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Posted

My 99 Tahoe 4 dr 4x4 has been pulling to the right for some time. Listed below are details.

Had no pulling at all.

Installed new upper and lower control arms with joints on both sides. Marked upper control arm camber bolts and install same, also torsion bars same.

Drove great with no pulling to the right.

Needed new tires, took to a shop to have new tires mounted and had them do an alignment as I had did the front suspension.

They told me that someone had installed the right side upper camber bolt backwards. I told them I installed it as it was and I had marked it but they insisted.

Bringing it home it pulled to the right and has been ever since, even through another set of tires. Shop said bolt was no issue.

Had it re-aligned at another shop, they put to specs but still pulls to the right.

Took into another shop and watched. Guy said bolt was in backwards and he was a former gm service person. I told him the deal and he said should not make any diff so left that way. Still have the pull and shop is baffled.

My need is, does anyone know if the camber bolt being on backwards will cause an issue? Tires were switched also so not that, Tested for bad steering box and brakes but they check ok. Have not checked hub or shaft joints but if that was the issue they should have failed 2 years ago. 

All I know is that the only hard thing done at first alignment was they installed the camber bolt backwards and not the way Chevy has them. Just the right side bolt was switched.

Any help would be great before I dig deeper.

If you wonder how long I was letting this go it is my winter truck and time just ticks away all summer when it is laid up.

 

Posted

do you have the evo system on your power steering pump, once i removed mine on my 98 truck drove straight , quit pulling to right

Posted

Well that fits one thing. A few years ago I had to install a new power steering pump. The pump would not fit the original tubing and I had to pay big for a bent short pipe. I did not put in the valve just the pipe but I have had no issues until as stated. I still have the valve if I want to change it but not fun as I remember.

I have looked at the signs of failing Evo but not one mention of pulling as a symptom only loose and wandering. I am not ruling it out but am going to check my hub bearings on that side. Never been replaced in over 228K. One forum guy stated his did that and had a warn out bearing that made no noise just warn out. I was wondering about that if the bearings are warn and the shaft runs on top giving a bit more drag or movement?  I am at either Evo, hub or cv joint at this point. I find no one to say if a switched cam bolt would be an issue. I think the bolts on GMs cam bolts are diff for each side due to ease of making adjustment's.

Thanks for your help. If I get this figured out I will give results.

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