Steering Question

I have a 2016 Rebel and since day one, the steering is very touchy and hard to keep it going straight down the road without constant feedback with the steering wheel. And when going straight down the road, and step on the throttle, the truck will pull hard to the left, and when letting off the throttle, it will drift to the right. The dealer said they checked the alignment and three techs drove it and could not get it to pull for them. I took one of them for a ride and showed him how it pulls, and he said nothing is wrong because the alignment is good.
My question it, has anyone here had this drifting and pulling issue with their ram? Thanks

I'd ask to see the alignment readings. One side camber or caster could be on the high side of spec, the other side could be on the low side. But it's still in spec, so good to go.... Have a few guys in our shop that go by that. I always aim for preferred spec unless vehicle condition prohibits it.

Without seeing what the readings are, I'd guess either add more caster or possible rut sensitivity. Test drive another rebel, see if it's the same. The electric steering is very sensitive to driver input & it may all be caused by being used to driving an older/simpler vehicle.

Savage, Thank you for the reply.
I have an appointment with another dealer next week to check the alignment and other things. Hopefully they will find the issue. I was driving a 07 Ram sport prior to the rebel, and my Challenger has the electric assist power steering and it does not change lanes by pulling to the left, or hard to keep it straight even when both rear tires are rolling smoke off them.

It plan to drive another rebel when I am there and see if it is the nature of the beast.

Ram Rebel said:

... when going straight down the road, and step on the throttle, the truck will pull hard to the left ... when letting off the throttle, it will drift to the right ...

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That's definitely NOT normal and should be addressed ASAP as it is unsafe to drive as it is right now!
I won't leave the dealership with a truck behaving like this.

That is an event that takes place often in Jeep Wrangler TJ's. Most often it is because of movement in the back end not an alignment issue. Soft or worn control arm bushings will compress along with a good limited slip or locker will cause the same thing to happen . I could drive into the left lane using only the gas pedal and come back by decelerating and I have a lot less than 400 hp to do that with in the Jeep. Soft sway bar adds to that effect also . Give the back end a good going over it was never an alignment issue .

I have a 16 Rebel, never noticed it before (granted, it's only 2 weeks old!). Will try to duplicate on my way to work in the morning. What speed and stage or airlift are you in when you notice it?

I had the same chit a COUPLE times. Where the alignment doesn't match the tracking, and got the same response from the dealer. Just a cautionary tell on future test drives. The fkin famous response, well it's the road. Never figured it out.

One thing to keep in mid tires do track differently from one brand or size to the next. In my Jeep as mentioned above I went through three different tires as I had just upgraded everything on my suspension til I found a set that didn't drift. Jeeps are also different as there's been numerous discussions on frame flexing when adding a engine lift and changing the characteristics under acceleration and deceleration. In your Rebel I'm willing to bet it's the tires tracking different under those condition. Make sure each tire has the same pressure to. And often times you pair a mild off-road tire to the road and you've got your answer. Now, there is a possibility it's something with alignment but hard to believe in a new truck. I'd like to see the thrust angle which is the angle between the front and rear axles as this can cause a walking like movement. Get a print out

Ram Rebel said:

Savage, Thank you for the reply.
I have an appointment with another dealer next week to check the alignment and other things. Hopefully they will find the issue. I was driving a 07 Ram sport prior to the rebel, and my Challenger has the electric assist power steering and it does not change lanes by pulling to the left, or hard to keep it straight even when both rear tires are rolling smoke off them.

It plan to drive another rebel when I am there and see if it is the nature of the beast.

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Hi Ram Rebel,

I'd be happy to follow up with your dealership for you if needed. Just PM our page with your VIN and let me know!

Andrea
Ram Social Care Specialist

If nothing else take it to a local indy shop and have it checked. My truck (not a Rebel) with 5000 miles on it was eating the front outside of the tires off and sure enough the factory alignment was wrong.

ramcares said:

Hi Ram Rebel,

I'd be happy to follow up with your dealership for you if needed. Just PM our page with your VIN and let me know!

Andrea
Ram Social Care Specialist

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Andera: Thank you very much, I will do this if I can not get and results with my dealer. I have been buying cars and trucks from the same salesman for over 25 years, so hopefully he will step in also to help on this.

chopperman1 said:

I have a 16 Rebel, never noticed it before (granted, it's only 2 weeks old!). Will try to duplicate on my way to work in the morning. What speed and stage or airlift are you in when you notice it?

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Chopper, This does the drifting and pulling under power at all speeds and all road conditions in normal suspension mode, and it is worse in aero mode. If I want to pass a car on the road, I just step on the gas, and the truck will change lanes instantly with no steering input, and swing back in the right lane when I let off the gas. Very dangerous if I was not ready for the lane change.
I would of never purchased this truck if I knew about this when I picked it up. It was raining when I drove it home and did not get into the throttle due to the weather, and I thought the drifting issue was just a new truck and needed to get used to it.
I will add that when I take off from a stop even at part throttle I can feel it wanting to drift to the left a little, and the harder I am into it the harder it pulls. It reminds me of my 1990 front wheel drive Dodge Daytona with the torque steering it had, but a lot worse.
I noticed this today, when I have the truck in 4 wheel drive, it does not pull to the left under power, but the steering still wanders side to side.
I am starting to believe I might also have a issue in the rear end assembly like bad bushings in the control arms or something else. But not likely with under 4,000 miles on it. Thanks