steering pulling to right

[towjoe]

I have a 81 K30 wrecker That started to pull to the right while back. has new tie rods, drag link, steering box, alignment, brakes all in last 5k miles. the rear axle broke the center bolt on right side and just fixed that. wheel is croocked, and as soon as you let go it goes right for the ditch. rear springs are centered correct both sides, no visable broken leafs. same for the front springs. any ideas where else to look for the problem?

 

[DoubleDingo]

I was thinking brake dragging, but you re-did them not too long ago. Maybe wheel bearings need to be cleaned and repacked or replaced. Maybe a spindle in going south. I cannot think of anything else at the moment.

 

[towjoe]

both front wheels have some drag, but not any real difference between the 2. had bearings all replaced along with brakes, calipers, hoses ect when job was done. I was a year or so ago, but only like 5k miles been driven. seemed alright few weeks ago when I used it last.

 

[DoubleDingo]

Kinda sounds like the alignment has gone out of whack. Like something wasn't tightened well enough on the drag link or tie rods, and it walked out of alignment. If the wheel is suddenly not centered, it is possibly the drag link.

Of course it could be that jump you took doing 50 where you landed hard on the right front wheel...lol...

 

[bucket]

Switch the front tires around and see if that changes or improves the pull.

 

[highdesertrange]

have you checked the alignment? highdesertranger

 

[towjoe]

alignment been back to shop twice and never found a problem, changed steering box again, pulled hubs off double checked it, and switched tires. still drives like crap. guess it will be a pretty lawn ornament lol

 

[DoubleDingo]

That truly sucks you weren't able to figure what is causing the pull to the right. Have you had anybody follow you to see if it is dog-tracking? Or have someone drive it and you follow to see if it's dog-tracking? Maybe worn suspension bushings? Frame bent? Maybe loose spring mounts to the frame? It really is odd that it pulls like that after all the stuff you've fixed/replaced/checked.

 

[chengny]

Center the steering wheel first. Just let it roll to a stop (no brakes) from a slow speed. Hands off the wheel. Let the front end point in the direction it wants to. Turn the key off, but don't turn it so that it locks the steering wheel.

Get under the truck by the steering gear. Loosen the clamps on both drag link ends. Using a pipe wrench (or Channel-locks), either shorten or lengthen the effective length of the drag link. The steering wheel will rotate but the tires/wheels will stay where they rolled to a stop. Adjust the drag link length to make the steering wheel look straight. Leave the drag link end clamps loose - you'll be doing this again.

Get out drive around for a minute and go back to where your tools are. Let the truck roll to a stop. Again, don't touch the steering wheel or lock the column.

Straighten the steering wheel again with the drag link. Test drive.

You might have to do this a couple of times but eventually at least the steering wheel will be aligned when your wheels are pointing straight ahead.

See if this reduces the strong pull - I doubt it will.

This may be where your problem lies:

the rear axle broke the center bolt on right side and just fixed that.



Measure the wheel base on either side and see if there is any significant difference. Doesn't have to be complicated - just measure the distance from the front to rear axle. You can use the center lines of the hubs as reference points.

 

[towjoe]

yes I just replaced center bolt in rear axle, but ive put grease on spring to check for movement, rechecked u bolts couple times, followed it to see if it dogtracks, and a few other ideas. all I can come up with it alignment shop is using wrong settings for toe in/out. I might try another alignment shop, I've tried a few times to measure and double check toe, but with a regular tape measure its hard to do. real frustrated with this truck, It has 12k miles on it since a frame up build and $12k build price. it's went 75 miles in last month and a half so if it don't straighted up it's going to be a sign in front yard

 

[350runner]

Post a pic of the caster camber readings or what they are. They can say they are in spec but if they are close to being out it will pull either way. My truck does the same... and every shop I go to is scared to adjust them with shims. Yours should have caster/ camber bushings

Sent from the dust in front of you!

 

[DoubleDingo]

Nice looking truck. That would be one expensive sign but I feel your frustration. That center bolt breaking might be the culprit like Jerry said. And it could be the alignment shop doesn't know how to align an older vehicle. Sounds like you have gone over this truck with a fine-toothed comb.

 

[mtnmankev]

My 66 K20 had a bad pull to the right.
Replaced all front end parts and checked everything.
Had a professional alignment shop do alignment on it to bring it back into specs.
Come to find out the frame was tweaked, and since I could not afford a frame shop's labor rate, and could not be without the truck due to living situation, I learned to live with it.
Get the frame checked ......... sounds like you eliminated everything else.

 

[towjoe]

I built truck off a bare frame and there was no sign of damage when I started build. I have another old K30 with around half a million miles that drives straight as a arrow. I know front end is wore out in it and frame is sprung but still drives like new. I built this one because it was time for a nicer truck and I love my old K30's. My towing company went over to a LLC and there is a couple of investors that have bought in telling me I need to let go of the vintage iron and buy some newer equipment. I still have control of things, but I'm sure in a couple years I may have to part with my toys to keep up with the competion

 

[77 K20]

Mine likes to pull to the right also. Got new tires and wheels. Pulls to the right. Had a worn steering box, replaced that. Pulls to the right. Got an alignment, pulls to the right. Took it back to the shop again, pulls to the right. Talked to the alignment tech for a while, then he double checks everything.

Asks me to follow him out to the shop. He had the front end up in the air (both tires off the ground). Truck is in park. He reaches in thru the window and starts it. Tires start turning to the right. At that point he guesses the power steering pump itself. I have just lived with it so far. No tire wear at all...

Maybe lift up the front of yours and see if it is the same? And if it is, I don't know what to tell you. Get holy water.