Got a problem....need help!
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Got a problem....need help!
Hi guys I am new on this forum. I have a question I am hoping someone can answer. I just bought a 2001 f 250 cc 4x4 with the 7.3 liter engine. After a few days of driving the truck around everything seemed fine...that is until my wife was driving it one day and I was following her in my other truck. As we traveled down the road I noticed that the truck looked like it was sorta moving sideways down the road. Its kind of hard to explain but I could actually see a little bit of the drivers side rear fender of the truck and I was directly behind her. Its not bad but is noticeable if you are looking for it. I have seen other trucks like this before on the road that were much worse and wondered what the hell was wrong with them and how do they keep tires on the thing. Anyone know what the problem is. I was thinking some how the frame may be bent or something. I certainly hope not but I dont know what else it could be....I'm no automobile mechanic for sure. I got a carfax on it before I bought it and it showed never to have been wrecked. The truck has 80,000 miles on it and looks brand new inside and out. Any info would be appreciated
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
front end or rear end alignment is probably to blame. have an alignment shop align the front end in relationship to the rear and it will probable correct the "crab walking" that you describe. as far as carfax goes, they only report incidents that were reported to the police or insurance companies so if someone drove into a ditch and was able to get out without the cops knowing about it then carfax wouldn't know about it either.
kenzmad
kenzmad
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,574
Likes: 0
From: Seattle
Is your truck 'lifted'?
There is an alignment pin on the rear springs that mates with with a hole in the rear axle mounting plate. Due to a crappy lift install, sometimes this pin becomes dislodged.
There is an alignment pin on the rear springs that mates with with a hole in the rear axle mounting plate. Due to a crappy lift install, sometimes this pin becomes dislodged.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,859
Likes: 7
From: USA
Take it back where you bought it or whom you bought it from.
Yes it could have been involved in an accident,crabwalking or dog tracking is not a common problem with these trucks.
I would inquire about this where you bought it
Rich
Yes it could have been involved in an accident,crabwalking or dog tracking is not a common problem with these trucks.
I would inquire about this where you bought it
Rich
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
No the truck is not lifted. I really hope this is not a serious problem. I bought the truck from an individual and unless there is somekind of law that protects this type thing he is probably going to tell me that it is my problem now. The truck doesnt pull to one side when I am driving it...that is one of the reasons I was thinking it was something else besides alignment problems. Thanks for the input guys...keep it coming.
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,858
Likes: 3
From: Friendswood, Texas
Take it to a "good" front end shop first to get an unbiased opinion on what is going on. I may be somehting minor that can be straightned out with a $75.00 alignment. If it is something more severe, then take it back to where it was purcahsed to discuss Also, address the issue with carfax at this point (I think they may have some sort of warranty for these things). Again, it may be nothing too serious. Getthe facts before you hit the warpath.
As far as this being common - not really but yours would not be the first one I've seen driving down the road. PRoblem is not specific to Fords or Frod trucks. It can happen to any make/model of car.
As far as this being common - not really but yours would not be the first one I've seen driving down the road. PRoblem is not specific to Fords or Frod trucks. It can happen to any make/model of car.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
"As far as this being common - not really but yours would not be the first one I've seen driving down the road"
Yeah no joke. I have seen some trucks that were basically going down the road sideways. Luckily mine is not nearly that bad...but I want to find the problem and fix it as soon as possible. I am going to take your advice and take it to an alignment shop when I get home. (I'm offshore for 2 more weeks) I am hoping it can be repaired. Thanks again guys
Yeah no joke. I have seen some trucks that were basically going down the road sideways. Luckily mine is not nearly that bad...but I want to find the problem and fix it as soon as possible. I am going to take your advice and take it to an alignment shop when I get home. (I'm offshore for 2 more weeks) I am hoping it can be repaired. Thanks again guys
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,424
Likes: 12
From: BC Canada
A good four wheel electronic alignment, checking all 4 ball joints in the front end, front and rear spring - pillow block alignment pins should help figure it out. It could be a 4*4 thing, i.e hitting a big hole, driving off the road hard, or perhaps it was used to snow plow, or pull someone out of the ditch to hard. This would cause alignment issues but if it was repaired incorrectly you have a crab walking truck. Its possible the frame is bent but I would look these other areas first, they are more likely than an unreported major accident. Just a few thoughts to try before you panic, they are all plausible. Remember these trucks get used for snowplowing, towing, winching ect ect. If these things are done improperly, its easy to tweak a frame.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
"There is an alignment pin on the rear springs that mates with with a hole in the rear axle mounting plate. Due to a crappy lift install, sometimes this pin becomes dislodged."
Now that you said that....the guy told me when I bought the truck that he just had the shocks replaced. Could this alignment pin you are talking about have been misaligned during the shock changeout?
Now that you said that....the guy told me when I bought the truck that he just had the shocks replaced. Could this alignment pin you are talking about have been misaligned during the shock changeout?
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,858
Likes: 3
From: Friendswood, Texas
Originally Posted by greenmachine1
"There is an alignment pin on the rear springs that mates with with a hole in the rear axle mounting plate. Due to a crappy lift install, sometimes this pin becomes dislodged."
Now that you said that....the guy told me when I bought the truck that he just had the shocks replaced. Could this alignment pin you are talking about have been misaligned during the shock changeout?
Now that you said that....the guy told me when I bought the truck that he just had the shocks replaced. Could this alignment pin you are talking about have been misaligned during the shock changeout?
I suspect it isn't much to worry about and a good alignment will correct it. If the frame is tweaked they wil be able to tell you.
Last edited by texan2004; Feb 2, 2006 at 11:11 PM.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by greenmachine1
"There is an alignment pin on the rear springs that mates with with a hole in the rear axle mounting plate. Due to a crappy lift install, sometimes this pin becomes dislodged."
Now that you said that....the guy told me when I bought the truck that he just had the shocks replaced. Could this alignment pin you are talking about have been misaligned during the shock changeout?
Now that you said that....the guy told me when I bought the truck that he just had the shocks replaced. Could this alignment pin you are talking about have been misaligned during the shock changeout?
