Ball Joints and Adjustment "URGENT"
djchristensen
09-30-2004, 09:28 AM
Hey guys, well my girlfriend got her 98 Dodge Ram 1500 fixed last weekend, mostly the repairs were on the lower and upper ball joints on both sides in the front. Quite expensive, but we are taking it in this weekend to have them checked for seating correctness and to have them adjusted. When they fixed them, the steering got real tight, which it should have, but it seems excessive, and could be a problem. She tells me that when she turns a corner, the steering wheel doesn't slide back to straight position, but she moves it back there herself, also when she is driving, the steering is so responsive that when going over a bump, lets say the right side, it will pull right and vise versa. Maybe it is supposed to be like this since the ball joints did make the steering tighter, but it just seems too tight, so that is why we are taking it to them again, to have adjusted, I just need input from you guys to help out in this situation. Thanks
scoutinkeith
09-30-2004, 02:32 PM
the not returning to center after turning a corner sounds like the caster angle is out of adjustment. as far as I know on the dodge front ends, the caster adjustment is made with the cam bolts on the lower suspension links, not by the ball joints(actuailly, I don't think the stock ball joints are adjustable at all)
the pulling side to side when going over a bump is called "bump steer". bump steer generailly happens when the track bar and drag link are not papalell. on these trucks, as the suspension cycles up and down, the axle moves side to side a little bit (suspension moves up = axle moves to passanger side, suspension moves down = axle moves to drivers side) idealy, with the track bar and drag link paralell, this up and down/side to side movement will not efect the steering, but if the links are not paralell, or if the track bar ends(ball joint at frame, bushing at axle) are worn, you will have some bump steer.
just a quick question, has the suspension been modified any? (lift kit, levaling kit, etc..) if so, it's posable that steps were not taken to relocate the track bar, and that could be what is causing the bump steer.
just a few thoughts, hope they help,
Keith
the pulling side to side when going over a bump is called "bump steer". bump steer generailly happens when the track bar and drag link are not papalell. on these trucks, as the suspension cycles up and down, the axle moves side to side a little bit (suspension moves up = axle moves to passanger side, suspension moves down = axle moves to drivers side) idealy, with the track bar and drag link paralell, this up and down/side to side movement will not efect the steering, but if the links are not paralell, or if the track bar ends(ball joint at frame, bushing at axle) are worn, you will have some bump steer.
just a quick question, has the suspension been modified any? (lift kit, levaling kit, etc..) if so, it's posable that steps were not taken to relocate the track bar, and that could be what is causing the bump steer.
just a few thoughts, hope they help,
Keith
scoutinkeith
10-01-2004, 08:58 AM
ok, so I didn't read the origional post verry well :shakehead , is the truck a 2wd or a 4wd? if it's a 2wd, then disregard my last post, the info I gave about the track bar, and ball joints not being adjustable was for a 4x4.
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