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PSD 4x4 Alignment Problems

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Old Jul 7, 2004 | 12:32 PM
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onebuilder
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PSD 4x4 Alignment Problems

I have a 2000 PSD 4x4 and have taken it several times to have it aligned (at a well known shop under warranty). Every time I've taken it in they've checked it against the factory specs and confirmed that it's within the specifications for all adjustments. The problem is that it pulls to the right noticeably as if the castor is out on one side or the other. (I also had this identical problem with my 98' Explorer). Anyone have any comments other than taking it into the Ford dealer and having them check it out?
 
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Old Jul 7, 2004 | 03:33 PM
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JNygard
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From: Nampa
I have 2002, with similar problem, only mine pulls to the Left. When I bought it used from my local chevy dealer they said they could align it. Took it back twice and they couldn't fix it. So they sent me to the Ford dealer to see if they could. Nope they couldn't fix it either. I still don't have it resolved, hope someone here as some answers. I hate pulling the steering wheel to the right all the time. Ford says it is set to spec. Not sure why they can't deviate from specs to get it to drive straight, not all trucks are the same, spec will cover the majority but not all.
 

Last edited by JNygard; Jul 7, 2004 at 03:36 PM.
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Old Jul 7, 2004 | 04:05 PM
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I had the same problem on my '96 F-350. The aligment shop said is was well within factory specs and they suspected it was radial tire pull. They swapped the 2 front tires and the problem is gone. Might be worth a shot.
 
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Old Jul 7, 2004 | 04:33 PM
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tjbeggs
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if your alingment is on and there isn't a large (half degree or more) difference side to side then they are right not much you can do. you can set it different to get your pull to go away they just don't want to do the work to take care of it. but the last post is correct that tires though not visible they may cause the pull. try a tire rotation first then bring it back in and tell them to install different alignment bushings and get it right. a sticking caliper could cause a pull but not likely. i do alignment for a living and i have seen tires cause a pull on many occasion. if not then have the shop set the alignment accordingly.

good luck
tjbeggs
 
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Old Jul 8, 2004 | 01:09 PM
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Originally Posted by tjbeggs
if your alingment is on and there isn't a large (half degree or more) difference side to side then they are right not much you can do. you can set it different to get your pull to go away they just don't want to do the work to take care of it. but the last post is correct that tires though not visible they may cause the pull. try a tire rotation first then bring it back in and tell them to install different alignment bushings and get it right. a sticking caliper could cause a pull but not likely. i do alignment for a living and i have seen tires cause a pull on many occasion. if not then have the shop set the alignment accordingly.

good luck
tjbeggs
Thanks for the info. I've had the tires in all different positions (swapped front two from side to side, swapped front and rear, complete rotation, etc) but the pull is always the same. The tech at the alignment shop said he could push the castor on one side a little ahead of the other side to correct the problem. He said he's done it before in the same situation. The funny thing is, the truck was perfectly aligned before I first took it in after I bought it used over two years ago. I took it in to get the tires rotated and decided to get the lifetime alignment while I was there. Since then I've the same problem.
 
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Old Jul 9, 2004 | 08:23 AM
  #6  
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Baby-Semi
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From: Chicagoland
Funny my truck does the same thing. What's more interesting is that I was pulling my boat to Kentucky lake (over 400 mile trip) and the problem went away. The boat weighs about 7500 lbs. I wonder if the extra press on the hitch lifted the front end a little or what. Funny how these truck ride a lot better when you really load them up!
 
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Old Jul 10, 2004 | 03:44 PM
  #7  
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79CEEJAY
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onebuilder, you need a -.05 degree cross caster on a Ford in order eliminate the pull. Also, the ideal camber is 0.00 degrees. I believe Ford's specs are +- 0.50 degrees. You can also get a "camber pull" if it is too little or too much. See if you can get your hands on your alignment print out and post the results. I can then tell how you where the numbers should be.
 
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