Alignment Questions

[sroc112]

New Ram owner

2025 Ram 1500 Big Horn crew cab 4x4 3.6.

I noticed at time of purchase that it felt like the truck drifted/pulled to the right when driving. I mentioned it on the test drove with the salesman and also let him know after driving it home that night (1+ hour ride) that I felt it on different roads and at different speeds. Mentioned to him I would give it a week or so and see if it settled out, and get back in touch after that if I felt it needed to be checked.

I ended up doing a 2 inch level and also replaced the tires to get a slightly taller sidewall. Went from 275/55r20 to 275/65r20. Right after the installation and mount, I went and got an alignment done from an independent shop.

I just drove the vehicle about 700 miles to the northeast across 6 states for a work trip. I notice that in order to drove straight, I feel like the steering wheel is ever so slightly turned to the left. When I let go, the wheel gradually straightens itself out, but the truck pulls pretty noticeably to the right at that point. The steering wheel offset is minor. While I do feel it's not exactly center/balanced, its do also recognize it could just be my OCD. The pull to the right is also minor ish while holding the wheel, not like im using muscle to fight it. But when I let go the pull does in fact gradually drift me into the right lane.

Questions:
1. Attached is my alignment report. Does anything stand out in there on what may be causing this?
2. Ill end up driving probably about 2000 miles this week. If something is slightly off with my alignment based on the description I shared above, is 2k miles enough to do any premature damage to my tires? They are brand new, so would hate to cause premature wear to them already on this one single trip.
3. Are variances like this in pull and steering normal with larger tires on a truck? These put me at just about 34.2 inch tires with a 2 inch level.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Burla]

Toe is the easy one to measure, so you can easily check it at home and adjust. Slightly pointed in is desirable. I think he has steering wheel trick as well. Not sure if same on your 25 but there should be similar adjustments.

How to do an alignment on a car at home using only a tape-measure!!! (And Alignment Basics)

Basic how to for aligning the toe of a car. Not the steps to complete a full alignment but is helpful for the most adjusted part on the front endInstagram: h...

youtu.be

 

[sroc112]

The variance on the toe measurements in the attached alignment report dont seem to be that they would be off. Unless I am reading it wrong.

 

[joesstripclub]

Keep in mind that the crown in the road can make it feel like your alignment is a bit off. A vehicle with a perfect centered alignment will actually pull to the right a bit in the right lane due to the crown of the road. Assuming the high point is in the center of the highway, you should be able to drive in the left lane and the vehicle will pull about the same to the left. If they used the correct specs it looks like they got toe dialed in pretty well. Sometimes roads in town will have a bit less crown and its easier to tell if the pull is from the alignment or just the road.

 

[Hagar1]

Caster and camber will have a greater affect on whether the vehicle "pulls" toe will cause more of an effect in tire wear and excessive toe can cause the vehicle to be tetchy / skittish on the road.
I'd test drive it on a clear stretch of road, with no traffic by straddling the center line. See if it still pulls.
Next thing to consider is a tire, I've seen plenty of tire pull / vibration caused by tires. Even brand new tires! The tire companies will tell you that, "they have never built a bad tire." They lied!!!

 

[Yardbird]

Adding a small amount of caster to the passenger side or taking some out of the drivers side will correct the pull. Just how much is a trial and error thing. These days, as long as it's in the green, it won't get changed. Plus, companies and customers don't want techs test driving their cars, but that's the only way to really know if the problem is solved.

You've got a good deal of caster in there already. The easiest thing to do would be to take some out of the drivers side.

 

[Rob2gen]

I notice the slight pull to the right in our 25 sst warlock. Missed it on the test drive with the lane assist on. I figured it was an out of balance wheel or something... But the pull is consistent for past 6k miles. About to rotate tires and see if it goes away... Otherwise going to the dealership with it and let them sort it out.

 

[Burla]

From Google..

A truck pulling right can often be corrected by adjusting the toe alignment, specifically by adjusting the tie rods. The goal is to achieve a slight toe-in, where the front of the tires are slightly closer together than the back, which helps the vehicle track straight. Adjustments should be made in small increments, and the toe should be measured and rechecked after each adjustment.

So I posted that to show you how easy it is to set the toe in a tad, and the best part, if it doesn't fix it then just remember exact how much of a turn you put in and take it out. Set the right tire and point it in a tad, 1/4 turn 1/2 turn whatever, if not no big deal put it back.

 

[Burla]

Right now you are .03 positive toe right side... Try a little more since you are saying it is a minor amount needed. Seams like drivers tire is .06, I'd concentrate on the right. Literally all you need to do it watch the video and do 1/4 turn on one side (the passenger side) and see if it tracks to your liking.

To address a vehicle pulling to the right, a slight positive toe (toe-in) adjustment might be needed. This means adjusting the front wheels so they point slightly inward, towards the center of the car. The exact amount of toe-in will depend on the vehicle and the severity of the pull, but a common starting point is around 1/16 inch total toe-in across the front axle, or about 0.05 degrees (5 minutes) per side

 

[Burla]

If the right wheel has excessive positive camber (top of the wheel leaning outward), it can cause the car to pull to the right. Adjusting the camber on the right wheel to be more negative (top of the wheel leaning inward) can help correct the pull.

Right now your passenger side camber is more positive then the camber on drivers side by a tad. So this could also potentially fix it. Remember, your alignment is tracking straight, what you want to do is correct your path to defy the pitch of the road. So one small adjustment you will accomplish it. Try camber first, I never looked into that personally. Either way you look at it, the issue is with the right tire according to your paper.

 

[sroc112]

Based on the measurements in that sheet and my description of the pull/drift, do you think this is enough to cause premature tire wear while I am currently on a 2k mile trip? Im hoping not as they are brand new tires and I won't be able to try and get any of this fixed until I am back in town.

 

[Hagar1]

From Google..

A truck pulling right can often be corrected by adjusting the toe alignment, specifically by adjusting the tie rods. The goal is to achieve a slight toe-in, where the front of the tires are slightly closer together than the back, which helps the vehicle track straight. Adjustments should be made in small increments, and the toe should be measured and rechecked after each adjustment.

So I posted that to show you how easy it is to set the toe in a tad, and the best part, if it doesn't fix it then just remember exact how much of a turn you put in and take it out. Set the right tire and point it in a tad, 1/4 turn 1/2 turn whatever, if not no big deal put it back.

Google is full of sh** on there info. First of all, depending upon vehicle, there might be a slight "toe out" as standard. Secondly, in all my years of doing wheel alignments, I had never encountered a "pull" or a "lead" caused by incorrect toe.
Sorry to argue but the info on Google is not accurate.

 

[Burla]

It's not really a thing, I defer to your experience. However, as stated it is nothing more then turning a simple bolt back and forth to test, and his right tire is less positive then drivers side. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work, no sweat. Camber appears to be more involved? Caster I have no idea. Post some fixes for the guy, clearly the alignment shop gives the standard green pass grade eventhough he is still pulling.

 

[DanAR]

Toe looks pretty minimal up front but Hagar1 is correct. I had a 17 Shelby GT350 that factory front alignment specifically called for toe out, apparently to quicken steering response and turn in. It didn’t pull but it did have a lot trammeling on uneven roads. The new alignment actually reduced the thrust angle so if pull/drift to the right from road crown is bothersome, the caster on the left side would need to be increased to slightly more than right side. Or right side caster could be decreased to slightly below the left side. Just my opinion.

 

[Hagar1]

It's not really a thing, I defer to your experience. However, as stated it is nothing more then turning a simple bolt back and forth to test, and his right tire is less positive then drivers side. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work, no sweat. Camber appears to be more involved? Caster I have no idea. Post some fixes for the guy, clearly the alignment shop gives the standard green pass grade eventhough he is still pulling.

Back in the day, we used to spend a bit more time on the troublesome vehicles. On occasion, we would need to " play" with the adjustments to get the vehicle right. Now a days as long as its in the green, out the door it goes. Sad commentary on today's work ethic.

 

[Hagar1]

Toe looks pretty minimal up front but Hagar1 is correct. I had a 17 Shelby GT350 that factory front alignment specifically called for toe out, apparently to quicken steering response and turn in. It didn’t pull but it did have a lot trammeling on uneven roads. The new alignment actually reduced the thrust angle so if pull/drift to the right from road crown is bothersome, the caster on the left side would need to be increased to slightly more than right side. Or right side caster could be decreased to slightly below the left side. Just my opinion.

Toe out was fairly common on Front drive vehicles.

 

[sroc112]

Right now you are .03 positive toe right side... Try a little more since you are saying it is a minor amount needed. Seams like drivers tire is .06, I'd concentrate on the right. Literally all you need to do it watch the video and do 1/4 turn on one side (the passenger side) and see if it tracks to your liking.

To address a vehicle pulling to the right, a slight positive toe (toe-in) adjustment might be needed. This means adjusting the front wheels so they point slightly inward, towards the center of the car. The exact amount of toe-in will depend on the vehicle and the severity of the pull, but a common starting point is around 1/16 inch total toe-in across the front axle, or about 0.05 degrees (5 minutes) per side

Quarter turn "downward" or "upward"?

 

[Burla]

You want to draw the front part or the tire in = toe in.

 

[sroc112]

You want to draw the front part or the tire in = toe in.

Right, so that is downward or upward turn?

 

[Burla]

I havent performed this so just make sure front of tire heads inward.