Steering pull to the right
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 174
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Steering pull to the right
Greetings! Long time, no post... thankfully!
I went in for an alignment today and the technician said the alignment wasn't out. He noticed the pull to the right also when he drove the vehicle. I am now wondering what could be the culprit. Here is some background:
2001 F250 7.3L 4x4 Ext Cab, Manual locking hubs
Was pulling to the right before AND after:
Recent tire change and recent hub change
With or without hubs locked. With or without 4x4 on
Apply brakes doesn't seem to make a difference
Speeds don't appear to make a different (though you don't notice it as much as lower speeds).
It will always drift right without applying slight force to keep it straight
40k miles ago I had death wobble and replaced the shocks, axle seals, ball joints, tie rods, replaced the trac bar bushings, added a dual stabilizer, replaced the sway bars, brake calipers, brake pads and rotors...
Any suggestions are welcomed at this point....
I went in for an alignment today and the technician said the alignment wasn't out. He noticed the pull to the right also when he drove the vehicle. I am now wondering what could be the culprit. Here is some background:
2001 F250 7.3L 4x4 Ext Cab, Manual locking hubs
Was pulling to the right before AND after:
Recent tire change and recent hub change
With or without hubs locked. With or without 4x4 on
Apply brakes doesn't seem to make a difference
Speeds don't appear to make a different (though you don't notice it as much as lower speeds).
It will always drift right without applying slight force to keep it straight
40k miles ago I had death wobble and replaced the shocks, axle seals, ball joints, tie rods, replaced the trac bar bushings, added a dual stabilizer, replaced the sway bars, brake calipers, brake pads and rotors...
Any suggestions are welcomed at this point....
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,100
Likes: 1,635
There's many causes to this, hard to say which it is. First and simplest test is to rotate the front tires, see if the problem stays put or goes to the other side.
As mentioned, a dragging brake or sticky/bad u-joint can do it. Improper tire wear can do this (though guessing since your alignment guy said everything is good the tire isn't worn funny?). You've done some ruling out on a bunch of other stuff.
It COULD be just the crown to the road. Try getting out on a multi-lane divided highway and run in the left lane, see if it changes to pulling left.
Generally speaking, you DO want the vehicle to pull slightly to the right if it pulls at all - if something happens it'll go off the road instead of oncoming traffic.
As mentioned, a dragging brake or sticky/bad u-joint can do it. Improper tire wear can do this (though guessing since your alignment guy said everything is good the tire isn't worn funny?). You've done some ruling out on a bunch of other stuff.
It COULD be just the crown to the road. Try getting out on a multi-lane divided highway and run in the left lane, see if it changes to pulling left.
Generally speaking, you DO want the vehicle to pull slightly to the right if it pulls at all - if something happens it'll go off the road instead of oncoming traffic.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
There's many causes to this, hard to say which it is. First and simplest test is to rotate the front tires, see if the problem stays put or goes to the other side.
As mentioned, a dragging brake or sticky/bad u-joint can do it. Improper tire wear can do this (though guessing since your alignment guy said everything is good the tire isn't worn funny?). You've done some ruling out on a bunch of other stuff.
It COULD be just the crown to the road. Try getting out on a multi-lane divided highway and run in the left lane, see if it changes to pulling left.
Generally speaking, you DO want the vehicle to pull slightly to the right if it pulls at all - if something happens it'll go off the road instead of oncoming traffic.
As mentioned, a dragging brake or sticky/bad u-joint can do it. Improper tire wear can do this (though guessing since your alignment guy said everything is good the tire isn't worn funny?). You've done some ruling out on a bunch of other stuff.
It COULD be just the crown to the road. Try getting out on a multi-lane divided highway and run in the left lane, see if it changes to pulling left.
Generally speaking, you DO want the vehicle to pull slightly to the right if it pulls at all - if something happens it'll go off the road instead of oncoming traffic.
My first thought was a sticking caliper. I'll start there and save the U joint for last. Those things are not fun.
I recently went to a different set of tires. It was doing this before and after the tire swap.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 894
Likes: 255
From: San Diego, CA
Front axle u-joints should not have an affect - they should not be moving while in 2WD.
If me, jack up front and manually rotate tires. If not a brake drag, then I'd bet its the wheel bearing.
If me, jack up front and manually rotate tires. If not a brake drag, then I'd bet its the wheel bearing.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 908
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From: E TN
Caster adjustment is what makes the truck drive straight or pull. Generally doing an alignment a slightly higher caster setting on the right is what you shoot for to stop a vehicle from wandering to the right on crowned roads. What is the caster setting?
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 104
Likes: 48
Just a quick point of clarification on this. A front u-joint can affect steering even when the axle isn't spinning. The joint has to articulate when the steering knuckles move right or left, so a joint that is stiff can cause issues. I agree, though, that something like that wouldn't necessarily cause it to pull one direction or the other, but would more likely affect steering input and wander.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 174
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Yeah I have tested it on may different roads and grades.... It isn't as noticeable on some grades but still exists.
My first thought was a sticking caliper. I'll start there and save the U joint for last. Those things are not fun.
I recently went to a different set of tires. It was doing this before and after the tire swap.
My first thought was a sticking caliper. I'll start there and save the U joint for last. Those things are not fun.
I recently went to a different set of tires. It was doing this before and after the tire swap.
10 years ago at 318k miles I rebuilt the entire front end down to the axle seals / ball joints. That was 40k miles ago. I don't really want to have to get that far into it, but I may have it coming to me.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
Ny current diagnoses includes constant pull to the right and a death wobble / pull to the left when braking. New brake pads and swapping the front left & right rotors may eliminate some things inexpensively and quickly. Thinking about taking the aftermarket steering stabilizer off for a test drive also.
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