New member with Tradesman - front end issues

[V delivery]

Hey there I just registered and thought that I would share about my truck in hopes that maybe others have had the same problem and there was a solution to it. I have a 2018 Tradesman 4X4 long bed crew cab that has had a pull to the right ever since I bought it. They said at first bad tire on that side at 7K miles so I replaced it, then it rotate the tires then it's recheck the alignment then back to tires then alignment then after all of that I replaced all 4 tires had it aligned and still pulled then back again for another alignment then back again for drag link change out then another alignment then back to the tire shop to rotate tires again then to an independent alignment shop who said to change the upper ball joints to offset and realign it still pulls. Dealer said that they would pay for the replacement of the ball joints if it fixed the problem which it did not then back to the tire shop where they cross rotated the tires and still pulls. I have been fighting this for 40K miles and have gotten nowhere. They have dragged this along so much that so far the two different lemon law attorneys have turned down the case because the truck is no longer under warranty. I have not modified this truck in anyway shape or form from the way I bought it new off the lot. I would love to know how many people have had this same problem and what has been do to fix it.

 

[Moose2]

Anybody think to check to see if a brake is dragging slightly or a tight wheel bearing? Even a rear end issue could cause depending on whether accelerating or coasting. Different roads crown could be different. Just drawing straws here. As a note: if not aligned to Thuren specs, it is wrong.

 

[V delivery]

I had a brake problem shortly after I bought the truck that the dealer fixed. It pulls at any speed and any surface. I did have a tire store suggest that I take it to a body shop that has a laser machine to see if per chance a bolt hole was stamped wrong or something of that nature.

 

[Joe w.]

Welcome

 

[rule18]

@V delivery Welcome to RamForum. I'm going to move this thread into the 4th Gen section, you'll get more responses.

 

[67440dodge]

I had a brake problem shortly after I bought the truck that the dealer fixed. It pulls at any speed and any surface. I did have a tire store suggest that I take it to a body shop that has a laser machine to see if per chance a bolt hole was stamped wrong or something of that nature.

Sorta like some 70's Nova's that would crab going down the road cause the front subframes weren't aligned with rear during assembly..

Another method is if you find a wet stretch of straight road and it dries out look back and see if there are 2 or more tire tracks

 

[kurek]

Ever had it at a frame shop?

The chassis on these trucks aren't that complex, if all the parts are straight and in the right position it'll drive straight there just aren't any mysteries. But if the alignment shop they went to just does toe and only measures caster from one spot they're not going to catch cross-caster or rear t.h.r.u.s.t angle or anything like that.

If you want to fix this call up a few collision shops and ask them to recommend a frame and chassis shop for trucks.


(sorry about the "t.h.r.u.s.t" with dots... seems like the moderators haven't fine tuned the censor yet..)

 

[Mister Luck]

Checked for codes I’d assume ?

Could be a bad wheel sensor ?

Maybe something is interfering with the wheel bearing shield or the bearing shield was installed backwards it could still get signal but not as strong

Lemon laws are good for longer than 3 years I thought?

 

[tron67j]

So, assuming this still applies, had an issue with my last new truck and during repair Ram regional representative (think that is what he was called) said trucks have shipping strap hooks and when ratcheted down it torqued the frame a bit and the dealer would adjust the alignment to compensate. Perhaps yours was incorrectly strapped down. So long story to say take it to a frame shop and make sure it is all within tolerances. Good luck.

 

[chri5k]

Can you describe this pull to the right? Is it violent like you let the wheel go at say 25 MPH and within a few feet it is off the road? Or does it drift at highway speeds and take 5 - 10 seconds to move out of the lane?

 

[4xdad]

Try to find a place where you can safely drive on the other side of the road where the crown is the opposite direction does it still pull to the right

 

[Mister Luck]

So, assuming this still applies, had an issue with my last new truck and during repair Ram regional representative (think that is what he was called) said trucks have shipping strap hooks and when ratcheted down it torqued the frame a bit and the dealer would adjust the alignment to compensate. Perhaps yours was incorrectly strapped down. So long story to say take it to a frame shop and make sure it is all within tolerances. Good luck.

That’s a good point and reminded me of the towing recommendations where the 4 gen 4x4 can only be towed on a flat bed or with all wheels on the ground and in drive.
If the truck was ever towed without a chain of custody
the towing company out of ignorance or convenience could have towed the truck with the incorrect configuration .

 

[V delivery]

So if you let go of the steering in the middle of the road with crown on both sides it drifts. If you go down the interstate and let go of the steering it starts to dive quickly to the right. If you go down a regular 4 lane in town road it is a hard dive where you have to keep the steering cocked to the left to get it to track straight. The weird thing is if you are driving slow and you put the steering wheel straight the nose of the truck goes in a straight line to the right like drives towards the right but not diving.

 

[4xdad]

My guess is a wheel bearing or brakes jack it up and inspect it also maybe check it for square

 

[4xdad]

I know you said it was checked but clearly something is not right if it is pulling that hard check it your self if you are going slow and it only pulls a.little something is still out of whack

 

[4xdad]

Drive it and check for heat in the hubs

 

[2021Ram3500]

I haven't had my new truck off road yet so I don't know if they do this for newer trucks. On my previous truck that I used off road a lot I would often take them to an alignment shop and have them do a 4 wheel alignment, not just the front end alignment. That would get both front and rear tracking straight.

 

[GTyankee]

To check the pull of your alignment, go to any Mall parking lot before 9 AM
A large parking lot will tell you just about everything that you need to know

The frame did not get mis-drilled at the assembly plant
Robots don't just jump around like that

 

[Mister Luck]

I bought a truck from a dealership that had picked up my online request to sell me a vehicle at a fixed price, the only thing was they thought they could make more money at my signing for add-ons.

What they didn’t know when I sat down is I had worked a two dealerships previously and knew the BS they were going to throw at me. One guy was so upset that he said he was going to remove my remote access option if I didn’t knuckle under for some extra service package like under coating for $1000.00 extra
(It wasn’t an option it was part of the model package.)

I said “go ahead. you can’t do it “ and (who could ask for anything more) he told me he knew exactly where it was and proceeded to take the vehicle into the back and break what he thought was the remote head-in receiver for the auto door locks.

He didn’t tell me he broke what he thought because some one must of stopped him when they realized what he was doing and he actually broke the yaw sensor housing inside the dash by trying to pry it out.

I didn’t realize this till years later and the end result was my front tires would shake after the last few turns going down hill because the speed sensor and the PCM didn’t mach the downshift request while braking on a grade with severe crown on left corners.
I thought it was rotors or brakes and every 1000 miles I would swap out my front rotors to correct the problem.

Dealerships sometimes get slimy people and they know all the tricks and they do know most of them and sometimes they don’t but you need to know what could be a reluctant or partially responsive sensor and swap it out for your good one.

That way you have a less than perfect vehicle to trade in or sell that the dealer eventually gets and they fix for pennies at your expense.

 

[4xdad]

Shady dealership say it is not so lol