My car tracks funny

[Mote]

Dunno if it is a MM-ism, Panther-ism, stock tires-ism or what, but this is different than any other vehicle I've owned. It's been a long time since I've had a rear wheel drive, butt I don't remember this.

If there is anything on the roadway to guide my car, it wants to follow it in an exaggerated fashion. If there is a ridge or a rut, even driving on a road that is slanted/leaning side to side, I need to hold onto the wheel, and braking is more so. Worst case: Ridge in road and it wants to track right. I brake and if my hands weren't on the wheel, it would dive pretty hard right.

On a level road, there are no issues - Drives straight, brakes straight.

Car is very tight. Has stock tires - OASIS report says "1/24/05 @ 18000 miles replaced all 4 tires (wearing improperly)" Car has 36K miles now. Fronts look great, rears are worn 50%

[Egon Spengler]

I have the same problem... Car tracks fine on flat ground, but if the road is graded to the side for drainage, my car wants to follow. If I let go of the wheel it tracks pretty rapidly to where the slope is.

[Vostok]

Mine does this too....have not addressed the issue yet.

Ive driven another Marauder before and it did not do this.

Cracks or bumps in the road, uneven roads, anything like that will throw the car off track if im not firmly holding the wheel.

And yes, way more dramatic during braking.

What gives? :confused:

[tbone]

Power steering is supposed to tighten up at speed. Could there be a problem there?

[Bluerauder]

If there is anything on the roadway to guide my car, it wants to follow it in an exaggerated fashion. If there is a ridge or a rut, even driving on a road that is slanted/leaning side to side, I need to hold onto the wheel, and braking is more so. Worst case: Ridge in road and it wants to track right. I brake and if my hands weren't on the wheel, it would dive pretty hard right.

I think you are talking about two different issues ... one is tracking and two is braking. My MM will track true unless the asphalt is rutted due to heavy truck traffic. The wide 235 front tires like to follow the rut. Seems more noticeable than with 205 or 195 tires. Don't really think that this is an issue. JHMO.

Braking while the tire is following in the rut probably gives that pulling feeling -- probably more related to the tracking issue than the braking.

If the MM tracks true without the ruts and ridges and brakes fine then I really don't think you have a problem. I notice that rutting is more pronounced at major intersections that have alot of heavy truck traffic.

[fordfrk347]

Mine drives the same as everyone else above also. Took mine in for an alignment yesterday and they couldnt do it because my rear lower conrol arm bushings (and probably uppers too) are worn to the point its throwing off the thrust angle. That combines with my caster, camber and toe being out as well so I'm hoping the wandering goes away when it gets aligned in a few days. The crazy wind here was blowing me all over the road like I was drunk yesterday! Doing carfixers specs also.

[Egon Spengler]

Don't really think that this is an issue. JHMO.
This is why I have never said anything about it in the 3 years on this site. I didn't see it to be a super big deal. My mind compensated for it and I hardly even notice it anymore. I figured it was just the tires and the way the terrible new england roads are.

[justbob]

My car has followed ruts in the road since the day I brought it home. Really only bad at 20 MPH and under. I'm sure yours is just fine.

[mrjones]

It's called tramlining, and it gets worse with age, steering wear, and tire wear.

[Egon Spengler]

My car has followed ruts in the road since the day I brought it home. Really only bad at 20 MPH and under. I'm sure yours is just fine.
I don't know how your roads are, but here in New England the roads are terrible and like you said, 20 and under is the worst

[Bluerauder]

It's called tramlining, and it gets worse with age, steering wear, and tire wear.

Thanks for that info. Seems it is more prone to wider, low profile tires with a stiff sidewall. That's us !! :D

Here the Wiki definition >>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tramlining

[Egon Spengler]

Thanks for that info. Seems it is more prone to wider, low profile tires with a stiff sidewall. That's us !! :D

Here the Wiki definition >>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tramlining
Yeah, this is what I thought it was, so I never thought anything of it. It is nice for someone to post so that we all know that we aren't alone in this, but I never really thought anything of it!

[Big Black Beast]

Do you have the stock alignment?
Mine is like this too. It's very sensitive to ruts, road crown, or bad paving in general.
I think this is due to the aggressive factory camber setting. Tends to make the car sort of darty.

[Vostok]

I wouldnt have thought much of it if I didnt already drive a different Marauder for several weeks that did not do this, not even close... I'd like to be able to drive with no hands for a few seconds without worrying about curbing it or smashing into the side of a semi truck because there was a crack in the road, lol...

Also, i'd say about 30-40% of the time I engage the brakes to come to a stop, it pulls really hard to the right for the last few seconds before stopping.

[Big Black Beast]

I wouldnt have thought much of it if I didnt already drive a different Marauder for several weeks that did not do this, not even close... I'd like to be able to drive with no hands for a few seconds without worrying about curbing it or smashing into the side of a semi truck because there was a crack in the road, lol...

It might have had the factory flags removed....do a search for carfixer's alignment specs.

Also, i'd say about 30-40% of the time I engage the brakes to come to a stop, it pulls really hard to the right for the last few seconds before stopping.

Um, yeah, it's not supposed to do that. Something's wrong.

[Vostok]

How can I present this to my warranty to make them fix it? lol.

[Motorhead350]

I've had that issue for years.

[Got_1]

get an alignment. recommend increasing positive caster. the more (positive) caster you have the less it will want to wander but if the ruts and groves in the road are too bad nothing is going to stop your car from wanting to follow them.

[CBT]

Mine did this back before I utilized Carfixers alignment procedure. 100% improvment. Havn't thought about it in years until this post.

[Egon Spengler]

Mine did this back before I utilized Carfixers alignment procedure. 100% improvment. Havn't thought about it in years until this post.
I have carfixer's spec and it still does it. The car handles tight and fine, just likes to follow the cracks in the road

[MMarauder03]

I just got my mm a week and a half ago. I thought it might have had a problem since it likes to track right slightly. Asked about it but the guys at the shop said it was normal. I'm already used to it. Just pay attention to the road! Lol

[Kennyrauder]

Hi Guy's... I have been down for 2 weeks because My wife & I have downsized into a 2 bedroom apartment,. My Marauder trams in truck ruts too. I have the factory spec front end. Sounds like we should back off the caster - 2 degrees. Glad to be back here. Kenny. I'll try it to see if there are any noticeable issues & keep you all posted. PS Missed the family.

[Egon Spengler]

I just got my mm a week and a half ago. I thought it might have had a problem since it likes to track right slightly. Asked about it but the guys at the shop said it was normal. I'm already used to it. Just pay attention to the road! Lol
This is not normal. My car tracks straight when I am on flat ground. Get carfixer's spec, bring it down there, and tell them to do it within carfixer's parameters!

[Got_1]

Hi Guy's... I have been down for 2 weeks because My wife & I have downsized into a 2 bedroom apartment,. My Marauder trams in truck ruts too. I have the factory spec front end. Sounds like we should back off the caster - 2 degrees. Glad to be back here. Kenny. I'll try it to see if there are any noticeable issues & keep you all posted. PS Missed the family.


no amount of caster adjustment is going to keep you from following truck ruts. our front tires are just too wide and will naturally want to follow them.

you'll also want to add more caster for better steering stability, not take away from it.