Steering Pull, Lead Left on Acceleration and Lead Right on Deceleration - kw accelerate alignment decelerate front gear GMT820 torque

When servicing the vehicle with the VIN you entered, the following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the described symptoms.

Vehicle may torque steer to the left with aggressive acceleration, and/or may steer to the right with deceleration.

Items to check when performing initial vehicle inspection:

1. Check tire pressures and verify conformance to 30 psi. Check for visible tire damage.
2. Verify there are no brake drags present by putting vehicle on frame lift and rotating tires
3. Examine front suspension for any visible indications of damage.
4. Observe front suspension upper control arm alignment tabs and verify the drilled hole in the alignment is centered over frame’s alignment pin. Verify all control arm bolts are tight.
5. Confirm that the rear suspension air leveling system is operating. With the ignition on and the vehicle at curb weight, there should be pressure in the rear shock absorber air bags. If an air line is removed at the rear shock and air escapes until both bags go flat, the system is likely working. Reinstall air line, turn ignition on, and weight for air compressor to energize air supply.
6. Verify that the steering wheel is accurately centered when the vehicle is going straight. This can be done on a known flat, no crown, road during a no load condition at speeds between 25 and 40 mph. The preferred method would be to do this on an alignment rack.
7. Measure the front wheel opening heights to ground. With tires at 30 psi, full load of fuel, and no occupants, measure from ground to highest point of the wheel opening. With the vehicle in the described condition, it is typical that the vehicle will have a lean with the right side being high. Right opening heights are typically 910 mm +/-5 mm (35.8 in +/- 0.2 in). Left opening heights are typically 900 mm +/-5 mm (32 in +/- 0.2 in). A 10 mm (0.39 in) difference, right side high is typical.
8. Inspect idler arm and bracket. Verify that there is no excessive play.
9. Examine the steering intermediate shaft and the joint between the upper and lower intermediate shafts. There must be no play in this attachment.

After verifying all of the above, and that the vehicle still pulls left during acceleration:

1. Loosen all three steering attachment bolts, do not remove. Push upward on the steering relay rod at the pitman arm joint and retorque the steering gear attachment bolts at the same time.
2. Put the vehicle on an alignment rack. Reset the front trim heights by turning the two torsion bar adjuster bolts. With the tires at 30 psi, full fuel, and no occupants, adjust so that both left and right front wheel openings have a relative height to ground of 910 mm (35.8 in). In Z height terminology, this will put the LF Z height at 116 mm (4.57 in) and the RF Z height at 111 mm (4.37 in). It is probable that the vehicle will require a left side torsion bar adjuster change to 15592574 (White stripe).
3. Set front alignment as follows:

Right front caster = +3.5 degrees

Left front caster = +2.8 degrees

Camber, both sides = +0.25 degrees

Total Toe = +0.1 degrees

Tolerance is +/- 0.1 degrees on all measurements. Caster is ground (not frame compensated)

Please follow this diagnosis process thoroughly and complete each step. If the condition exhibited is resolved without completing every step, the remaining steps do not need to be performed. If these steps do not resolve the condition, please contact GM TAC for further diagnostic assistance. This diagnostic approach was developed for the vehicle with the VIN you entered and should not be automatically be used for other vehicles with similar symptoms.

(02, 03, 04 GMC Denali, Denali XL, Yukon, Yukon XL) and (02, 03, 04 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade EXT)