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Old Aug 7, 2013 | 06:31 PM
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Steering drift

Morning guys.
Well... evening...
2013 F250 Lariat. 4000 miles total on it. over half are highway.
Just wrapped up a trip up to canada and back with work, not towing anything, and noticed on straight highway, i need to keep the wheel turned at roughly between 12 oclock and 1 oclock... to go straight.
Much of the time.

Some of the time, its normal, straight and true, but after 400 miles straight, when my left arm is tired because of holding tension into the steering system to go straight.......

Wondering if there is known steering drift with our trucks (like my dodge hemi had prior, which needed a stabilizer added from hell bent steel) or if this may be an issue.
Not looking to bring it the hour back to the dealer, for him to tell me its just fine, because its heading true at the moment.

Thanks so much! And love my new truck.
 
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Old Aug 7, 2013 | 07:10 PM
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I would do one of two things. Pull the steering wheel and change the position, or I would toe in the left side steering bar by a couple of turns. either way, I would need some uninterrupted time to focus on it, which is hard to come by.
 
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Old Aug 7, 2013 | 07:17 PM
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Hmm, so it is coming out of alignment a little bit...
Dangit. Its brand new! lol.
 
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Old Aug 7, 2013 | 09:17 PM
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Road crown
 
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Old Aug 7, 2013 | 09:47 PM
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Originally Posted by PSDlongbox
Road crown
^this^ was my first thought.......wind can act like that also.
 
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Old Aug 7, 2013 | 10:02 PM
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I was wondering the same thing, but it wasnt seeming to be obvious...

Maybe ill do some more highway driving tomorrow, and see what is up on a different stretch of road.

It was the same road out to there, and then back... I-90 through NY...
 
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Old Aug 8, 2013 | 12:18 AM
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Vehicle manufacturers DO NOT make cars or trucks that just go out of alignment.
 
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Old Aug 8, 2013 | 02:42 AM
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See if your dealer will do a free safety check and have then spend a
little extra time on the front end. 4000 miles on a truck and it should
not be doing that unless the road is crowned or tires are inflated oddly.
And don't pull the wheel to hide the problem.

Sean
 
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Old Aug 8, 2013 | 07:23 AM
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Originally Posted by GuyPavelo
Morning guys.
Well... evening...
2013 F250 Lariat. 4000 miles total on it. over half are highway.
Just wrapped up a trip up to canada and back with work, not towing anything, and noticed on straight highway, i need to keep the wheel turned at roughly between 12 oclock and 1 oclock... to go straight...
Hi GuyPavelo,

You can always bring this up at your next service appointment so the dealership can check it out. If you'd like to go that route, shoot me a PM and I'll get this moved up the line for you; include your VIN, dealer, mileage, daytime phone number, and full name. I'll do the rest!

Crystal
 
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Old Aug 8, 2013 | 11:14 AM
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Thank you sir!
Ill see how it rides the next few days, and then if needed will let you know. My next service wont be for a long time, so I would have it set up indipendently.
 
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Old Aug 8, 2013 | 05:58 PM
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Originally Posted by artguys
Vehicle manufacturers DO NOT make cars or trucks that just go out of alignment.
NO, the vehicles usually have to be driven before the front suspension starts going out of alignment.
 
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Old Aug 8, 2013 | 07:48 PM
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Originally Posted by redford
NO, the vehicles usually have to be driven before the front suspension starts going out of alignment.


It only takes one big chuck hole to throw out an alignment...I don't care if the truck has 1 mile or 100,000 miles on it. I have seen cars at work with less than 200 miles on them that come back in and the alignment is all kinds of messed up. Detroit roads will destroy you.
 
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Old Aug 8, 2013 | 08:55 PM
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I would take it back to the dealer and have the front end aligned.It should be covered under warranty .Just because its a new truck don't assume that the trucks alignment is right .I worked at a Ford Dealership 20 yrs and we usually realigned every vehicle we sold while it was still in warranty.When they are coming down the assembly line they only have so many minutes to check the alignment .
 
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Old Aug 8, 2013 | 09:07 PM
  #14  
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hmm... Will do. Good to know MeanGreen. And really, its not a big deal to have things double checked. :-)
 
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Old Aug 9, 2013 | 01:10 PM
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Originally Posted by PSDlongbox
Road crown
I don't think it's road crown.If it is he'd have to hold the wheel between 12 and 11. All roads in NY and most everywhere else slope toward the shoulder. And to who ever said to move the steering wheel- you're jokeing right.
 
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