Steering wandering and follows ruts

I don't notice my Tacoma doing this. I had an '81 Oldsmobile that would do this so bad you could take a nap and the car would just follow the ruts along.

 

I've got Goodyears.

 

OP, get caster adjusted.

 

Negative Caster is your problem , positive caster using light racing arms are your solution.

 

It's also known as the rut avoidance device.

 

its the Anti gravity mechanism in the steering box, its either defective or needs to be topped off with more AG fluid. take it back to the dealer demand an upgrade or check the AG fluid level to make sure its at proper level.

 

Dry casters can cause steering problems, so try applying a liberal amount of castor oil to you're casters and see if that helps

 

Go to A different alignment shop , what was your caster ? Remember the words "in spec" could mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. there is a broad range and yours is right on the edge of too Low, But it could still be within spec and drive terrible. you need added castor !

 

Did you plus size the tires?

 

It's the archer, not the arrow

 

This is just horrible. Does it follow ruts all time?

 

I don't recall anyone saying he was bad at it or dishonest. He just might not be setting up caster angle to help you with the unsettled steering feel you're getting. "In-spec" as your shop states, is not solving the problem you're describing.
Factory service manual states caster ranges are between -0.75° to +2.16 depending on your model. Do you have the printout of the alignment?

 

How does it do when you go into a curve that has a slight grade to it?

 

I would think if it isn't just roads causing tires to wander. It is probably just tires.

 

Do you know what tread depth is on tires? Lot of times tires with decent tread depth will have a tendency to wander. Also what does the tire pressure suppose to be?

 

The width of your truck might just fall right into the ruts, i've noticed in my fathers Dodge Dakota it does the same thing, but not in my Lexus or my Honda Fit, which are both wider and narrower cars.

 

I'd say you have a bigger problem if your truck didn't follow ruts. Never driven any auto that didn't want to stay in a grooved road surface once in the channels.

 

So, it's all because of those wicked Subarus with studded tires, huh? Here I was thinking that all the tractor trailers who chain up at the first sign of a snowflake had something to do with it. Guess I was way off.

 

What pressure does it call for on the tires? It is on the tire on one side or the other.

 

lower the pressure to 36 see if that helps