So I've been waiting to do a few things to the truck before I brought this up.  I have done some searches and found some things on some other diesel sites and it seems common to the 2nd gen 4x4 trucks.  My truck pulls to the right fairly consistently.  I noticed it the first day , the outside right front tire is showing scrub marks and wear.  I got an alignment this week at a pretty good local shop- they said it was pretty close, only a toe adjustment.  Today , I swapped front tires side to side, replaced the original steering stabilizer and the two front shocks.  It now rides smoother and isn't so fast to wander, but still pulls right.  Next is going to be swapping out the front calipers- but changing parts on this truck isn't exactly cheap. 

Anyone else dealt with this?

Time to check the Trackbar typically the track bar will wear just a bit and the axle will shift on direction or another and give this slight pull.

Usually trac bar wear will cause you to chase the vehicle left and right

Is it better to order bushings, or jusr swap for the moog?

The ball and socket wear out, so you would need a new one. It's a bushing at the axle and "ball joint" at the frame

Looks like another hundred bucks. At least the fuel economy of this pig is offsetting these initital repairs. I'm getting a little super duty homesick, but i know that these first repairs are due to a lazy or cheap PO

Edited February 3, 201411 yr by AGPTurbo

If it still pulls to the right something is wrong. The problem with the specs on these trucks is that they are so broad that the truck may be 'within specs' but still not drive right. This site has specs that seem to work well for your truck: http://dodgeram.org/tech/specs/00_steer_specs.html Be sure to read the discussion below the specs as it tells you why to set it where he says.

Max out the caster cams, you can not get enough caster on these rigs, maxing them out will get you in the 4-4.5* range which will help it track straighter overall too.

If it is the track bar there is a way to rebuild the joint. It's called a Luke's Link and is a lifetime fix. You can adjust it as it wears. 

http://shop.lukeslink.com/

http://www.lukeslink.com/

I've not seen the instructions for Luke's link. Do you actually have to deform the pumpkin cover to get adequate clearance for the track bar? Sounds prehistoric.

I prefer eliminating the issue by replacing it with a 3rd gen track bar conversion rather than replacing the end link with one that needs to be adjusted and can wear out just like the factory one if not kept up on. I have a friend that did lukes links and ruined a couple of them by not keeping up on the adjustments.

I've not seen the instructions for Luke's link. Do you actually have to deform the pumpkin cover to get adequate clearance for the track bar? Sounds prehistoric.

I believe it says you might have to, but mine and my dad's fit just fine without "deforming" the pumpkin cover.

 

I prefer eliminating the issue by replacing it with a 3rd gen track bar conversion rather than replacing the end link with one that needs to be adjusted and can wear out just like the factory one if not kept up on. I have a friend that did lukes links and ruined a couple of them by not keeping up on the adjustments.

3rd gen track bars wear out too. My brother's 05 had to have new bushings put in it.   As with anything you have to keep up on maintenance. I just check it and grease it at every oil change!

I believe it says you might have to, but mine and my dad's fit just fine without "deforming" the pumpkin cover.

3rd gen track bars wear out too. My brother's 05 had to have new bushings put in it. As with anything you have to keep up on maintenance. I just check it and grease it at every oil change!

By "it" you're referring to the Luke's link mod? Do you have to remove the trac bar when you remove the pumpkin cover for fluid change of the front axle?

Edited February 3, 201411 yr by joecool911

Enjoy your new money pit!

Much of "pulling to the right" is caused by road crown. 

By "it" you're referring to the Luke's link mod? Do you have to remove the trac bar when you remove the pumpkin cover for fluid change of the front axle?

I'm not sure. I haven't changed my fluid since I put the luke's link on. You could call the company and ask though.

I second the road crown as part of pulling to the right. Even after rebuilding the front end and an alignment mine still pulled slightly right except on flat stretches of roadway, where it tracked very straight. The crown of the road is causing a pulling sensation. 

The crown of the road is causing nothing.  The engineering of the steering and suspension geometry is the cause.  This is the 14th vehicle I have owned and besides the one with a lift kit, has the worst road manners of them all. I towed my 5th wheel around 3K miles last summer on an east coast adventure with my Ford.  I could have fallen asleep at the wheel towing the 9,000 lb beast and looked less suspicious  :cheers:than this Dodge. I will check the track bar and report.  

Thanks for the replies!

AP

After my front end rebuild and alignment, my truck tracked very good. It still had would track a little to the left or right depending on the road crown and straight if the road was almost flat. I have the Moog track bar on mine and after about 60k miles it is showing signs of wear and the tracking is off a little more. The steering design is rough on them. Definitely not the best steering system by any means. 

After my front end rebuild and alignment, my truck tracked very good. It still had would track a little to the left or right depending on the road crown and straight if the road was almost flat. I have the Moog track bar on mine and after about 60k miles it is showing signs of wear and the tracking is off a little more. The steering design is rough on them. Definitely not the best steering system by any means. 

 

 

If'n you want to check it out…………………when possible…………………drive in the other lane, where the "crown" pitches the other way!!!

I don't think it's track bar as it would wonder both ways, and if you buy one spend extra on adjustable one because with time your front springs sag and it will kill factory track bar in few thousand miles. also it will push your front end one way and frame the other, mine was off by an inch. So I made my own track bar with bushings on both ends and in the middle cut a chunk out and welded fine thread bolt to one end and three nuts to the other. If I put a heavy duty front bumper on I can screw track bar in some more and get axle back to center with frame. Good luck.