Question about steering?

[MikeD]

So here in Colorado most of the roads crown, in the Raptor I feel like I am always turned a little bit to go straight. I never had this issue in my Jeep and didn't notice it in my Brother's 2010 SCab Raptor, is this normal?

 

[panda]

Yeah, heard that from quite a few people and mine does that too. I thought it might be a result of being on the third perch, but from your pic it looks like you're still stock.

You might take it in to have the alignment checked, but I've either gotten used to it or it's settled now and isn't as bad.

 

[MikeD]

Yeah, heard that from quite a few people and mine does that too. I thought it might be a result of being on the third perch, but from your pic it looks like you're still stock.

You might take it in to have the alignment checked, but I've either gotten used to it or it's settled now and isn't as bad.

Thanks, yeah I'm all stock still, may have it checked but on flat ground in parking lot's and driveways it does seem straight, so probably just the roads.

 

[Spider-One]

I think some vehicles are aligned so that they turn slightly to the left to overcome the slope of the road and thus drive straight, a perfectly aligned vehicle will naturally pull to the right on most roads due to the slope.

 

[Phyguy]

I'm in CO and don't seem to notice the problem you mention. I find myself with no hands on the wheel more than in my other vehicles. The truck just seems to drive straight...very solid.

I have it aligned every other rotate/balance as well.

 

[pirate air]

Like Spider-One said there is an angle that's offset to help compensate for road crown. That angle is caster, the compensation is your "cross caster" between the front tires. I go into greater detail in this thread http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f7/your-raptor-its-alignment-539/

The compensation/cross caster will affect how the vehicle tracks on a flat road, so you do have a happy medium. I know the roads where I live are so uneven, from one part to another, chasing after a perfect cross caster value is pointless. What you can do is set the truck up with a greater overall positive caster(within reason), and slightly toe'd in/positive toe . Both these will help with tracking on any road.

With the perch mod, you will loose a good bit of possible adjustment for positive caster, because you are using that adjustment to adjust and correct the negative camber angle that is resulted. The higher you go, the more you loose. Because of this (as far as caster angle is concerned), you will loose some stability/tracking.

You get one warranty/free alignment up to 12,000 miles or 12 months. Depending on how many miles are on your truck, it maybe best to wait (unless it's really bothering you, or noticeable) before you get the warranty alignment checked/done. The suspension's still settling/breaking in even after a few thousand miles. If you were to get the alignment done while its still breaking in, chances are it could be out again once its had time to break in. It's best to let things settle before you go adjusting.

 

[debate]

You get one warranty/free alignment up to 12,000 miles or 12 months.

Is that for all F150s or just the SVT? Would an good service writer know about this coverage?

 

[Phyguy]

Is that for all F150s or just the SVT? Would an good service writer know about this coverage?

The service write I try to work with CALLED me and told me to bring my truck in for the free alignment before I rolled over to 12k. I was impressed. I was damn close to 12k when he called too.

 

[MikeD]

I only have 260 miles so far so I will wait on the alignment, driving in today I took my hand's off the wheel and it did track straight until the road starting crowning. I think it may just be due to the terrible roads in Colorado Springs but will check if I notice any wear.

 

[pirate air]

Is that for all F150s or just the SVT? Would an good service writer know about this coverage?

Standard on all Fords. Personally I think a good writer that's been in the business for awhile should know this, if not they have all the literature to figure it out/look it up when questioned. I think the 12/12 alignment coverage info is in the owners manual, but I haven't read one/mine in a long time, so maybe I'm wrong.