Truck drives sideways
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Senior User
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Truck drives sideways
I have a 1997 F-250 PSD 4x4 crew cab that I've had for almost a year now.. My problem is just the other day a friend asked me "has that truck been in a wreck?" he said it drive cockeyed. When going down the road you can see the left front tire sticking out further then the left rear. Truck drives fine though.. My question is: when parked you can't tell just when you drive it, do you think I need to take this to a paint & body guy or a tire alignment shop to have it looked at?? Few things truck has a 6" lift and the previous owner (which said truck was never wrecked even paid $40.00 for a carfax) had a fifth wheel ball.. So I'm guessing something with the lift (previous owner installed it) or maybe something caused by the fifth wheel. I love the truck I wish my buddy didn't say anything about it now I'm kinda embarresed..
Posting Guru
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From: Near DC
Not knowing exactly how it's sticking out, I'd guess at the toe. Have an alignment shop take a peek, never hurts.
And welcome to FTE!
Lots of very knowledgable and helpful folks here, stick around.
And welcome to FTE!
Lots of very knowledgable and helpful folks here, stick around.
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Sticking out futher.. It's like the front has a two inch spacer. of course it doesn't the left front sticks out and of course the right front is in. But of course it could be the left rear that is doing it. Hard to tell. Somebody called it "crosstracking" the tires are straight they're just offcentered between the F & R.
Posting Guru
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From: Near DC
Dang, ya got me on that one.
Someone much more knowledgable than I will be along later today, probably after work.
Just hang on, they'll set ya right.
Have another good look, make sure all the bolts on the hub are tight.
Someone much more knowledgable than I will be along later today, probably after work.
Just hang on, they'll set ya right.
Have another good look, make sure all the bolts on the hub are tight.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Seattle
Unfortunately, I think your friend is right. It's probably been in a wreck. My suggestion would be to take it to your favorite Body Shop and have them look at it. Observing first, the way it goes down the road, and then if necessary, putting it up on the frame alignment machine to varify the problem and then fix it. Very rarely are these wheel alignment issues. My 2¢.
EDIT:
phatbulldog,
Nice illustration by the way!
EDIT:
phatbulldog,
Nice illustration by the way!
Last edited by RocketScience; Jul 13, 2005 at 12:11 PM.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: La La Land
If it's not a bent frame, if a truck "crabs" sideways when running down the road, it's most likely a mis-alignment in the REAR-end. You may have a broken center-bolt in one of your spring packs, and one of the axle's spring perchs (though clamped with the u-bolts) has "walked" one way or the other along one of the springs. Since it has a lift kit, and the springs have been "messed with", here is likely the cause.
Close, cross-side measurements with a tape-measure should tell you soon enough.
Look at the REAR-end alignment.
On the other hand, if it IS a bent frame, and not too bad, you can maybe still correct the tracking by using off-set center-bolts. But I don't think the frame is where you're going to find the cause of this.
Pop
Close, cross-side measurements with a tape-measure should tell you soon enough.
Look at the REAR-end alignment.
On the other hand, if it IS a bent frame, and not too bad, you can maybe still correct the tracking by using off-set center-bolts. But I don't think the frame is where you're going to find the cause of this.
Pop
Last edited by SpringerPop; Jul 13, 2005 at 12:29 PM.
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Elder User
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From: N. Georgia
Check your rear springs or spring shackles. With a lift it can somethimes let the axle shift. Look at the shackles (spring hangers) closely as that is what it usally is. Get out the measuring tape. You aren't looking for a lot of difference. A little out will make it do this.
Joe
Joe
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From: Perkins, OK
Originally Posted by phatbulldog
Sticking out futher.. It's like the front has a two inch spacer. of course it doesn't the left front sticks out and of course the right front is in. But of course it could be the left rear that is doing it. Hard to tell. Somebody called it "crosstracking" the tires are straight they're just offcentered between the F & R.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2004
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Take it to a body shop and have them check the frame. Guys I have know over the years that own body shops all have the same explination. It was most likely side swiped and the frame is slightly bent.
I have my truck in right now getting repainted from some vandelism, and I just had this same conversation on Monday of this week with the owner of the body shop. This guy knows his business and the first thing he told me was when a big Mule gets in a wreck and the frame bends its almost impossible to rebend it back to normal. Its the way the frame is designed to crumble under massive impact. Most of the ones he has dealt with he went back to the insurance carrier and got them to total the vehicle.
I have my truck in right now getting repainted from some vandelism, and I just had this same conversation on Monday of this week with the owner of the body shop. This guy knows his business and the first thing he told me was when a big Mule gets in a wreck and the frame bends its almost impossible to rebend it back to normal. Its the way the frame is designed to crumble under massive impact. Most of the ones he has dealt with he went back to the insurance carrier and got them to total the vehicle.
Elder User
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Originally Posted by SpringerPop
If it's not a bent frame, if a truck "crabs" sideways when running down the road, it's most likely a mis-alignment in the REAR-end. You may have a broken center-bolt in one of your spring packs, and one of the axle's spring perchs (though clamped with the u-bolts) has "walked" one way or the other along one of the springs. Since it has a lift kit, and the springs have been "messed with", here is likely the cause.
Close, cross-side measurements with a tape-measure should tell you soon enough.
Look at the REAR-end alignment.
On the other hand, if it IS a bent frame, and not too bad, you can maybe still correct the tracking by using off-set center-bolts. But I don't think the frame is where you're going to find the cause of this.
Pop
Close, cross-side measurements with a tape-measure should tell you soon enough.
Look at the REAR-end alignment.
On the other hand, if it IS a bent frame, and not too bad, you can maybe still correct the tracking by using off-set center-bolts. But I don't think the frame is where you're going to find the cause of this.
Pop
I agree with Pop.....rear axle has probably shifted.
New User
Joined: Jul 2005
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My friends truck does the some thing. All 4x4 crew cab powerstrokes that i have seen does it. My friend took his to a shop and they told him that nothing was wrong with it. They said the offshirt of the tires is to get better traction when using the 4x4. So the front and rear tires are not using the same ground.