If I could, i'd return my 2008 ridgeline

[BillB]

I would never take delivery of a new vehicle with that amount of tire weights applied, NEVER. That is a sign of some out of shape rubber and I would demand replacement of all 4 tires immediately. My 2 Ridgelines were delivered with a each having less than 4 total inches of weights and about 1 weight per tire is what should be expected.

That being said, my steering wheel is perfectly straight, as I sat in the truck and told them when it was where I wanted it when my 2008 came with the wheel askew. Both my Ridgelines had/have a slight right pull and that is normal for today's vehicles. A left pull would put you into oncoming traffic and that would be worse. It sounds like you are very detail oriented, but as a word of advice from someone who is the King of Picky, you need to lose the "sending the wife to get your truck fixed" technique. This will never work and the sooner you realise this, the better you will get what you want at the dealership.

[BruceRTL]

Originally Posted by BillB

a word of advice from someone who is the King of Picky, you need to lose the "sending the wife to get your truck fixed" technique. This will never work and the sooner you realise this, the better you will get what you want at the dealership.

This is good advice. No disrespect to your wife! It's just that "most" women are easy targets when they take a car back to the dealer to get something fixed. Perhaps your wife is the exception. As wrong as it is, it's been my experience when dealing with the car dealers to do it myself. Women have the stigma that they don't know anything about vehicles. That makes them an easy mark. The dealer will try to convince them whatever is in the best interest of the dealer. I know I'm generalizing and I'm sure I'll piss off someone saying this but unfortunately it's true.

[shovelhd]

I've had two sets of OEM wheels on my truck, and every one of them had no more than 2" worth of weights (30g) on each wheel. The wheel weights should be painted to match the wheels. If they're not, then that's another clue.

[Dominator]

So I took my ridge to my old mechanic a few days ago to have the tires cross rotated as per you guys, he did a simple visual and didn't see anything. I mentioned that it didn't always pull and sometimes it would drive differently on the same street. He thought it might be a belt in the a tire.

Today I'm driving along and its doing its usual pulling and I go over a man whole cover, I'm in the middle lane, all of the sudden it starts driving straight.

Any clues?

[ChrisM]

Originally Posted by Dominator

So I took my ridge to my old mechanic a few days ago to have the tires cross rotated as per you guys, he did a simple visual and didn't see anything. I mentioned that it didn't always pull and sometimes it would drive differently on the same street. He thought it might be a belt in the a tire.

Today I'm driving along and its doing its usual pulling and I go over a man whole cover, I'm in the middle lane, all of the sudden it starts driving straight.

Any clues?

Bad or weak tie rod. I used to have a Chrysler that did that. I used to do "on the fly" alignments by hitting potholes.

[VoicesInMyHead]

Originally Posted by Dominator

Today I'm driving along and its doing its usual pulling and I go over a man whole cover, I'm in the middle lane, all of the sudden it starts driving straight.

Any clues?

Gremlins.

[Minnesnowta]

Lots of good suggestions here. I tend to agree with the posts about "too many weights" on a wheel being a canary for problems.

Another offbeat question: Are you sure you are not talking about torque-steer? This will be present in many transverse-mounted drivetrain vehicles.

I went from driving a V8 Jeep with longitudinal drivetrain to a RL last fall. I was really surprised at how much the RL would "pull" to the right when I got on the throttle. Either I've gotten used to it or the RL has become more even tempered as I rack up the miles.

Just a thought.

Good luck with the problem resolution. My RL is 15K miles strong since last August. Aside from some annoying door and headliner rattles I have had zero issues that need repair.

[spun07RTX]

Originally Posted by ChrisM

Bad or weak tie rod.

:yeathat:

or just loose



either way I would go back to the dealer and demand action! no more mister nice guy! unacceptable for a brand new truck to pull to one side! demand new tires!!! may have to yell

[chisoxjim]

If I could I would return my 2006 RL with over 120,000 miles, and drive a new 2009 RL off the lot.

[rdharper]

Originally Posted by Dominator

So I took my ridge to my old mechanic a few days ago to have the tires cross rotated as per you guys, he did a simple visual and didn't see anything. I mentioned that it didn't always pull and sometimes it would drive differently on the same street. He thought it might be a belt in the a tire.

Today I'm driving along and its doing its usual pulling and I go over a man whole cover, I'm in the middle lane, all of the sudden it starts driving straight.

Any clues?

What I don't think it is... is tires, weights or a "correct" alignment.

Given your last comment... I'm wondering if you don't have something loose in the suspension. Something that would allow a shift in caster or camber on one side.

One thing that helps... is an alignment where they give you the readout... which, with a little thought, you can understand.

Since you've had several alignements... I'd want to know if any correction was needed... and how much.

It could be.. that the alighment is set correctly, but as soon as its driven, whatever is loose, allows the alignment to shift.

I'd probably get the weight off the front end and see if I could detect anything... clunks as you lift it, any signs of the wheels not coming up in the same way as you lift it... that kind of thing.

Lastly... I'd wonder if there wasn't something not right in the power distribution... or a brake dragging... something mechanical or electronic in the drive train management. Does it matter whether you are applying power.. etc.

Since its under warranty... I'd also keep the pressure on them to get it right. I'm an easy person to deal with... but in this case... you are too willing to let them do routine stuff... they need to look deeper.

Your Ridge should drive like it is on rails. Anything less, and something is not right. No question.