need a suspension expert

1st I would swap tire and wheel set with another known good truck. (eleminate the tire question)

2nd address any slop / loose / defect in the steeering linkage.

3rd Hwy wandering not tracking straight is generally caster adjustment

I think Digiratus hit the nail on the head ~

But I usually like to dial in a tad bit of toe in too as it seems to aid in tracking straight.




To give more info on caster (the piviot angle from the lower ball joint to upper ball joint) express as tilt angle of steering axis ~ forward or backwards.

If you lay the top back the steering will have better return to center / straight tracking hwy stability. Lay the top axis more forward and the steering will be more responsive but wander all over the place and have poor hwy tracking.

These characteristcs are best displayed and identified with a leaf spring solid axle suspension... Add shackles up front (laying the steering pivot more forward) and the truck will wander and not track straight. Add a shackle reversal and mount the front leaf pivot solid to the frame and add shackles behind the axle (changing the caster the other way) and the truck will cruise the hwy like a cadillac.


The same caster principles apply to IFS but they are harder to see... I would also want to look very close at the upper control arms as they are probally the weakest link. Any spin out or curb / ditch hit in a previuos life might change the geometry enough to cause issue.

 

I sure will post when I find the issue. (I hope)

I've dropped a bundle so far and I can't keep doing this for long. I love the truck and most everything about it, but right now I do not enjoy driving it at all.

 

Excellent! Thanks so much for details I can personally check.

 

Your signatures states 1 oz diesel fuel per 10 gal's whats that all about?

 

What specific figures do you like to see for the toe?

 

A petroleum engineer said adding one ounce of diesel per ten gallons of gasoline increased the volatility. I can't find the link right now but I seem to recall that he said it would gain ~ one mile per gallon (+/-).

Also, stay away from ethanol.

 

Sometimes we have no choice in the matter. In Wa State, 10% Ethanol content is mandated during the winter months.

 

Toe in ~ about .02 deg each ~ doesn't need much.

A good alignment tech can diagnose your troubles.

See an alignment and frame shop where the tech is taught to think outside of the box. GENERALLY SPEAKING ~ A tire standard shop is not in business to correct alignment problems beyond the obvious replace parts and set to OEM specs.

We are 10% Ethanol year round and it is killing my boat and ATV's. That stuff absorbs water like a sponge. A splash of diesel might help keep water absorbtion to a minimum. A few folks here are adding a little 2-stroke oil.

 

I just had to replace my ball joints(upper and lower), control arm bushings, and bearings, and it helped with my wondering.

Also do you have any lift on your truck? If you have over 3" of lift in your front end without an aftermarket UCA or a drop bracket type lift you will wander a lot.
Hope it helps.

 

No lift. Truck is completely stock as far as I can tell.

 

Never had it ping. I have too many variables going on at the same time to give hard numbers for that one mod. I know that MPG appears to drop slightly if I don't add diesel.

I do need to start getting more documentation per mod.