[Johnny6]

I have a 2014 Ram 2500 Outdoorsman with a 6.4 Hemi. I recently noticed that my steering wheel was not straight. In fact, it was shifted to left about 15 or 20 degrees.

A month or so before noticing this, I had the dealership install a Rough Country 2.5" leveling kit and longer shocks. I had it aligned after the leveling kit was installed as well. At first I thought the steering wheel alignment problem just might have been an oversight, and perhaps I just didn't notice it (although I was kind of doubting that). I took the truck back to the dealership, and they re-aligned the steering wheel and sent me on my way. Everything seemed to be ok for a week or so, but now I have noticed the steering wheel is once again out of alignment to the left. It's only about 10 degrees out now, but seems to be getting worse the more I drive it.

Does anyone have any ideas? I'm going to take the truck back out to the dealership again, but it's 30 miles away. While I expect them to fix it for free, I'm not happy about missing more work and the $15 in gas I spend every trip out there. As this has already likely happened twice, I'm starting to question whether or not they know what they are doing.

 

[brandonjansen]

Has the height of the truck changed at all that you're aware of? Either by the springs sagging or the leveling kit shifting? It's either that or the drag link adjustment is coming loose.

You can easily adjust it yourself on your driveway. Loosen off the clamps on the drag link adjustment and then adjust it to recenter the wheel. It helps to have one guy in the truck to tell you when it's close to center. Then tighten everything back up and drive the truck up and down the street to check it. It may take a few times to get it 100% right.

 

[Johnny6]

Thanks. I think I can handle the adjustment, but I'm really more concerned about why it keeps coming out of adjustment. The height does not appear to have changed. It looks like the coil spacers are in position correctly.

 

[brandonjansen]

Then I'd adjust it and make sure the clamps are good and snug afterwards. Hopefully that will solve the problem.

 

[MargoX]

Same Problem

I'm having the same problem, and I haven't done any leveling or other mods to my truck. I had them do a wheel alignment this week, and that worked for the wheels, but my stearing wheel cannot be in the center position when I drive. It's off by about 1-2 inches to the left, so next week it's back to the dealer I go...

:4-flames::4-flames:

 

[rcmpvet]

There have been a number of posts concerning this same problem (well almost the same). Here is one that stuck in my mind where a solution was found:

http://www.ramforumz.com/showthread.php?t=177034&highlight=steering&page=2

 

[Dr Honda]

You could have a tie-rod end going bad. I know it shouldn't be on a new truck... but you can get a defective one.

AND.......


I know this, because on my 2010... the wheel was off to the left after a few months... and I took it in... and sure enough... the passenger side tire-rod end was sloppy. THey swapped it, checked the alignment, and all was well.

 

[tonydotigr]

I've had an alignment done twice now. It seems slightly better now, but at various high speeds still seems to pull (just enough to be a little annoying).

Starting to wonder if it could be the air suspension?

 

[Rusty289]

The electric steering rack on the truck may have something to do with it, I read somewhere that it has the ability to learn and adjust to the roads you are driving. I believe it was in a service bulletin I found online somewhere.

Not 100% sure what this means but maybe thats what is happening?

I recall reading that it could be factory reset, or reset to factory settings and that it had to be reset prior to doing any front end work or alignment.

 

[tonydotigr]

The electric steering rack on the truck may have something to do with it, I read somewhere that it has the ability to learn and adjust to the roads you are driving. I believe it was in a service bulletin I found online somewhere.

Not 100% sure what this means but maybe thats what is happening?

I recall reading that it could be factory reset, or reset to factory settings and that it had to be reset prior to doing any front end work or alignment.

If you come across anything on this let me know (and I'll let my shop know). I'm probably being a little picky, but I expect a new vehicle to be right on.

 

[JMS4218]

My stearing rack is getting replaced at the dealership today. When I bought the truck the wheel was off to the right. Took it in for an alignment and mech said that was all within specs but centered the wheel and aligned it. Then it was off to the left even more than it was to the right from center. After another alignment the mechanic was able to get it close but still off to the left so he ordered a new stearing rack. The mechanic said that he had seen one other truck that this happened to and the rack fixed it and the wheel was straight. I will keep everyone updated when I pick it up later.

 

[tonydotigr]

My stearing rack is getting replaced at the dealership today. When I bought the truck the wheel was off to the right. Took it in for an alignment and mech said that was all within specs but centered the wheel and aligned it. Then it was off to the left even more than it was to the right from center. After another alignment the mechanic was able to get it close but still off to the left so he ordered a new stearing rack. The mechanic said that he had seen one other truck that this happened to and the rack fixed it and the wheel was straight. I will keep everyone updated when I pick it up later.

Awesome, thanks!

 

[Badunit]

The electric steering rack on the truck may have something to do with it, I read somewhere that it has the ability to learn and adjust to the roads you are driving. I believe it was in a service bulletin I found online somewhere.

I have read this also. It supposedly senses constant input pressure and adjusts to compensate. It gives it force to compensate. If it was having problems, it sounds like it would cause the truck to turn without any user input (it would seem to be pulling to one side) vs simply being off center. If there was a lot of free play in the rack, I could see it being hard to center it; any little crown in the road would make the wheel be crooked.

I believe this only applies to the 1500's, not the 2500's.

 

[Surewhynot]

I had this same problem with my 2500 while on vacation. I merged onto the interstate doing 70mph and noticed that my steering wheel was 150 degrees off to the left. I pulled off the highway for fear of crashing and did some slow u-turns at full lock both directions but it didn't fix the problem. Took it in to the closest dealer after a hair raising 2 hours on the highway and they said everything was tight and looked good underneath. They realigned the steering wheel and it has been fine ever since, I'll be it slightly off due to an imperfect alignment. I think maybe the steering wasn't centered in the rack on production and maybe it went too far to one side while parking or something like that. Hopefully it doesn't happen again.

 

[Rusty289]

Found this on the allpar.com website.

The 2013 Ram 1500 uses electric power steering (EPS) — the hydraulic pump is replaced by an electric motor, improving fuel efficiency up to 1.8% and adding 5 horsepower. EPS reduces complexity, eliminating the hydraulic pump, hoses, and cooling apparatus. In addition, each Ram 1500 model can be calibrated to optimize steering effort and precision, regardless of body or powertrain; it also senses constant input from the driver, for example a crown in the road, and compensates for improved comfort. EPS will be needed if a hybrid version is produced in the future.

 

[Rusty289]

Here is a link to the file where I read all the info.

Can't believe I managed to find it again. Lol


http://courses.chrysleracademy.com/MT201208/shell_popups/pdf/August2012_RefBook_4.pdf

 

[Badunit]

I had this same problem with my 2500 while on vacation. I merged onto the interstate doing 70mph and noticed that my steering wheel was 150 degrees off to the left.

150 degrees is about 1" movement on the drag link.

One thing you might way to look at is the pitman arm as it is attached to the steering gear. It looks like the splines are each about 7.5 degrees. The pitman arm is about 7" long. 7" * sin(7.5 degrees) = 0.9" which is darn close to how far your steering went off.

I would be concerned by my steering wheel going off like that. I may be way off base but I would pull the arm and make sure it all looks good. It looks like it is keyed (I see one wide spline) so I don't know how it could get put together wrong or how it would skip a spline unless the splines are messed up. It is cheap insurance to look.

 

[APSTRAM]

I had the wandering steering wheel center problem on my 2500 after leveling my truck.

The alignment was fine but my aftermarket track bar had loosened slightly but was still tight enough not be noticeable, I did have a slight thump every once in a while when I turned the wheels all the way to one side and then the position of the steering wheel would be off.

It took me a while to figure it out but when I tightened up the track bar bolts the thump went away and the steering wheel has not moved since.