I just picked up the Ram from my mechanic. All upper and lower ball joints were replaced, as was the trans. filter and fluid and diff fluid. My steering rack is leaking and need to be replaced. I will order one but it will take longer than I have to come in. The tie rod ends will also be changed. The earliest I can have this done in next Saturday. With work driving and what not I will put +/- 1000 miles on the truck until than. Can I drive without having it aligned for this short time? I would prefer not to have it aligned twice within two weeks. The truck drove straight with the steering wheel centered before the ball joints were done. Now it pulls slightly to the right and the steering wheel is also cocked a little to the right. Thanks for any opinions.
Alignment?
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I'd do a tape measure alignment. If you don't want to do that, just keep a close eye on the tires.
The rack is just seeping at the moment. How bad do these things get to leaking at their worse? I am tempted to have an alignment done tomorrow but wait a few months if I can to have the rack replaced if I can. I just dont want to wear out a set of tires not doing the alignment but I cant afford to have an alignment done every week either.
You're better off having it done, for the sake of your peace of mind and safer driving conditions.
See if you can get a deal on having it done with the shop that is doing all the rest of this work for you.
See if you can get a deal on having it done with the shop that is doing all the rest of this work for you.
Pull would indicate increased camber on the pull side. Normally, camber will cause VERY SLIGHT edge wear. I would concentrate on gearbox replacement (you'll probably loose a lot of "slop" in steering you don't even realize is presently there). Then have 1 alignment done. Camber must usually be out quite a bit before drastic wear is noticed, along with heavy pull. Most noticeable tire wear comes from toe settings, which would be totally unaffected by ball joint replacement.
Have alignment done IMMEDIATELY after TR end replacement. It's almost impossible to get back exactly the same (in spite of what "count-the-threads" proponents will tell you here). That affects toe, and drastic tire wear.
Bob
Have alignment done IMMEDIATELY after TR end replacement. It's almost impossible to get back exactly the same (in spite of what "count-the-threads" proponents will tell you here). That affects toe, and drastic tire wear.
Bob
If you are handy, check your toe with careful and repeated tape measuring. AT this point, go for zero - the front and back of the tires/wheels are the same.
Bedause the steering wheel is to the right, give more pidgeon toe to the left wheel, or more duck walk toe to the right. Think twice as you screw the tie rod adjuster - you may be going the wrong way.
But look at the bright side, 1000 mile is not that much.
And it is far better to let those new pieces settle in before you align them, anyway.
Bedause the steering wheel is to the right, give more pidgeon toe to the left wheel, or more duck walk toe to the right. Think twice as you screw the tie rod adjuster - you may be going the wrong way.
But look at the bright side, 1000 mile is not that much.
And it is far better to let those new pieces settle in before you align them, anyway.
Maybe your alignment shop will "touch up" the toe after the tie-rod ends are replaced, that's all that will be required.
Thanks guys. I went ahead and had the alignment done today. It was far enough out to do some damage to a set of tires. The rack replacement will be delayed for a while though.
Try Auto-RX to seal your rack. Worth trying for $20 range. I am using it on a friends Power Steering pump.
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