Dogtracking on 2017 SD
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,641
Likes: 507
From: Phelan CA
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?
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?
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,641
Likes: 507
From: Phelan CA
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.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,641
Likes: 507
From: Phelan CA
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.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 242
Likes: 3
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?
I've not noticed any issue in handling.
If the truck were dog-tracking, would a handling issue be observed?
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
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?
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?
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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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 324
Likes: 8
From: Austin, TX
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.
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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Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
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.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,251
Likes: 563
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.
New User
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
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.
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.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 906
Likes: 107
From: Seattle area
Stay away from this "crap".
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 324
Likes: 8
From: Austin, TX
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
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
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 391
Likes: 18
From: Calhan, CO
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