Looking for help

NRM · December 10, 2004

I have an HD2500 GMC Serria truck. I drove about 12 of them before I bought this one. One of my main problems was that about 6 or 8 of the ones I tested wandered on the road. The one I purchased didn't until now. I took it in to have it checked and there was no problem found. I was told they all handle like that. IS THAT THE CASE WITH YOURS? It feels to me like the toe specs are off. The dealer told me that they were good and they wouldn't change them because of tire wear. Any one else had this problem? I called GMC and they told me a flag would come up in their system if someone else complained. I am not bashing GM. I really like the truck, but I think the way it handles is dangerous. If anyone has the same problem, a fix or a way to get GM to step up and help please let me know.

Thank you, Neil

2004 GMC Serria 3700 miles

PS: it would be nice to put in a CD without wondering if your going to be in the bushes or in on coming traffic when you look back.

[email protected]

soccermom · December 10, 2004

I would have an experienced tire dealer check the alignment. My 02 tracks like its on rails.

NRM · December 10, 2004

I would have an experienced tire dealer check the alignment. My 02 tracks like its on rails.

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My 91 was like that. I used to say you could drive on a decent road asleep. This 2004 has become scary. I have had a lot of little things wrong. The dealers taken very good care of me but this really upsets me. I almost crashed on the way home from the dealer. I wasn't paying attention.

03GMC2500HD · December 10, 2004

Are you saying it wanders all over the road like a drunk driver or something? What kind of tire pressure are you running? Can you put a few turns on the torsion bars to see if it stiffens it up a bit?

NRM · December 10, 2004

Are you saying it wanders all over the road like a drunk driver or something? What kind of tire pressure are you running? Can you put a few turns on the torsion bars to see if it stiffens it up a bit?

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The truck handles great. It corners great. The problem is when you are just cruising and you look aside to put in a cd or you look a little long at a site, the truck just wanders one direction or the other. Toward the bushes or into traffic. I always thought that was the type handling you wou get if the toe was set to 0 . I am no mechanic, but I am old enough to have owned a lot of car/trucks and have never had this problem unless there was a part bad. I have had a bunch of trouble in the few months I have owned the truck, they are all small things but this is scary. I was right about the driveshaft being out of balance. The truck vibrated, I took it in and they replaced the driveshaft. Alls well in that department now. I wish the dealer could fix this problem.

timowen1 · December 11, 2004

Are you saying it wanders all over the road like a drunk driver or something? What kind of tire pressure are you running? Can you put a few turns on the torsion bars to see if it stiffens it up a bit?

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The truck handles great. It corners great. The problem is when you are just cruising and you look aside to put in a cd or you look a little long at a site, the truck just wanders one direction or the other. Toward the bushes or into traffic. I always thought that was the type handling you wou get if the toe was set to 0 . I am no mechanic, but I am old enough to have owned a lot of car/trucks and have never had this problem unless there was a part bad. I have had a bunch of trouble in the few months I have owned the truck, they are all small things but this is scary. I was right about the driveshaft being out of balance. The truck vibrated, I took it in and they replaced the driveshaft. Alls well in that department now. I wish the dealer could fix this problem.

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Have you considered an alignment shop? I know you have a warranty but for a few bucks you get another unbias opinion. If it is out then you have 2 choices. Take it back to the dealer with the alignment shops computer read out and demand they fix it or let the alignment shop fix it and return with the paper work to the dealership you have logged complaints with and try to get them to pay the bill. like that would happen.

I have had a new truck every 14 months or so since I started my business in 1994. I have always bought GMC or Chevy. Never had a bad truck. The longest I have kept a truck was 2 years 87,000 miles. Kept oil changed and tranny fluid on a text book schedule. The only problem I had was this 2500HD GMC with les than 10,000 miles blew a heater core out of state on a Friday night. Found a GMC dealer open on Sat. and was back on the road again Tuesday. Couldn't order a part till Mon. and took a day to get it. Good trucks, don't give up. You know why other guys drive D*dges and F*rds don't you? Well I have family and friends who do and they ALL tell me they looked and drove but could not afford it!

GMC6000 · December 11, 2004

Get rid of your factory tires. When I bought my 2004, mine did the exact same thing. Since I did not like the looks of the factory 245 tires, I replaced them after only 500 miles on the truck with 265 Toyo Open Country AT's. It was like a new truck after that, I never would have guessed it was caused by tires.

03GMC2500HD · December 11, 2004

I know you are having a problem and it is just the way I'm reading it and the way you are explaining it but on this side it sounds kinda funny to me. I'm still scratching my head on this one. You are driving fine, you turn your head to look at something on the left and the truck veers left. You take your eyes off the road to load a CD on the right and the truck veers right. Kinda like following a gal putting lipstick on and she is not watching the road as she wanders all over. Best advise it to keep your eyes on the road I guess. Sounds like the hand is following the eyes.

NRM · December 11, 2004

I know you are having a problem and it is just the way I'm reading it and the way you are explaining it but on this side it sounds kinda funny to me. I'm still scratching my head on this one. You are driving fine, you turn your head to look at something on the left and the truck veers left. You take your eyes off the road to load a CD on the right and the truck veers right. Kinda like following a gal putting lipstick on and she is not watching the road as she wanders all over. Best advise it to keep your eyes on the road I guess. Sounds like the hand is following the eyes.

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It could be me. I am a sucky driver. The problem is that I have 6 other cars registared in my name, just got rid of my 91 1500 4x4 GMC, and none of them did it. I do have a hard time conveying my point in writing. Actually I am not much better in person. I know I should keep my eyes on the road,my hands (both on the wheel) and drive slowly, but I have been driving for 35 years and its hard to change. I will have to until I can figure this out.

I thank you and everyone else for your ideas/input.

Neil

NRM · December 11, 2004

Get rid of your factory tires. When I bought my 2004, mine did the exact same thing. Since I did not like the looks of the factory 245 tires, I replaced them after only 500 miles on the truck with 265 Toyo Open Country AT's. It was like a new truck after that, I never would have guessed it was caused by tires.

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I can't afford that now, but will consider for the future. Or as long as I can stand it. Thanks for the input and NICE TRUCK!

duramax/a · December 11, 2004

I have an HD2500 GMC Serria truck. I drove about 12 of them before I bought this one. One of my main problems was that about 6 or 8 of the ones I tested wandered on the road. The one I purchased didn't until now. I took it in to have it checked and there was no problem found. I was told they all handle like that. IS THAT THE CASE WITH YOURS? It feels to me like the toe specs are off. The dealer told me that they were good and they wouldn't change them because of tire wear. Any one else had this problem? I called GMC and they told me a flag would come up in their system if someone else complained. I am not bashing GM. I really like the truck, but I think the way it handles is dangerous. If anyone has the same problem, a fix or a way to get GM to step up and help please let me know.

Thank you, Neil

2004 GMC Serria 3700 miles

PS: it would be nice to put in a CD without wondering if your going to be in the bushes or in on coming traffic when you look back.

[email protected]

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duramax/a · December 11, 2004

If you have a 4x4, I would be looking at the torsion bars. For starters put your truck on level ground to check that it is sitting perfectly level.

Kirk

I have an HD2500 GMC Serria truck. I drove about 12 of them before I bought this one. One of my main problems was that about 6 or 8 of the ones I tested wandered on the road. The one I purchased didn't until now. I took it in to have it checked and there was no problem found. I was told they all handle like that. IS THAT THE CASE WITH YOURS? It feels to me like the toe specs are off. The dealer told me that they were good and they wouldn't change them because of tire wear. Any one else had this problem? I called GMC and they told me a flag would come up in their system if someone else complained. I am not bashing GM. I really like the truck, but I think the way it handles is dangerous. If anyone has the same problem, a fix or a way to get GM to step up and help please let me know.

Thank you, Neil

2004 GMC Serria 3700 miles

PS: it would be nice to put in a CD without wondering if your going to be in the bushes or in on coming traffic when you look back.

[email protected]

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pjmelton · December 17, 2004

I had the same problem with my GMC 2003 1500HD crew cab not long after I got it. The tires air pressure was the problem of my trucks behavior. These factory 245 75R 16's are load E rated. I was running 32 psi, dealer recommended pressure posted on the end of the driver side door recommends 50 psi in the front and 80 in the rear. Since I rarely carry a heavy a load I put 50 in the front and 60 in the back. The trucks jumpy handling quit immediately. However, I currently have ~25,000 miles on these tires and have noticed significant wear in the center of the tire (overinflated, or brand ?). I am now faced with purchasing new tires, today, due to holiday travel concerns. I have been reading a lot about what size and make of tire would be best for me. I want to fill up that huge wheel well to give my truck a rougher appearance, better traction and handling.

I will try 40 - 45 psi on my new tires and would recommend that you try increasing the tire pressure until the jerky handling ceases. I hope this works for you too.

I have an HD2500 GMC Serria truck. I drove about 12 of them before I bought this one. One of my main problems was that about 6 or 8 of the ones I tested wandered on the road. The one I purchased didn't until now. I took it in to have it checked and there was no problem found. I was told they all handle like that. IS THAT THE CASE WITH YOURS? It feels to me like the toe specs are off. The dealer told me that they were good and they wouldn't change them because of tire wear. Any one else had this problem? I called GMC and they told me a flag would come up in their system if someone else complained. I am not bashing GM. I really like the truck, but I think the way it handles is dangerous. If anyone has the same problem, a fix or a way to get GM to step up and help please let me know.

Thank you, Neil

2004 GMC Serria 3700 miles

PS: it would be nice to put in a CD without wondering if your going to be in the bushes or in on coming traffic when you look back.

[email protected]

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Mort · December 17, 2004

I have always run the tire pressures stated in the door jamb. When I got the truck it was set to 45 psi all around by the factory or the dealer. My truck does not wonder but like I said I have always run 50 psi front and 80 psi rear. I like a firm handling tire which does not squirm at all so I put up with the slighlty rough ride. My tires (original Firestone) are wearing in the centers as well but the edges are good and not rounded or scalloped. I have 23200 miles now and figure I should be good for 30K at least. I guess if your pressures are lower you could try raising them first to see if it cures your handling problem. For some reason you may be following your eyes. I know I do it sometimes if I am not paying enough attention to what I am doing. Try just realeasing your grip on the wheel while looking straight ahead to see what happens. Most roads have a crown built into them to let water run off so it would be unusual for a vehicle to continue straight ahead for any length of time but it should not pull noticeably to one side or the other. Maybe an alignment shop or the dealer could adjust your alignment for the roads in your area. Also it could be related to the wind conditions in your area which are probably higher this time of year than in the summer and why you have noticed the problem more recently.

Good luck figuring it out.

BlackSilver · December 17, 2004

I have an '03, with the original factory Firestones at 51,000 miles (they're about due for change, but very good wear patterns -- I rotate at each 10,000-miles).

Since I tow and haul a lot, I keep pressures at 80-rear, 65-front. Never had a single problem with 'wandering' or handling.