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14:38:35 - 04/19/2024
General Dakota Board
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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3/21/2005
20:03:03
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 Subject: Front End Alignment Problems
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Message:
I've had my 03 QC 2wd into the dealer several times over the last couple of weeks and the truck drives worse than when it went in there.
A couple of weeks ago I took the truck into the dealer for a front end alignment and they replaced the upper ball joints while they were at it. They said there was too much play in the ball joints to align the front end, so they replaced them under warranty.
After the front end alignment the truck was drifting to the right, had an odd noise in the suspension and wheel wobble when hitting a bump at high speeds in a corner. I looked at the truck and found that one of the front wheel bearings was loose. Back to the dealer I went to have them replace the wheel bearing and verify that the alignment was correct.
Now the truck drifts to the left and is really squirrely driving on textured concrete freeways. The road finish that makes the truck wander left to right really bad has grooves about 1-2" apart going in the direction of travel, down the road not across it. I was down right freaked out the first time I hit this section of freeway as the whole truck would wobble left to right like I was moving the steering wheel left to right.
Question is, what did they screw up and should I go back to have them fix it? I know that the front end is out of alignment, but what would cause the truck to wobble while driving on the grooved freeway, camber, caster, toe-in?
Funny thing, 2 months before the alignment the dealership said the upper ball joints didn't have any play at all in them at all....
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SteveC
Dodge Dakota
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3/22/2005
07:56:27
| RE: Front End Alignment Problems
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Message:
This sounds to me like the toe is off (causing the indecisive directional control), and camber is off on one wheel (causing the drift).
A guess is that your stealership adjusted it with a bad (loose) bearing affecting adjustment, and didn't re-check it the second visit.
Here's something to try. While parked on a level surface, put a level up against your front wheels (rim is best, you might want to cut a block of wood the diameter of the rim to offset the tire width, and watch the balance weights). You should find that both sides are identical. They probably won't be perfectly vertical, only close, that's normal. I have a feeling you'll find they're different, e.g. one wheel is off.
For toe, take a pair of 6 to 8' straightedges, I usually use cheap steel angle stock from the home center. Again, use a (parallel edged!) block of wood to offset the tire width against the wheel. Place these against the wheels parallel to the ground. Measure the difference between the front and back of both straightedges with a measuring tape. These measurements should be the same, or slightly shorter in the forward end (toe-in). My guess is that you'll find the forward end measurement slightly longer, resulting in toe-out,
These measurements are crude, and useful only as a guide (or to get you to the alignment rack after front-end work), but they should help confirm your trouble.
Try to get it squared away quickly if you can. The condition you describe can ruin some expensive tires in a hurry if allowed to persist.
Good luck, hope it helps...
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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3/22/2005
14:04:36
| RE: Front End Alignment Problems
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Message:
Thanks for the info, I just had the tires replaced and am heading back to the deale,, stealership ASAP to get the alignment problem resolved. I think this is the 4th time I have been back because of the alignment issue.
Another wasted morning... Gee, I wonder how they are going to score on the survey sent to me by Daimler Chrysler?
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Larrywolf1991
Dodge Dakota
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1/01/2007
17:10:55
|  RE: Front End Alignment Problems
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Message:
Does anyone know the specifications for a 1991 Dodge Dakota for the front end alignment. I would like the exact measurments if possible. It has been pulling toward the passenger side....
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chris etchell
Dodge Dakota
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9/05/2015
10:52:13
| RE: Front End Alignment Problems
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Message:
2004 dakota,4wd,club cab.4.7
should toe be in or out.
instead of degrees,any one know how many inches,ex front of wheel to back.. thanks
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chris etchell
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/05/2015
11:06:48
| RE: Front End Alignment Problems
IP: Logged
Message:
2004 dakota,4wd,club cab.4.7
should toe be in or out.
instead of degrees,any one know how many inches,ex front of wheel to back.. thanks
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