Pulls hard to the right...???

[Goober]

Alright, I know you might not be able to pin point the problem, but short of replacing the entire front end, what's next?
I had a slight pull when everything was stock, I was told it was the tires or the radius arm bushings. Well, after lifting the truck this past weekend and replacing the bushings while there and getting the alignment done yesterday, this has not solved the problem(actually a little worse because of the larger tires). I have measured the front tire to back tire on both sides and it looks like the right side sets 1/2" backwards from the left side. Would this be the cause? I also noticed when we were putting the bushings on, the drivers side went on easily, while the passenger side had to be,....helped into place.
Does this need to go to a body shop and put on the rack to see if something had been bent? Or, am I overlooking something here? Thanks!

 

[mattadams]

I believe that that is a "feature, not a bug". Everyone I know with the SUperlift lift has the same pull... I've had it aligned a few times, even tried having them let me sit in the car while doing the alignment to make sure it wasn't a weight issue... they can get it to factory specs, but it will still pull to the right. I know a few people have contacted Superlift and they seem to not care about this flaw. Although mine wanders so much sometimes it pulls hard right, next thing you know its pulling to the left... gotta be alert . I don't think you bent anything its just the design of the superlift, they probably figured they wouldn't sell many explorer lifts so didn't spend too long working on testing them out.

 

[Goober]

Matt,
I know putting a steering stabilizer helps mainly for bump-steer, but would it be a worth-while thing to do to ease the pull? Did you have the same problem with the bushing I had(harder to put ont side on than the other?). I don't think it's the kit, because it was doing this before I put it on. I don't mind a little drag to one side, but if I let go of the wheel, I'm headin' for the ditch. Thanks.

 

[mattadams]

I'm not sure about the stabilizer, I've been thinking of adding one to mine as a cheap fix for a few problems, not sure yet though. Mine is not a slight pull either, occasionally I'll try to let go of the wheel to see about various shakes/shimmies, etc. and will head into another lane... it sucks.

 

[tdavis]

hmmm...

I have a shop here in Oakland that can actually align my truck perfectly. When I was calling around, trying to find someone here that would align a lifted truck, they was the only ones that laughed and said 'no problemo, we like challenges!'

They do it the old fashion way - no fancy computers, gizmos or anything else.

It's interesting to watch them work.

Try taking the truck to a real frame/axle/alignment shop, not the corner tire shop. You'll be suprised on what a good frame shop can do for you.

 

[mattadams]

hmm... frame shop, thats a thought... I have taken mine to a few places, meineke, dick cepek who originally installed it, 4-wheel parts, and alignment masters, no luck yet... maybe I'll try a frame shop next time.

 

[Goober]

Maybe a frame shop can adjustment to compensant for the pull. I know this thing is not going to be a straight line cruiser by any means, but I would like it to drive straight enough for me not to have to keep a good force on it just to keep it on the road. Yellow pages, here I come....(fingers walking....)

 

[Turner55]

i dont have a lift, but get this: i went to have my tires balanced b/c they were shakin (it had always pulled a little to the right...and i can relate to matt about sometimes it pulling to the left) and when i got it back after they finished balancing them it pulled like heck to the right...i dont know what happened, but when i got new tires it went back to the original pull...i dont think this is a superlift problem, b/c mine does it...i think it's an explorer problem

 

[rpenner54]

The pull to the right is a FORD Truck TTB/Twin I beam problem. All the trucks I have driven with this system have always done this after a while. It probably has to do a alot with the stearing geometry and the way the axles both line up.

 

[adionne 93 XLT 4.0]

Mee Too!

Thanks for the info Ryan, although what do you suggest to limit or eliminate the pull. Mine pulls hard to the right. Approx. 6 months ago I had new ra bushings put on and had it aligned. Perfect until about 4oo mi, I noticed it went back to the hard pull when I was pulling out of a ditch type driveway and heard a little crink. Been pulling R ever since and I',m about to have the superlift put on-and wanted to wait till after to take to a frame shop.

 

[rpenner54]

Usually I just run less air in the left front tire. Its weird but it works. I run the right front tire at 33-35 pounds at street and the left one at 28-30. That is street presure too. Sometimes when I get sick of it riding like a rock I lower all the tires to 24-26 and that helps also. It seems to even out the drag. I am thinking that with the supper runner stearing that should not be as much as a problem but it still seems to effect some people. I also tweak on my radius arms if its pulling to much to the right which can fix that also. Other then that I just live with it.

 

[BigDave]

While you guys all have lifts installed and I am still stock. I too have a pull to the right, mostly while braking, but also a little just driving. I have been told by a parts guys that I explained the problem to that my caliper may be hanging up. I have 75,000 miles on the truck and it started after wheelin' with Riffman one weekend, but it has always had a slight pull to the right. I got it aligned and that did not help the problem. I have not yet had the time to change the caliper, but it is something that you may want to look into. The calipers for my '94 are only about $30.00 a piece so I think that I will try that and see if it takes care of the problem. When I do I will be sure to let you all know if that works. In the mean time, maybe try getting new calipers. With the lifts and bigger tires you guys may want to look into a caliper upgrade, I don't know, just thinking out loud because again, I am still running a stock setup.

Dave

 

[adionne 93 XLT 4.0]

Navigator Chip

Thanks All, on a less serious note: I think it is pulling to the right to get me to do more offroading;> They wern't kidding when they say it is built for offroading-Built in navigational system steers to the terrain. Clean your Nav. Positioning Sensor. LOL...Sorry,Friday.

 

[Hunter11]

I have the SkyJacker 2in. suspension lift with 31x11.50 mickey thompsons with 15x10 rims and I will be driving down the road and it will be pulling to the right and I will have to hold it to the left and then the next thing I know I will hit the littlest bump in the road and it will pull hard to the left. Sometimes it will drive great, but my question is, is it the lift doing this or is there somethings in the suspension that can be replaced like the balljoints or something to help my annoying problem or is this a Explorer problem I will have to live with?

 

[MW4HD]

Hey everybody...

BigDave was pushed in the right direction by his parts guy. The factory calipers have plastic pistons. These pistions are crap. They sometimes get hung up in the cylinder a little sideways. Then the heat build-up causes them to either deform and 'drag' or will not return past a certain point when releasing brakes. This will cause a pretty bad pull either way. Replace them with Raybestos calipers with metal pistons, will stop rotor warping also, Another Ford problem. But, the other problem with Rangers, Explorers, F-series p/u's and Broncos are the OE tierod assemblies. About 98% of the Ford p/u's and SUV's had the same type rodends in them, plastic sockets over steel studs. The socket would wallow out after about 10K miles and unless being driven would not have a heavy enough load to deflect and cause a pull or bumpsteer. I'd say that more than 75% of y'all are having the Ford tierodend blues. Replace them with TRW or Moog and should go away. Even if the OE's still seem to be good, I'd bet that they're not, as again, they sometimes need to be loaded to deflect. Most guys in an alignment shop or frame shop can't load 'em enough to see any deflection so they assume they're good....

 

[Hunter11]

Is replacing the tie-rods a driveway mechanics job or should I take it somewhere?
MW4HD, do you think that the tie-rods are my problem? I didn't have the problem of it pulling L or R untill the lift was put on! Or did the lift put extra stress on the tie-rods? And where would the best place be to the TRW or Moog tie-rods, carparts.com?

 

[MW4HD]

Hey Hunter, yeah the lift DOES put extra stress AND added wear on ALL your front end parts. As I said, it takes a bit to deflect the stud in the socket if they're in decent condition, so adding the lift and bigger tires is just the trick usually to cause more deflection and wandering and darting. You can pick up the rodends at any corner parts store usually. Napa, Carquest and even Pep Boys carry them...

 

[Hunter11]

Sorry so late but when rplacing the tie-rods what all do I replace is it just the tie-rods or is it the tie-rods and the adjusting sleeve.Or is there more to it than that? I just need to know what I need to buy!Thanks!!

 

[MW4HD]

Hi Hunter, yeah, you don't have to replace the sleeves if they're in good shape. If they have a lot of rust or are very hard to turn, I'd definitely replace them. It'll just make it a lot easier to adjust if you replace them with the rodends...

 

[Hunter11]

I know this is really late but I am finally going to change the tie rods. I need to know which tie rod I need to buy the inner or the outer. The inner was twice as much as the outer. I am thinking the outer but correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks!