03 FX4 Alignment Problems

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Nov 21, 2006 | 12:46 PM

bjjf350d

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From: Altoona, Pennsylvania

03 FX4 Alignment Problems

I have a 2003 FX4 ranger that consitently pulls to the right while driving. I have had it now to two different alignment shops and even checked the alignment myself. I also replace a bad lower ball joint and checked to make sure my brakes are not hanging up before having it aligned. The only variable that has changed is new tires. However, I have rotated them left to right, front to back several times but same old story, still pulls to the right. Does anyone have any other suggestions that may help me solve this problem. Can the tires tread themselves cause it to pull one direction? By the way I am running LT265/75/R16's Sport King A/t's tires.

Nov 21, 2006 | 01:16 PM

twoj05

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Is it a minor drift or major tug? I have the same thing with mine, and have determined it is the crown of the road. I also put larger tires on it and now it is more pronounced. It seems like the front end is pretty sensitive when aligned properly.

Nov 21, 2006 | 04:21 PM

rubydist

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From: Denver

I find that its very sensitive to tire pressures. With my current tires, I need to run 1 psi higher in the left tire and then it runs straight down the road. If they are both identical pressures, it will wander to the left. Like twoj05 says, its pretty sensitive.

Nov 21, 2006 | 05:43 PM

CowboyBilly9Mile

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From: Eastern WA

If you are not experiencing abnormal tread wear (biggest indicator of a genuine front end problem or need for alignment), then it's the crown in the road that you are experienceing. I assume the drift is pretty slow when you let go of the wheel on a straight road.

*If you can safely do it, go find a stretch of road that is straight and has no traffic. Now move into the oncomming lane (and opposite road crown) and see which way it drifts. If it drifts in the opposite direction, you will have confirmed normal alignment as evidenced by the direction of drift. Make sure this is a safe stretch of road and no cops are around.

Nov 22, 2006 | 04:18 AM

bjjf350d

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From: Altoona, Pennsylvania

Thanks for the info, I will have to check my air pressure again, I didn't think it would be so sensitive, I will have to try the opposite side of the crown of the road as well, I guess the stock tires were just more forgiving than these new ones.

Nov 22, 2006 | 07:24 AM

Joelski

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From: Buckeye Country

Air pressure is the most common cause of pull, but the other common problem is the torsion bar suspension. Cupped tires are common on rangers due to the inidivually adjustable nature of the T-bars. My ranger was sitting lop-sided when I measured the ride height (couldn't tell from eyeballing it). For a 2003 4x4 ranger with original parts, spec front height should be 101 mm (measured on a level surface after settling the suspension) with a variation of plus or minus 11 mm. It doesn't take much to be off level freom right-to-left and that will cause your pull. If you're having to run uneven tire pressures, you might get that ride height checked.

Edit: This has to be done *BEFORE* wheel alignment, or else the truck will be lined up correctly and still pull because of the weight balance being un-even.

Last edited by Joelski; Nov 22, 2006 at 07:33 AM.

Nov 22, 2006 | 11:33 AM

bjjf350d

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From: Altoona, Pennsylvania

I checked my ride height to be within a quarter of an inch of each side. It must be the road crown, I have never had a truck that pulled this much from it but, I have confirmed that it drifts about the same amount in the opposite direction when travelling down the opposite side of the road crown. These larger tires track alot different from the stockers.