Hi All, Just recently purchased a 2003 Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi Qcab...
Have only 130 MI on it and I notice a slight pull to the right when driving. Seems to pull whatever the speed may be. One of the guys that I work with had the same issue with his 2002 Dodge 1500, however he is not running on 20 X 9 rims. Have read different reviews on this... any suggestions? Tires are Goodyear 275 / 55R20 ' s and all inflation pressures are @ 40 lbs. Some say it is the rubber and some are saying the alignment was off from the factory... Thanks for the help.... Ken
schorbf
06-02-2003, 08:57 AM
I've got the same problem with my '03 2500. I'm riding on 17X9 inch rims with 305's. It even pulled to the right with my factory wheels and tires, so I don't think that has anything to do with it.
I've had it aligned 3 times now and it still pulls. My dads '03 2500 rides perfect. Don't ask me what it's about, but drives me nuts!
Haddy
06-02-2003, 09:53 AM
Did you just have an overall alignment or did you have the realign the front end as well as thats where your problem is probably at....Atleast it was for me on my 2000 Silverado...
NewMoon
06-02-2003, 10:14 AM
I've got a 03 1500 4x4 with the 20" wheels, I have a vibration at about 65mph. I am bringing it in this thursday to have it checked. It seems like this isn't a rare problem....
Nothnbutrouble
06-02-2003, 10:21 AM
Getting the same feeling too, I did notice a little vibration upon hitting abut 60 - 62 mph, however backed off because I am still breaking in the motor. Definitely has a pull to the right though. Thanks for the feedback .... Please let me know if they get it right... Ken
schorbf
06-02-2003, 12:51 PM
I thought you only have to align the front end only. I don't know....they lifted it up in the air and then used lasers to align the thing. Anyway, it's been aligned 3 times and it's still pulling to the right. And it's not the slope of the road!!
I don't have the vibration, just the pull.
If my tires are wearing correctly, is this something I should be worried about? What could happen if I let it go?
Nothnbutrouble
06-03-2003, 06:42 AM
Not sure yet, I have a alignment shop that is excellent... they have an alignment machine built in the floor. My 72 monte had some terrible alignment problems initially after rebuilding the suspension, and they were the only ones to get it right. I will be taking the truck there and have it done I will let you know what they do and how it is afterwards.
Natrone
06-03-2003, 09:45 AM
Almost every vehicle I have owned has pulled to the right a little. I'm not an expert but I thought that was a safety feature to save sleepy motorists from having head on collisions!? If you add a slight crown in the road for drain-off it always feels a little worse.
GRANDPA
06-04-2003, 05:09 PM
I had the same trouble with the 20's on my 02 qc, pulling to the right and vibration. After 3 alignments, one frame check, one brake and suspension inspection I finally took it to an expert. He played with the tires, swapping them around, and finally got a combo that worked. He basically said it was because the tires are pretty cheesy and the sidewall strength varied from tire to tire and the tire with the lowest strength caused the pull. He also said from now on I should rotate the tires in a different pattern, rears go straight up front and fronts cross over to the back. It still pulls just slightly now but it is greatly improved over what it was. It also still vibrates but I don't think that will get fixed until I get new ones on. I am waiting for other companies to come out with affordable 20" tires.
Bear-31
06-04-2003, 08:03 PM
My 95 RAM 1500 pulled to the right when I bought it new. I had 2 different dealerships check the alignment 3 times. The tires were even wearing badly. The mechanic actually had the nerve to tell me it was the way I was holding the steering wheel. I responded with...I'll hold the steering wheel any way I have to, to keep the truck on the road, and it shouldn't cause the tires to wear funny. I couldn't believe he actually said something that stupid! Anyway to make a long story short I finally took it out in town and paid to have it aligned by an independent. Never had another problem after that. They found a bad caster problem that The dealerships hadn't looked for.
Nothnbutrouble
06-05-2003, 07:06 PM
Any "mechanic" that says that your holding the steering wheel wrong needs a " check up.......... from the neck up !!!!! " I have re- checked my tire pressures,as I was getting different pressures from the hand held pressure gauge and the gauge at the gas station. I also tried different (and even ) tire pressures at 38 , 40, 42 and 44 psi (44 being the max rated by the MFG. ) and still had the pull to the right. Waiting to get an alignment.
Nothnbutrouble
06-21-2003, 10:30 AM
Well had the front end alignment and the truck drives straight, I had a good tech, and he let me " hang" while he did the alignment. The truck was barely "off" so the adjustment was very subtle. Hope everyone gets theirs corrected... Good luck.
GRANDPA
07-08-2003, 01:50 PM
Wll, I found the offending tire on mine. I was pulling into a parking lot and drove over the mountable curb in the driveway. Not the full size road side curb but the lower ones they put in for driveways and the right rear blew out! Got about a 1 inch split in the sidewall of the tire and it feels soft about 4 inches all around there. Of course Goodyear is saying it was road hazard damage and is not covered under the warranty. Now my problem is nobody has the tires! Tirerack.com even has them as backordered! Oh well, at least there is no pull with the spare on!
kevmyster
10-15-2003, 07:20 PM
I have a 02 4x4 qc L/B 4.7L same problem pulling to the right. I had it aligned and it still pulls. I also had to change rear diff fluid at 25000km. The diff was noisy from about 10000km $200.00. Pretty sad I think.
