2020 Ram 3500 Wheel Alignment Specifications

As an ASE-certified alignment technician, I’ve put countless heavy-duty trucks on the alignment rack. The 2020 Ram 3500 is a workhorse, often subjected to heavy towing, rough job sites, and significant suspension stress. Maintaining proper wheel alignment on these solid-axle behemoths is crucial for tire longevity, steering feel, and overall safety. Below, you will find the alignment specifications, adjustability details, and essential tips for the 2020 Ram 3500.

Quick reference

Here is the quick reference chart for the 2020 Ram 3500 (4x4 Solid Axle) alignment specifications. Always verify with your machine's software, as ride height and specific cab/bed configurations can slightly alter acceptable ranges.

Note: Front caster on solid-axle Rams is often set with a slight cross-caster (approximately 0.30° higher on the passenger side) to account for road crown and prevent right-hand drift.

Adjustability

When dealing with a solid-axle heavy-duty truck like the 2020 Ram 3500, factory adjustability is somewhat limited compared to vehicles with independent suspensions.

Front Axle:

• Total Toe: Fully adjustable from the factory. This is done by loosening the adjuster sleeve on the tie rod that connects the two front knuckles.
• Caster: Caster is partially adjustable from the factory via the eccentric cam bolts located at the axle side of the front radius arms. This allows technicians to dial in the caster sweep and correct minor cross-caster issues.
• Camber and SAI: Non-adjustable from the factory. Because it is a solid front axle, the camber and Steering Axis Inclination (SAI) are machined into the axle housing and knuckles. If your camber is out of specification, it usually indicates bent axle tubes, worn ball joints, or worn wheel bearings.

Rear Axle: The rear of the Ram 3500 features a massive solid axle (often a dual-rear-wheel configuration). There are no factory adjustments for rear camber, toe, or caster. If the rear thrust angle or toe is out of specification, it typically indicates broken leaf spring center pins, shifted leaf springs, or a bent rear axle housing.

Recommended adjustment hardware

Because front camber is fixed from the factory, correcting a persistent pull or camber-wear issue requires aftermarket solutions.

• Offset Ball Joints: If your front camber is out of specification due to a slight housing bend (and not loose, worn parts), aftermarket offset or geared ball joints (from brands like SPC or Moog) can provide up to 1.5 degrees of camber and/or caster correction.
• Radius Arm Drops/Adjustable Track Bars: If the truck has been lifted or leveled, the factory radius arm cams may not offer enough caster adjustment. Aftermarket extended radius arms, drop brackets, or specialized cam bolts are highly recommended. An adjustable front track bar is also essential after a leveling kit to re-center the front axle and keep the thrust line parallel.

Symptoms of bad alignment

Heavy-duty trucks will eat through expensive tires rapidly if the alignment is even slightly off. Watch for these common tire-wear patterns and drivability issues:

• Feathering or Sawtooth Wear: If you rub your hand across the tread blocks and they feel smooth in one direction but sharp in the other, your Total Toe is likely out of spec.
• Inside or Outside Edge Wear: Excessive wear on just one shoulder of the front tires usually points to an out-of-spec Camber angle. While rare on solid axles without damage, worn ball joints can cause the tire to lean inward (negative camber).
• Steering Wheel Off-Center: If you are driving straight down a flat highway but your steering wheel is cocked to the left or right, your toe adjustment needs to be centered via the drag link.
• Wandering or "Death Wobble": Too little Caster (often caused by installing a leveling kit without correcting the radius arm geometry) will cause the truck to wander at highway speeds and refuse to return to center after a turn.

When to align

You should put your 2020 Ram 3500 on an alignment rack under the following circumstances:

1. After suspension or steering repairs: Replacing ball joints, tie rod ends, a drag link, or a steering gearbox mandates a fresh alignment.
2. When buying new tires: Heavy-duty truck tires (especially 3500 dually setups) are a massive investment. Protect that investment with a baseline alignment.
3. After altering the ride height: Installing a leveling kit, lift kit, or even heavy airbags for towing changes the vehicle's geometry and toe sweep.
4. After a hard impact: Hitting a massive pothole, curbing the truck on a job site, or being involved in a collision can easily bend tie rods or shift the axle.
5. Annually or every 15,000 miles: Preventative maintenance is cheaper than replacing six tires on a dually.

Typical alignment cost

Because of the sheer size and weight of a 2020 Ram 3500 (especially if it is a dual-rear-wheel model), not all shops have a rack large enough to accommodate it. You will generally need to visit a shop equipped with a heavy-duty alignment rack.

For a standard front-end alignment (adjusting toe, checking caster cams, and centering the steering wheel), expect to pay between $100 and $160. If the shop needs to install aftermarket offset ball joints to correct a camber issue, the labor and parts can quickly push the bill between $500 and $900+.

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