Truck Pulls To The Right

1990ss · October 2, 2011

I've had my '06 2WD aligned and it still wants to pull to the right. I took it back and had them double check the alignment and they said they made a couple minor adjustments, but it still wants to pull to the right. If I let go of the wheel, it will go straight for a few seconds and then goes hard to the right. I've got new tires with good pressures in them. It also seems like it wants to wander around a little too. I have to actually try to keep it straight in the lane. Is there something else that might be going on with the steering besides alignment? I've had the same guy align other vehicles of mine, so I'm pretty confident he knows what he's doing.

txab · October 2, 2011

Have you checked for any brakes sticking?

1990ss · October 2, 2011

No, I haven't. What's a good way to check that? Just jack up the truck and spin the wheel?

Sly · October 2, 2011

I've had my '06 2WD aligned and it still wants to pull to the right. I took it back and had them double check the alignment and they said they made a couple minor adjustments, but it still wants to pull to the right. If I let go of the wheel, it will go straight for a few seconds and then goes hard to the right. I've got new tires with good pressures in them. It also seems like it wants to wander around a little too. I have to actually try to keep it straight in the lane. Is there something else that might be going on with the steering besides alignment? I've had the same guy align other vehicles of mine, so I'm pretty confident he knows what he's doing.

I would rotate the tires to eliminate a bad tire. I know you said they were new, but it is easy to do do and relatively quick.

ifshinxs · October 2, 2011

Rotate your tires to check for radial pull. Sometimes when tires are built the belts get put together off center this will cause what they call a radial pull. You can align the truck until your blue in the face and it will still pull. Onced the tires are rotated and your problem goes away you know one of the rear tires is bad.

It this doesn't work check for worn front end parts assuming that the castor is correct. Not enough right castor will allow your truck to wander and go to the right due to the crown in the road..I hope that helps some..

8.1HD/ALLISON · October 2, 2011

Rotate your tires to check for radial pull. Sometimes when tires are built the belts get put together off center this will cause what they call a radial pull. You can align the truck until your blue in the face and it will still pull. Onced the tires are rotated and your problem goes away you know one of the rear tires is bad.
It this doesn't work check for worn front end parts assuming that the castor is correct. Not enough right castor will allow your truck to wander and go to the right due to the crown in the road..I hope that helps some..

he has the right idea, however swap front tires left to right. If it is in the tires it should pull to the left . Bad part is that still doesn't tell you which tire is bad, just know it one of the two.

1990ss · October 3, 2011

Thanks. I'll try to get them rotated in the morning. If thats not whats wrong, what steering components should I check out?

desrtrat · October 3, 2011

does it pull on all the roads you drive on? around here the roads have a very high crown in them for water run off. some of them you almost have to turn the wheel to the 2 o'clock or 10 o'clock position just to go straight down the road..

good luck

1990ss · October 3, 2011

It does it on every road. I have taken my other vehicles down the same roads and they don't do what this truck is doing. That's why I'm thinking there is something wrong with it.

97whitez71 · October 3, 2011

I know it doesn't help you out, but my '97 has pulled every since I bought it in '99. I'm on my fourth set of tires, probably been aligned just as many times if not more, I rotate tires religiously, new front end components, etc. and it still pulls. I've put new brakes on it at least 3 or 4 times and put new front rotors on at least twice and didn't change the pull. All that to say after 12 years of trying to figure it out, I haven't and have just gotten used to it. Good luck with yours.

ChevyTech77 · October 3, 2011

I know it doesn't help you out, but my '97 has pulled every since I bought it in '99. I'm on my fourth set of tires, probably been aligned just as many times if not more, I rotate tires religiously, new front end components, etc. and it still pulls. I've put new brakes on it at least 3 or 4 times and put new front rotors on at least twice and didn't change the pull. All that to say after 12 years of trying to figure it out, I haven't and have just gotten used to it. Good luck with yours.

Does your truck still pull with the engine off? My '98 drove straight as an arrow, as long as I wasn't on a crowned road, mind you.

97whitez71 · October 3, 2011

I know it doesn't help you out, but my '97 has pulled every since I bought it in '99. I'm on my fourth set of tires, probably been aligned just as many times if not more, I rotate tires religiously, new front end components, etc. and it still pulls. I've put new brakes on it at least 3 or 4 times and put new front rotors on at least twice and didn't change the pull. All that to say after 12 years of trying to figure it out, I haven't and have just gotten used to it. Good luck with yours.

Does your truck still pull with the engine off? My '98 drove straight as an arrow, as long as I wasn't on a crowned road, mind you.

Not sure I understand the question.

ChevyTech77 · October 3, 2011

Not sure I understand the question.

Engine off = engine not running.

Say you're driving down the road, the vehicle is pulling, you turn you ignition off just enough to kill the engine, but not lock the steering column, does the truck still pull?

Less scary way of testing the same thing, but not as accurate, start engine with front wheels suspended off the ground and your hands off the steering wheel. Did the steering wheel move at all? Rev the engine up and down a few times. Did the steering wheel move yet?

Both things are testing for a faulty steering gear causing a pull condition.

redjewel2ss · October 3, 2011

I know it doesn't help you out, but my '97 has pulled every since I bought it in '99. I'm on my fourth set of tires, probably been aligned just as many times if not more, I rotate tires religiously, new front end components, etc. and it still pulls. I've put new brakes on it at least 3 or 4 times and put new front rotors on at least twice and didn't change the pull. All that to say after 12 years of trying to figure it out, I haven't and have just gotten used to it. Good luck with yours.

was the truck ever in a wreck? in your case i think that might have been frame damage!

redjewel2ss · October 3, 2011

if its not your tires, it is possible that the tie rod ends are worn out. to check this, jack the front end, and try to move the wheels side to side. there should be no play in them. if there is, your tie rod ends need replacing.

the problem with IFS is a million different things could cause this issue. its just the process of elimination trying to figure out what it is!