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Alignment issue 2002 dodge dakota 4X2
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tack77
New User
Sep 8, 2012, 6:06 PM
Post #1 of 6
(2394 views)
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Alignment issue 2002 dodge dakota 4X2
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Hoping maybe some one can help me out here. I have an 02 dakota sxt 3.9 single cab, that I bought new in 02. Its right at about 59,000 miles right now.
Last year, I got some new tires for it, and a few weeks ago, I noticed the front driver side was wearing pretty badly on the outside already. I assumed it was ball joints, or tie rods or something like that. So i had a mechanic check it out and he said the ball joints were shot, and went ahead and replaced the tie rods also. He told me I should get an alignment right away, which I assumed. When i left, i noticed it really stiffened up the handling, and felt much better than before, and drove good and straight, but i didnt want to put off that alignment so I wasnt wasting more tires down the expressway.
So Yesterday, I stop by a shop that advertised alignment and had them do that, and repair a leak in the front driver side tire. The guy puts it ont he alignment machine, works around for an hour or so between that and plugging the tire, then backs it off for a test drive. Came back and said it steers straight but the steering wheel is ******. SO the guy at the counter said "ill just charge you for the tire repair if you dont have time but the steering wheel isnt straight. WHich left me with tons of questions "is this thing safe to drive now?" He said if i had time he'd lift it back up and try it again, I said "please!"
SO they lift the thing back up, then the guy comes to get me and shows me on the computer where everything is good, but said that my rearend is shifted so the steering wheel will be off center. He then assured me it would drive straight as an arrow, just the steering wheel would be off, no problems, no wear on tires. Now, I cant imagine how my rearend would have shifted, ive had the thing since new, has never been wrecked, always been a careful driver.
SO today, not only is the steering wheel off center, but its pulling pretty significantly to the left, at freeway speeds. to top it off, they did a hack job on the tire plug, its holding but looks kinf scary, this massive piece of rubber on the treads that resembles a glob of bubble gum.
Has anyone else encountered this? or have any ideas what to do? WIth under 60,000 miles id love to keep this thing and drive it to work for 10 more years, im just at a a loss of thought with it now and dont care to dump money into it once a week, or end up wrecking.
I sort of wish now, i would have just drove the thing into the ground on those bad ball joints and bought some tires every now and then.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 8, 2012, 6:36 PM
Post #2 of 6
(2385 views)
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Re: Alignment issue 2002 dodge dakota 4X2
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Yes, a bad thrust angle is not that uncommon but I don't have any faith in the guy doing the alignment. Today's machines automatically compensate for any rear thrust angle to give you a straight steering wheel so he just screwed up the alignment. that can mean the toe is off considerably so i would get it into a different alignment shop ASAP.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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tack77
New User
Sep 8, 2012, 6:43 PM
Post #3 of 6
(2378 views)
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Re: Alignment issue 2002 dodge dakota 4X2
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thanks, i appreciate it
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 9, 2012, 12:33 PM
Post #4 of 6
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Re: Alignment issue 2002 dodge dakota 4X2
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Ditto with HT. You need better work. Tire plug should be removed and fixed from inside if tire is OK at all. Plugs can work. IMO that tire is damned for short useful life if steel inside begins to shift. Alignment if that tire was real low couldn't be accurate. Wheel being straight ahead while driving is part of centering the thing after parts replaced.
That and if that tire is worn oddly it probably wont like to track well driving along with one side worse than the other on an axle,
T
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tack77
New User
Sep 10, 2012, 11:55 AM
Post #5 of 6
(2313 views)
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Re: Alignment issue 2002 dodge dakota 4X2
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Thanks again for the advice. Took the truck to a more reputable shop today, and they said the toe specs were way out of wack. I got a printout of all the stuff, it steers straight so far and the steering wheel is centered. Shows my thrust angle as. .17, OS this significant, or not a big deal?
Thanks again
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 10, 2012, 2:56 PM
Post #6 of 6
(2307 views)
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Re: Alignment issue 2002 dodge dakota 4X2
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That's not a real big deal. The truck may appear to "dog track" a little if followed from the rear but that's not a lot.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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