Drifting or just me?

[byrds6]

Ever since I purchased this Tahoe it seems like when driving 50+ I always notice I have to make a lot of small corrections. Sounds weird I know but most vehicles I have owned you could pretty much let go and it still drive straight. This one it seems anything and everything will cause it to drift one way or the other forcing lots of small corrections all the time. Is the steering just that precise where anything will cause it to veer or is something else going on? As far as the front end goes it was checked today during an alignment. One inner tie rod was replaced and he said I needed to watch the upper ball joints as they have small amount of play but nothing to warrant changing them yet.

 

[byrds6]

Seems my drivers tire is further back than the passenger. Weird as now its rubbing the splash guard.

 

[AZSCTACO]

I'd check to see if it's been in an accident (if you didn't buy it new). Also I've noticed some roads are worse than others.....If the road has grooves sometimes the tires catch the groove and pulls the truck a bit.

 

[Clean07Burb]

My truck isn't like this. It's straight as an arrow always.

 

[OR VietVet]

Tire pattern can have a play in this and so can inflation which should have been checked and adjusted during alignment. Could you please post the before and after readings of the alignment. It is common for the passenger side caster to be set a little higher to offset road crown. If still even that could explain. The passenger tire closer and rubbing could either be a diamond in the frame or the front body/fender has been pushed back.

 

[byrds6]

Took it for a realignment and the caster was set at 4.05deg and the toe and camber were a bit off. The previous shop lied. The lock was still on drivers side caster from factory and the tie rod end froze the caster on the passenger side was frozen. I cant remember the rest of the readings. After a realign though shes not drifting back and forth much if any at all and no longer rubbing. Needless to say Ill be picking up my refund from the first shop tomorrow.

 

[OR VietVet]

Took it for a realignment and the caster was set at 4.05deg and the toe and camber were a bit off. The previous shop lied. The lock was still on drivers side caster from factory and the tie rod end froze the caster on the passenger side was frozen. I cant remember the rest of the readings. After a realign though shes not drifting back and forth much if any at all and no longer rubbing. Needless to say Ill be picking up my refund from the first shop tomorrow.

You still don't want the passenger side caster to be even but slightly higher for road crown. So many "alignment" shops are just set the toe and let it go.

 

[aggmeister2010]

Jeeze, sounds like the first shop was just trying to get you in and out as fast as possible. did they do anything at all?

 

[byrds6]

They are off set just a bit now. Closer to actual GM specs than they were.

The previous shop replaced a tie rod they said was bad but thats all I can vouch for since I know they did not move the caster on either side nor the tie rod on the driver side. They said that I needed to watch the ball joints but I think they were lying about that too to get me to come back in a few months so they could say they needed replacing. Firestone checked everything in Aug/Sep time frame and it was all good so I highly doubt they all of a sudden developed an issue on both uppers.

 

[Clean07Burb]

Can't trust anyone anymore. Sad...