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Dogtracking on 2017 SD

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Old Oct 2, 2017 | 11:43 AM
  #1  
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Dogtracking on 2017 SD

I've been noticing many new SDs on the road lately as the year has progressed.
Unfortunately I've also noticed almost all of the srw trucks dogtrack with the rear axle shifted to the right. Some are quite severe.
Doesn't matter if it's gas or diesel, 250 or 350. Level or banked roads.

The only trucks that do not demonstrate this are the 350 and 450 duellys.

So it seems there may be an issue with the frame jig.

Can anyone else confirm my findings?
 
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Old Oct 2, 2017 | 11:52 AM
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As far as I have read the chassis is the same from 250-350, I'd guess its a wheel alignment problem
 
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Old Oct 2, 2017 | 11:57 AM
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Originally Posted by rwilimo
As far as I have read the chassis is the same from 250-350, I'd guess its a wheel alignment problem
Perhaps, but the dually frames do not have the same brackets as the srws. They could be built on a different jig at Magna.

Dog tracking isn't a front alignment issue. It's caused by actual axle misalignment; whether the axles aren't parallel to each other or the rear is shifted laterally.
 
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Old Oct 2, 2017 | 01:10 PM
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dog tracking can be a alignment problem. if thrust angle and toe arent in sync. another reason why it may appear to dog track is because people put them front spacers and dont recenter the axle properly
 
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Old Oct 2, 2017 | 01:21 PM
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Originally Posted by willynilly
dog tracking can be a alignment problem. if thrust angle and toe arent in sync. another reason why it may appear to dog track is because people put them front spacers and dont recenter the axle properly
Yes. I think the thrust angle is the problem because the trucks I'm seeing aren't modified at all. You can't correct dogtracking with just toe adjustment.

Could be the spring hanger brackets (or radius arm) aren't welded on the frame correctly and one is back farther than another.

I'll try to get a picture if it's safe to do so. 90% of the trucks I've seen are tracking pretty bad.
 
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Old Oct 2, 2017 | 01:26 PM
  #6  
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When I first got my truck, the position of the rear axle visually caught my eye. I thought the axle was shifted quite a bit to the passenger side of the truck. Looking from the rear, the wheel looks set in to the wheel well on the driver's side, and looks like it sticks out a bit on the passenger side. I believe I measured only about 1/2" difference between the two sides off the frame, so I thought it was more an optical illusion or misalignment of body panels that was contributing to the visual appearance.

I've not noticed any issue in handling.

If the truck were dog-tracking, would a handling issue be observed?
 
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Old Oct 2, 2017 | 02:03 PM
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Originally Posted by DSLTRK60
I've been noticing many new SDs on the road lately as the year has progressed.
Unfortunately I've also noticed almost all of the srw trucks dogtrack with the rear axle shifted to the right. Some are quite severe.
Doesn't matter if it's gas or diesel, 250 or 350. Level or banked roads.

The only trucks that do not demonstrate this are the 350 and 450 duellys.

So it seems there may be an issue with the frame jig.

Can anyone else confirm my findings?
Strange timing for this post.......
I got behind a new Superduty yesterday and while following behind it I thought the truck looked like it was traveling down the road crooked with the back end slightly to the right (passengers side).
I watched for a while and thought maybe I was just seeing things or it was something else.
Never heard of this term and I googled it and that is what I was seeing.
- Dave
 
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Old Oct 2, 2017 | 02:13 PM
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This caught my eye on mine as well (on day two of ownership). I spent 30 minutes and measured it every which way and came to the conclusion my whole bed was shifted 0.25" to the left on the frame. The axle measured square to the frame from multiple points. I then pulled the covers off my fifth-wheel prep pucks in the bed and sure enough, the bed is shifted (pucks are not centered in the holes).

It may well dog-track, but some of the visual cues are from the bed being misaligned on the frame.

I've elected to ignore this for now... just like the alignment of the hood and the driver's door.
 
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Old Oct 2, 2017 | 02:28 PM
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The bed on mine wasn’t centered on the frame when I purchased the truck. Noticed the rear axle seemed to be shifted toward the passenger side. I lookened the bed bolts and removed the plastic dowels that center the bed on the frame. Moved the bed and got it centered on the frame. Axle is still about 3/8” off center to passenger side. Bed is now centered on frame and is now also lined up with the cab. When I install the lift on my truck i hope the axle will center itself when I bolt everything back up.
 
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Old Oct 2, 2017 | 04:16 PM
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Originally Posted by bamawood
The bed on mine wasn’t centered on the frame when I purchased the truck. Noticed the rear axle seemed to be shifted toward the passenger side. I lookened the bed bolts and removed the plastic dowels that center the bed on the frame. Moved the bed and got it centered on the frame. Axle is still about 3/8” off center to passenger side. Bed is now centered on frame and is now also lined up with the cab. When I install the lift on my truck i hope the axle will center itself when I bolt everything back up.
how were you able to slide the bed around ? never tried to lift one but i always thought they were several hundred pounds
 
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Old Oct 2, 2017 | 05:10 PM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by backtrack2015
This caught my eye on mine as well (on day two of ownership). I spent 30 minutes and measured it every which way and came to the conclusion my whole bed was shifted 0.25" to the left on the frame. The axle measured square to the frame from multiple points. I then pulled the covers off my fifth-wheel prep pucks in the bed and sure enough, the bed is shifted (pucks are not centered in the holes).

It may well dog-track, but some of the visual cues are from the bed being misaligned on the frame.

I've elected to ignore this for now... just like the alignment of the hood and the driver's door.
I've never owned a Ford before. I almost had myself talked into buying a new SD, but this kind of CRAP keeps making me say "Don't do it!".
 
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Old Oct 2, 2017 | 05:34 PM
  #12  
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Originally Posted by JBob2
I've never owned a Ford before. I almost had myself talked into buying a new SD, but this kind of CRAP keeps making me say "Don't do it!".
Yeah, you should totally go get a Honda Ridgeline pickup instead. Maybe a S-10 pickup. Stay away from this "crap".
 
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Old Oct 2, 2017 | 05:42 PM
  #13  
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Originally Posted by JBob2
I've never owned a Ford before. I almost had myself talked into buying a new SD, but this kind of CRAP keeps making me say "Don't do it!".
This is my first Ford (first American vehicle at all) and I traded a 2016 Toyota Tacoma TRD offroad double-cab 4x4 for this new truck. I'd do it again. The Ford powertrain is so much better in terms of NVH, acceleration and braking that I'm willing to ignore a few cosmetic transgressions. Besides, in addition to an abominable 3.5L powertrain, the Toyota had a bad needle bearing in the front diff, a bad rear diff gasket, a faulty battery, and it had poor hood alignment too. So I guess I'd say stay away from Toyota too.
 
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Old Oct 2, 2017 | 05:46 PM
  #14  
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Originally Posted by nuctrooper
Yeah, you should totally go get a Honda Ridgeline pickup instead. Maybe a S-10 pickup. Stay away from this "crap".


LOL Love Love Love my 2017 SD PSD. If you believe and base your buying decision solely on forums, you would never buy any thing. This only represents a fraction of a percent of the trucks on the road, just sayin
 
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Old Oct 2, 2017 | 05:56 PM
  #15  
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Nothing Wrong Here

After reading this thread, I went out and checked my 2017 F350 ccsb and everything is square. Measuring from alignment holes on frame to various points on the truck body, other parts of the frame, and axles, everything is fine. In fact, I don't ever remember seeing one this good. P.S. Don't knock Honda Ridgelines. They make great hood ornaments for our Super Duty's. LOL
 
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