Off Center Steering Wheel - Dealership Can't Get it Right

[mudqueen]

Just purchased a 2020 Power Wagon week and a half ago. It's been to the dealership twice since I've owned it - the steering wheel is not center. When you put it dead on center the truck goes slightly to the right on the road. So today they said they fixed it. Got it back and then it started pulling to the left with the steering centered. I brought it back again today and they said they got it right this time but now it's back with a slight turn to the right. Hands off the wheel going down a straight road, it seems to track straight ahead without pulling which makes me think this is not an alignment issue. I have driven it on a dirt road a couple times - one time was pretty bad washboard but I drive like 10mph at the most on roads like that. Could I have screwed something up? I sort of thought it pulled when I first bought it but not sure. I guess I will be bringing it back to the dealership again - the fact that they keep telling me "it's straight" when it isn't has me wondering if they just don't care or don't know what they are doing. Any tips here on what is going on - sounds like alignment? Should I give up on dealership and go to a tire store?

 

[Dodge 1500 4X4]

I think there is a recall on your Drag link for your steering, read this, Great looking Rig!!!

https://www.ramforum.com/posts/2163542/

 

[RamCares]

Just purchased a 2020 Power Wagon week and a half ago. It's been to the dealership twice since I've owned it - the steering wheel is not center. When you put it dead on center the truck goes slightly to the right on the road. So today they said they fixed it. Got it back and then it started pulling to the left with the steering centered. I brought it back again today and they said they got it right this time but now it's back with a slight turn to the right. Hands off the wheel going down a straight road, it seems to track straight ahead without pulling which makes me think this is not an alignment issue. I have driven it on a dirt road a couple times - one time was pretty bad washboard but I drive like 10mph at the most on roads like that. Could I have screwed something up? I sort of thought it pulled when I first bought it but not sure. I guess I will be bringing it back to the dealership again - the fact that they keep telling me "it's straight" when it isn't has me wondering if they just don't care or don't know what they are doing. Any tips here on what is going on - sounds like alignment? Should I give up on dealership and go to a tire store?

I sincerely apologize for the trouble you are experiencing, @mudqueen. If it would be of interest, I would be more than happy to escalate a case on your behalf to a specialist who can work alongside your dealer to remedy your steering concern in as timely a manner as possible. Our team is always a private message away to get the process started.

Mark
RamCares

 

[IRSmart]

I think there is a recall on your Drag link for your steering, read this, Great looking Rig!!!

https://www.ramforum.com/posts/2163542/

No recall on 2019+ drag links. They have the newer, fixed style.

 

[chri5k]

Could be the crown of the road. There is another recent thread in the Heavy Duty section on this issue. The consensus was the crown of the road. IIRC there was a video / pictures that showed it not centered to the right and then the left depending on which lane they were in.

 

[Halligan]

Not sure what you drove before the 2020 PW but a solid front axle truck with a steering box behaves differently than IFS vehicles with rack and pinion steering do. A slight crown in the road, and most roads have a crown for water drainage, will require you to turn "into" the crown a bit. I always seem to be correcting my steering as I drive my truck vs. driving my wife Jeep Grand Cherokee which tracks well.

 

[mudqueen]

I sincerely apologize for the trouble you are experiencing, @mudqueen. If it would be of interest, I would be more than happy to escalate a case on your behalf to a specialist who can work alongside your dealer to remedy your steering concern in as timely a manner as possible. Our team is always a private message away to get the process started.

Mark
RamCares

I ended up going to Big O tires and they found the toe to be off a little in the rear and they got the steering dead center. I'm really having little confidence in the dealership after all this. Only 1000 miles and I couldn't understand why the alignment would be off... someone maybe had fun with the truck before I got it perhaps.

 

[mudqueen]

Not sure what you drove before the 2020 PW but a solid front axle truck with a steering box behaves differently than IFS vehicles with rack and pinion steering do. A slight crown in the road, and most roads have a crown for water drainage, will require you to turn "into" the crown a bit. I always seem to be correcting my steering as I drive my truck vs. driving my wife Jeep Grand Cherokee which tracks well.

I've driven a GMC Sierra (325K miles), '92 Ford Bronco (350K miles - two transmissions) and Tacoma. I understand there is that crown in the road. My issue was totally different. Took it out on a variety of roads - and finally went dead center late at night on a country road (obviously nobody around), so I was neither in the left or right lane, and put the steering center - and bam, pulled badly to the right. But thankfully tire store got it figured out for me. Thanks for your reply!

 

[Travelin Ram]

I ended up going to Big O tires and they found the toe to be off a little in the rear and they got the steering dead center. I'm really having little confidence in the dealership after all this. Only 1000 miles and I couldn't understand why the alignment would be off... someone maybe had fun with the truck before I got it perhaps.

Glad they got you a resolution, but there’s a miscommunication somewhere. The toe in is not adjustable in the rear of a solid axle truck.

 

[RamCares]

I ended up going to Big O tires and they found the toe to be off a little in the rear and they got the steering dead center. I'm really having little confidence in the dealership after all this. Only 1000 miles and I couldn't understand why the alignment would be off... someone maybe had fun with the truck before I got it perhaps.

I apologize that you have to feel this way, @mudqueen. Should you need to work with your dealer any further, please do not hesitate to follow up with us via private message so we can get you set up with support for that process.

Mark
RamCares

 

[mudqueen]

Glad they got you a resolution, but there’s a miscommunication somewhere. The toe in is not adjustable in the rear of a solid axle truck.

So either Big O lied to me or the Power Wagon does have that type of adjustment. Whatever the case - they fixed it when multiple trips to the dealership didn't and couldn't.

 

[BossHogg]

So either Big O lied to me or the Power Wagon does have that type of adjustment. Whatever the case - they fixed it when multiple trips to the dealership didn't and couldn't.

I got curious after reading your experiences. With the help of Google, I found this to be interesting since the issue causes the steering wheel to be off-center. It is caused when the rear individual toe is not equal on solid axle vehicles.

"The thrust angle can determine the straight-ahead position of the front wheels. So ignoring this angle can undermine even the most accurately aligned front suspension. It can result in a crooked steering wheel"

https://www.knowyourparts.com/technical-resources/suspension/understanding-thrust-angle/

What bothers me is how did this vehicle escape the factory out of alignment and why didn't your dealer's service tech know about this. If you have money out of pocket, your need to get it back plus some for your troubles.

 

[smiley]

I ended up going to Big O tires and they found the toe to be off a little in the rear and they got the steering dead center. I'm really having little confidence in the dealership after all this. Only 1000 miles and I couldn't understand why the alignment would be off... someone maybe had fun with the truck before I got it perhaps.

I was going to say go somewhere else. No reason it can’t be adjusted in newer vehicles. Hell I have a 79 Ford they were able to make drive true they literally had to pull the steering wheel and center once aligned but they did it.