Help! I'm Outta Control!!!
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 50
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From: Denver, Colorado
Help! I'm Outta Control!!!
Frustrating situation...I took my truck to Firestone for an alignment and tire check because I recently took my truck on a 2200 mile trip accross the midwest. The more I drove it the more it pulled to the right up to the point of it swerving to the right. It developed a vibration and I thought it may have a slipped belt. Anyway, Firestone wanted to do an inspection (including brakes) and they called me to tell me that I needed new axle seals, brakes...including hardware (from the hoses out on front and rear), new pitman arm, new power steering gearbox and $2330 to do it all. I took the truck home to work on myself and recently took it back for an alignment. I get the truck back and it pulls almost as bad as it did when I brought it in. I have done nothing to it except drive it home (about 1 mile).
The truck is a 1994 F-150 XLT Ext. Cab 4X4 Long Bed. No modifications to frame or suspension. It has a new engine (replaced the 302 with 351W), rebuilt tranny, rebuilt transfer case and 168,000 miles.
Am I missing something here or can someone fill me in on what to look for?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Skippy
The truck is a 1994 F-150 XLT Ext. Cab 4X4 Long Bed. No modifications to frame or suspension. It has a new engine (replaced the 302 with 351W), rebuilt tranny, rebuilt transfer case and 168,000 miles.
Am I missing something here or can someone fill me in on what to look for?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Skippy
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Valley of the Sun AZ
Help! I'm Outta Control!!!
You may want to have another shop re-align the front-end. They may be missing something or because it is a re-try, they felt you are a bad customer and they have done nothing for you. This is just my opinion.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,153
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From: Roseburg OR.
Help! I'm Outta Control!!!
Put the back tires on the front and see if this helps. Sounds like a tire pull to me. Comes from the belts seperating I think.
I had one do it before and I changed bushings, ball joints and had it aligned and it still was there. Then I took it to a good shop and they said it's a tire pull. I put the rears on the front and presto. It drove straight as an arrow.
I had one do it before and I changed bushings, ball joints and had it aligned and it still was there. Then I took it to a good shop and they said it's a tire pull. I put the rears on the front and presto. It drove straight as an arrow.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 760
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From: Boise, ID
Help! I'm Outta Control!!!
Ditto on rotating the tires. When I put my truck together with a completly new suspension and steering I had a pull to the left. I took the truck in for alignment and the pull was just as bad as before. I rotated the tires and !viola! No more pull.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Denver, Colorado
Help! I'm Outta Control!!!
Well........I found out that my suspicions were correct all along and Firestone tried to "F" me out of money. I looked at the right front (the one I suspected all along) and it waved at me all over the place. Can you say seperated belt? Firestone can't and that is why they suck! 
Thanks to all for the input!
Thanks to all for the input!
Last edited by inasho; Sep 23, 2003 at 11:15 PM.
