Forum Discussion

Explorer

Feb 23, 2015

Is this a dangerous situation?

I was driving behind my truck and noticed that it was dogwalking/side tracking. I took the truck to a shop that is a suspension shop. Thi is all they do. I have used this shop for years and I deal directly with the owner who is a great man. He disassembled the rear suspension twice and said there was nothing wrong in the rear. The front suspension needed a few parts (all Moog parts, idler arm, pitman arm, both tie rod ends). He installed the new parts.

I then immediately took the truck for an alignment at Belle Tire.
The truck still dog walked/side tracked.
I had the suspension shop examine the truck again and he said everything was fine. I had the alignment redone today.
The truck still dog walks. As the road contours change the rear end has some lateral play that is seen as I drive behind the truck.

Also, the truck been empty during all of this but during the warm season the truck is loaded with a 3000# truck camper. I have one extra leaf per side in the rear. I have the Bilstein shocks, that for the rear, are specifically designed for truck camper use. I have Helwig sway bars front and rear. They are properly installed. I talked to Helwig and they nice tech support man said my sway bars are installed properly and that the sway bars can't be the problem.

Questions:
1. What else needs to be checked to determine why the truck dog tracks and has lateral play in the rear?

2. I need to know if carrying a 3000# truck camper with a dog tracking condition it potentially dangerous. Is it and if so why?

I really appreciate your thoughts, comments, insight, and experience.
God Bless You.

Sincerely,

Jeff Fox

Tow Vehicles

46 Replies

DownTheAvenue
Explorer
Feb 23, 2015
All you need is a 4 wheel alignment. That's right 4 wheel alignment. Very common procedure and also a very common problem you are describing.
kaydeejay
Explorer
Feb 23, 2015
Dog walking has to be the rear suspension out of line. If the front was out, then steering would correct it.
As suggested, measure axle center point on each side from a corresponding equivalent point on each side.
Often axles have moved on the spring, or even a broken leaf, but your suspension guys should have found that.
jdgreen42
Explorer
Feb 23, 2015
Some of the older vehicles ( don't know if it is still true ) the rear axles ( wheels ) were narrower than the front to allow them to track true when turning a curve. If you were following behind and tried to align the rear with the front, it would appear that it was " dog walking " perhaps this is what you are seeing ?If this is the case, the alignment guy that you first went to, should have known this.
jefffoxsr
Explorer
Feb 23, 2015
The tires are Michelin LTX AT2 10 ply and have about 3,000 miles on them. I think they are in good shape because they drive nicely. I know from experience what a shifted belt in a tire feels like. Thanks for asking about the tires.
blt2ski
Moderator
Feb 23, 2015
Did you just get new tires? if so, sometimes this happens when the tires are new.

OR< one or more may have a belt that is slipped, and you need new tires.

I di dnot see that tires were checked.

Marty
Roman_Duck
Explorer
Feb 23, 2015
Best check axle distance 1st, meaning from center point of axle/wheels. After that I would check that the axles are square to themselves by doing an X measurement.

About traveling with a load, the bad would be is the tread on the tires are not running true down the road, meaning that your tread is contacting the pavement at a diagonal motion, probably will cause premature tire heating and wear, creating potential blow out conditions.