[Realtree71]

I posted in another thread but titled it different. I have a fair trade offer on my truck and am ready to do the deal. However, I drove a new rebel and I noticed the steering has a slight hesitation from the time you turn to the time in corners. It seems to float a bit? I am not sure if I'm describing this right or not but it did seem to handle a little different that what I'm use to. I figured a sports truck would have tighter turning more crisp cornering. I cant figure out if this is the air suspension or not. I have never had a vehicle with air ride.

 

[johnj]

It's an off-road truck more than a sports truck. It's not really set up for great road handling. It sits a bit higher than a normal Ram and has slightly more roll. I haven't noticed lag or hesitation in steering, might be due to tires being a bit low or some other problem Tires should be at 55/45ps front/rear. Low fronts will cause some feeling of hesitation. Don't know what else to tell you.

 

[VaderRebel]

I also have no experience with slow or delayed steering. Best ride of any truck I've owned.

 

[modru2004]

the rebel does have a slower steering ratio then the other rams.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2015-ram-rebel-1500-4x4-57l-hemi-v-8-first-drive-review

behind the bravado paragraph.

 

[8089]

It could be the EPS instead of the hydro assist that you're use to. I have a F150 now and when I took the rebel for a test drive I didn't notice it so it's not a bad thing but just something you need to get use to. EPS will vary the input depending on the speed since you need more assist at lower speed than higher speed. I ordered a 2017 so I'm waiting for mine to come in so I can't say any more than what I noticed for the test drive.

 

[KnightReb31°]

this concern about the steering system seems like something we can expect them to improve on with a future model year, maybe 2017? but to those that know more about RAM than the rest of us, how likely is that to happen?

 

[Realtree71]

I think I am going ahead with the deal. Like I said it wasn't crazy different but compared even to my 2009 F250 it seemed to float or hesitate just a tiny bit. It almost feels like a fly by wire thing if that makes sense. I am not sure where the air ride was set to. However, When driving at a higher speed rate I did notice a message come across the speedo say "air system has achieved best aero performance".

As stated above it is my first experience with EPS so it could be that

 

[johnj]

If you put the truck in Off Road height, it automatically switches to Normal at 25mph. If you have it in Entry/Exit, it switches to Normal at 5mph. If you set it to Aero, it stays there, overriding the automatic switching. So it's pretty much guaranteed the air ride was in Normal when you were approaching highway speeds. At 65mph, it switches to Aero, which lowers the truck 0.6 inches from Normal. It raises again when you reduce speed, at around 10 or 20mph iirc. When it auto adjusts the height in and out of Aero, you will see that message. You can switch Aero mode off in the menu system if you so choose.

Of all the problems likely to cause steering hesitation in a brand new truck on a dealer lot, low tire pressure is the most likely. You can use the dash menu to check the tires, not a perfect check, but close enough in a new vehicle. Fronts should be at 55psi. Or you can just carry an air gauge with you.

If the tires aren't low, there might very well be a mechanical or electrical issue with the truck, and you might be best served by looking for another Rebel at a different dealership to compare.

 

[TheGreatRam]

Give it another test drive before taking the Rebel off the lot. Just in case the hesitation is from some electrical issue or if it's just tire pressure.