Hi all. I have been lurking doing some research here, but I've run into a dead end. Hope someone has some ideas.
This is a vehicle I'm trying to fix for a friend, and it is stumping me. I have technician level experience, but not a lot of Armada specific experience.
The initial problem is that the vehicle pulls to the left when driving, the faster she goes, the harder it will pull. At freeway speeds, if you let go of the steering wheel, it is bad enough you could sideswipe the car in the next lane.
Obviously started at the basics, tire pressures, and wheel alignment.
During the alignment we found virtually every alignment adjuster was siezed and we were unable to free them up.
The truck got all new control arms, front and rear around. Wheel alignment came into 100% factory specs for alignment.
Still pulled hard.
thought tires, borrowed a set of wheels and tires of a brand new 2014 truck (next to zero km on tires) - no change
rechecked everything. Next thought was potentially the frame was bent from a previous accident that they may not be aware of. Had the frame measured at a collision shop. It was 100%
rechecked the alignment
Thought possibly brakes were dragging, replaced calipers all around, no change
rechecked the alignment
Then one of the rear shocks went in the mean time.. retrofitted the rear to standard shocks due to cost of the air ride.
rechecked the alignment
Vehicle rear end after shocks replaced sagged by about 1" lower than the front. Vehicle drove very poorly, was all over the road. For testing purposes installed rear spring spacers to level truck out - no change, vehicle still all over the road.
I'm prepared to switch the rear suspension back over to air-ride, however that will be very costly, and I'm afraid that I'll still be back to the vehicle pulling hard to the left.
The part that stumps me is the alignment each time is 100% within spec.
I even thought maybe there was something wrong with the alignment specs or the alignment machine, so one of the alignments I had done at a shop with a top of the line machine. Still no change.
I'm banging my head against the wall, I wonder if there is something in the front end, either the differential, or suspension that is causing this, but can't find it.
Also wondering if there is a coil-over setup available for the rear that will stiffen up the back without the need for a custom coil spacer.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
This is a vehicle I'm trying to fix for a friend, and it is stumping me. I have technician level experience, but not a lot of Armada specific experience.
The initial problem is that the vehicle pulls to the left when driving, the faster she goes, the harder it will pull. At freeway speeds, if you let go of the steering wheel, it is bad enough you could sideswipe the car in the next lane.
Obviously started at the basics, tire pressures, and wheel alignment.
During the alignment we found virtually every alignment adjuster was siezed and we were unable to free them up.
The truck got all new control arms, front and rear around. Wheel alignment came into 100% factory specs for alignment.
Still pulled hard.
thought tires, borrowed a set of wheels and tires of a brand new 2014 truck (next to zero km on tires) - no change
rechecked everything. Next thought was potentially the frame was bent from a previous accident that they may not be aware of. Had the frame measured at a collision shop. It was 100%
rechecked the alignment
Thought possibly brakes were dragging, replaced calipers all around, no change
rechecked the alignment
Then one of the rear shocks went in the mean time.. retrofitted the rear to standard shocks due to cost of the air ride.
rechecked the alignment
Vehicle rear end after shocks replaced sagged by about 1" lower than the front. Vehicle drove very poorly, was all over the road. For testing purposes installed rear spring spacers to level truck out - no change, vehicle still all over the road.
I'm prepared to switch the rear suspension back over to air-ride, however that will be very costly, and I'm afraid that I'll still be back to the vehicle pulling hard to the left.
The part that stumps me is the alignment each time is 100% within spec.
I even thought maybe there was something wrong with the alignment specs or the alignment machine, so one of the alignments I had done at a shop with a top of the line machine. Still no change.
I'm banging my head against the wall, I wonder if there is something in the front end, either the differential, or suspension that is causing this, but can't find it.
Also wondering if there is a coil-over setup available for the rear that will stiffen up the back without the need for a custom coil spacer.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks