Bad Alignment - Possible???

[Zilverado]

For starters, let me just take a moment to honor all of the men and women who have given, and are curently willing to give their lives to protect the freedoms that we all enjoy. GOD Bless them all!!

So now for my truck question...

I continue to have an issue with the truck wanting to pull to the right, both while driving and also while braking. Thinking my brakes may have been an issue, I replaced a number of front parts (hoses, callipers and wheel bearings). The problem persisted. So, I swapped the tires on the front and still no difference.

Earlier this year, when I first noticed the problem, I took the truck in for an alignment. The shop claimed they made some adjustments, and as far as I can recall, the truck tracked beautifully afterwards. Since I do not drive the truck all the time, I do not recall when the pull came back - or maybe I was just imagining that it was gone following the alignment???

So, is it possible that the alignment could have gone bad again? Could one of the adjustments that the shop made perhaps have failed again? I can't see how tie rod adjustment could go bad, but maybe I dropped a shim? But then I would guess things would be really loose.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Thanks.

[lurch115]

have you looked at the A-arm bushings?? or how about the sway bar bushing??? i learned the hard way that you don't jack the frontend up right by a swaybar bushing...it had an extender or drop bracket that bent and made the truck almost veir tothe right

[Zilverado]

I would imagine something like this would have been noticed by the alightment guys - don't you think?

[old Rusty C10]

Originally Posted by Zilverado

I would imagine something like this would have been noticed by the alightment guys - don't you think?

depends on who his allignment guy is and if they work for Midas or Sears or not lol

[Duro5341]

I bet the alignment guys only looked at the CCT in the front, being it's a solid rear axle. I would personally pay close attention to the Thrust Angle....this will tell you if the truck is tracking straight.

I have seen perfect alignments, with 0.25 caster lead, and 0.50 camber lead, perfect toe. And the truck still pulls right, because someone put the one leaf spring in backwards. This will through your thrust angle out, and cause the truck to track left, and you turning right to componsate for the pull.....or vice versa.

Maybe a rear drum is over adjusted, and draging?

Also keep in mind the road crown, most vehicals will pull slightly to the right, because it's following the crown of the road.....

Just a few ideas
Duro

[Zilverado]

Originally Posted by Duro5341

I bet the alignment guys only looked at the CCT in the front, being it's a solid rear axle. I would personally pay close attention to the Thrust Angle....this will tell you if the truck is tracking straight.

I have seen perfect alignments, with 0.25 caster lead, and 0.50 camber lead, perfect toe. And the truck still pulls right, because someone put the one leaf spring in backwards. This will through your thrust angle out, and cause the truck to track left, and you turning right to componsate for the pull.....or vice versa.

Well, since I have made no changes in the rear end (aside from u-joints) since I originally installed the rear axle and springs, I don't imagine there is an issue here. The problem only started within the last 6 months or so.

Originally Posted by Duro5341

Maybe a rear drum is over adjusted, and draging?

I was kind of thinking this myself. When I jack up the rear end and check for free spinning of the rear wheels, it seems there is a slight drag on the right, but only slight. It does not seem sufficient to actually pull the vehicle over.

Originally Posted by Duro5341

Also keep in mind the road crown, most vehicals will pull slightly to the right, because it's following the crown of the road.....

Yeah, I thought of this. I also keep in mind where the wind is coming from (at least on the highway). Thing is the pull is even noticeable at slow speeds on residential streets, where the road crown and wind are much less of a factor - there's definitely something "mechanical" going on here.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll talk to the alignment shop and take another look at the rear brakes.

[Duro5341]

the road crown will be the worst in residential, and older parts of downtown

I suggest going down a 3 lane, 1 way street.......in the middle lane. This will put your truck in the center of the crown, and should trrack straight, or very slightly to the left. Or also hit a major highway (401, QEW, 403, 400 up here), a major 3-5 lane each direction highway.....and be in the center lanes again. This will eliminate any crown issues.

Maybe someone has over tightend a front wheel bearing. Torque to 35ftlbs, and back off 1/3 of a turn max....i dunno just throwing ideas

Duro