Steering pulls to the right after 2 alignments HELP

[405KJ]

Greeting all,

I have done some searching and I just can't uncover a solid answer. I drive an 06 4wd with 185k. This is my first Jeep and it runs completely perfect minus the steering issue. It has pulled to the right ever since I bought it. I got it aligned the first time after a few months of owning it back in 2011 and I thought it somewhat corrected the problem but still had slight amount of pull (depends on road). I got another alignment September of 13 because I was noticing significant tire wear up front. Needless to say there was no change and I purchased 2 new tires and moved the old rear tires up front but I will be lucky if I can get through the summer on them. Any help and or advice would be much appreciated for I plan on keeping this Jeep for at least 2 or 3 more years.

 

[Ohio-white-kj]

Does it change by moving the tires around? Sounds like a classic bad tire issue. I had one that would pull even on the rear. On the front it felt like a 40 mph cross wind.

If all checks out mechanically - tire or wheel. Or it was wrecked.

 

[tjkj2002]

Need to post a pic of the current reading of where the alignment is set.Without that readout there is nothing anyone can do since no one knows what your alignment is set at.

 

[Birdman330]

You have a radial pull IE broken belt in a tire, and or you have something messed up on your steering suspension, bent control arm, tie rod, etc.... If you've had alignment adjusted and still have the pull then one of those two and or they didn't do it right.

 

[CactusJacked]

Were all 4 wheels checked for alignment, or only the fronts? Yeah, the back isn't adjustable, but something could be tweaked/bent and make the Jeep not track straight.

 

[Birdman330]

^ Issue is depending on the alignment machine you can't actually get a read out for the rear axle.

 

[tjkj2002]

Were all 4 wheels checked for alignment, or only the fronts? Yeah, the back isn't adjustable, but something could be tweaked/bent and make the Jeep not track straight.

^ Issue is depending on the alignment machine you can't actually get a read out for the rear axle.

Unless your at a shop using a 20+ year old alignment rack you must have a rear readout to set the front toe.Even if the rear is non-adjustable it still must be known to set the front.




No such thing as a 2 wheel or front end alignment anymore and has been that way for many,many years regardless if there is any rear adjustments or not.

 

[405KJ]

Does it change by moving the tires around? Sounds like a classic bad tire issue. I had one that would pull even on the rear. On the front it felt like a 40 mph cross wind.

If all checks out mechanically - tire or wheel. Or it was wrecked.

I thought it was the tires also which is why I spent the money and got 2 brand new tires and put those on the rear and put the old rear ones up front because they still had good tread life. But it was no change still pulled to the right.

 

[405KJ]

You have a radial pull IE broken belt in a tire, and or you have something messed up on your steering suspension, bent control arm, tie rod, etc.... If you've had alignment adjusted and still have the pull then one of those two and or they didn't do it right.

Im really leaning towards tie rods or control arm. But shouldn't that be noticed when on the alignment rack?

 

[405KJ]

I was hoping somebody had first hand experience with something similar to this. I could take it to a shop but I have a feeling they will just make stuff up to get me to spend money.

 

[tjkj2002]

I was hoping somebody had first hand experience with something similar to this. I could take it to a shop but I have a feeling they will just make stuff up to get me to spend money.

Like I already stated if you post a pic of the readout from the last alignment I can help,but without knowing what your alignment is currently set at it's 100% pure guessing.

 

[Birdman330]

Unless your at a shop using a 20+ year old alignment rack you must have a rear readout to set the front toe.Even if the rear is non-adjustable it still must be known to set the front.




No such thing as a 2 wheel or front end alignment anymore and has been that way for many,many years regardless if there is any rear adjustments or not.

Hunter Alignment Machines we used at several of the stores were set up that if the rear wasn't adjustable there were no read outs. That is why I brought that up, yes you can get a 4 wheel read out on different ones in those cases you'll see a reading on the PRINT OUT that rear is non adjustable. We would just have the bar graphs for the front and grey bar graphs for the rear with dots instead of numbers.

 

[Birdman330]

Im really leaning towards tie rods or control arm. But shouldn't that be noticed when on the alignment rack?

If the alignment tech knows what they're doing in the first place, proper visual inspection and an actual understanding of the read out. Most people get rushed through training and taught mostly Toe N' Go which I hate, no attention to caster or camber which can indicate bent control arms, struts that can't be seen with the naked eye, etc.....

 

[tjkj2002]

Hunter Alignment Machines we used at several of the stores were set up that if the rear wasn't adjustable there were no read outs. That is why I brought that up, yes you can get a 4 wheel read out on different ones in those cases you'll see a reading on the PRINT OUT that rear is non adjustable. We would just have the bar graphs for the front and grey bar graphs for the rear with dots instead of numbers.

Here is what our Hunter rack shows all the time,they are grayed out but still show a measurement and our rack is getting old compared to what is out there now.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[streetglideok]

Hunter Alignment Machines we used at several of the stores were set up that if the rear wasn't adjustable there were no read outs. That is why I brought that up, yes you can get a 4 wheel read out on different ones in those cases you'll see a reading on the PRINT OUT that rear is non adjustable. We would just have the bar graphs for the front and grey bar graphs for the rear with dots instead of numbers.

As a former Des Moines resident, just curious what shops you're referring to? Send me a PM if you don't want to say publically.

The Hunter machines I know of that did as you described, were some old things.

 

[Birdman330]

One store had that set up I worked at out of all 5 that was the last one they bought out and vigorously updated to be most modern. Well that was until Bridgestone decided to begin work on their main retail outlets. There are reasons why I left Bridgestone and now work for a Chrysler Dealership.

 

[405KJ]

Thanks for the input guys, They never game me an alignment sheet afterwards. It was done at a Kwik Kar here in OK. I may get it looked at in the next couple weeks I'll be sure and update if they actually find something wrong.

 

[LibertyTC]

Alignment & mechanically sound (not pulling to the right) is a good thing!
All I know is ...if it dont drive straight..it gets fixed, or it gets parked !

 

[tjkj2002]

Thanks for the input guys, They never game me an alignment sheet afterwards. It was done at a Kwik Kar here in OK. I may get it looked at in the next couple weeks I'll be sure and update if they actually find something wrong.

If they did not give you a spec sheet then they most likely never even did the alignment,or at least they can not prove it.


At my shop we must print out 2 copies,one for the customer and one stapled to our copy of the invoice.