I bought it I noticed it pulls to the right. I had the dealer do an alignment yesterday but today it is still exactly the same, still pulls very slightly to the right. I will have to ask them about this service bulletin and see if that fixes it. Maybe they have old data.

 

I got the RT back from having the brakes fixed. That did not fix the pull to the right. Talked to DC about the problem, and was told another TSB should be out in a few weeks.

Brad

 

I have the same problems as several have mentioned and will take my RT in tomorrow to have alignment done. I also got different specs from local Auto shop that is #1 in my area. He will check what the dealer does. I'll let you know the correct settings if you like.

* * * *

Had front end aligned & Car drives like a dream now. No shimmy or pulling to the right. Only thing was that it took 6 hrs at the dealers to correct the problem. The New Service Bulletin must be out since the numbers don't match the one in the posting. Email if you would like the phone number to dealer or check your dealer now. What a relief..