when driving at just about any speed the vehicle pulls to the left. The steering wheel physically turns slightly to the left if i take my hands off of it. I've had an alignment done on it so i don't think its the tires as they are also brand new.

Any thoughts on this? When driving it feels like im holding the steering wheel slightly to the right to compensate for the pull but i could be imagining it.

 

subscribed. I have always had the same problem, although slight.
I usually notice it most after I back out of the garage, turn around and head down the driveway, at which point I use both hands on the seat belt and Annie heads for the lawn on the left side.

 

no one? any one? someone?

 

Mine pulled to the left and the pull left with new lower A-arm bushings. I don't know if that's your problem but it solved mine.

Les

 

It's most likely still the alignment, anyway. All roads have a crown in them for drainage - higher in the middle than on the sides, or lane that you do most of your driving in. Alignments are set to compensate for the crown in the road. It's not an exact measurement because not all crowns are created equal. Yours may be be set for a greater crown than what is there, so the vehicle pulls in that direction. Take it back and tell them that you find the pull a little uncomfortable.

 

A lot of things can cause this. Simple air pressure, tire structure, wheels alignment, disc brake hanging, or all this in any combination. Just start looking at each one.

 

Sounds like you are ready for NASCAR

OttowaJohn hs the best answer but, alignment. Crumpy's SRT does it and I have had it aligned twice. Mechanic tells me it is perfect according to his equipment.
However, my butt meter says different.

Since there is no play in the steering, I'm eliminating bushings and looking into the suspension struts.
It may well be the rear tires that are out. Uneven camber??? Look there also.

 

You say the pull left left with new lower A-arm bushings would that be right?

 

I'm so confused now lol. Can't they just realign it and compensate for the left pull so it evens out?

I understand the crowning of the road but even on 3 lane roads, being in the far right lane, it still pulls.

 

That's a real Democrats car you have then.

 

At the end of the day, I just wanna be able to drive In a straight line without being $4k in debt

 

Right, the left pull left right afterwards.

Les

 

Well it's not nascar. It's a fact. A simple brake touching a rotor will cause this. My point is it isn't always alignment. Do this. Switch the front tires around. Move them to opposite sides. If it still pulls left it is not tire structure. Next make sure air pressure is equal on both sides. Change air to more if that doesn't work try less. Not all tires are equal. While switching tires around check for wheel bearing wobble on the left side. And there's more if none of this works.

 

Or as Oledoc says, it could be a dragging brekae pad. After you drive for a while stop and see if the rotor on the left side is hot.

Spray water on it, do not use your hands.

It is a lesson you won't forget but who, beside me of course, needs to learn it the hard way.

 

If it was really hot you may not want to spray water on it as it as it might get warped. But if it got that hot fast the pad would not last long. I think we can forget the rubbing brake pad.
Sometimes if the steering wheel is out a spline then it may feel that you are always steering a little one way or another. Other than that I have to say alignment if it's not a fault caused by a bad part.

 

I wouldn't forget it as it has happened to me on several cars over the last fifty years.. My Oldsmobile Starfire and my wife's Lincoln town car. Last month, it happened on her Minivan. It is hardly uncommon

As for water warping the rotors????, gimmie a break Dave. Most of us have run through puddles while braking with no ill effects. However, touching the rotor with your hand can be surprising and damaging. Unless it is night time it will not glow red.


No Doc is right. If the shop says the wheels are aligned, tire pressures and dragging brakes are the first things to check.

 

Coming from a guy who forgot to torque up his brake screws this is pretty rich. Mind you I have forgotten to tighten wheel nuts in the past.
If the brakes shoes are rubbing enough to make the car wander then the pads will not last long at all. When was the last time you saw brake rotors red hot on a daily driver anyway? If a rotor was extremely hot then throwing water on it may warp it, there is a difference between the normal hot rotor and the super hot rotor. Going through a puddle where the water is possibly hitting all of the normally hot rotor and throwing water through the spokes of a stationary wheel with a super hot rotor with one area hidden by the caliper is a different matter.

 

I didn't forget to tighten them. My mechanic did. Your propensity to insult is annoying enough but at least be truthful.
A simple spray mister would provide the answer or an infrared thermometer. I just didn't want anyone to "touch" the rotors to see if they were warm.

You can keep beating this horse because you always have to be right but the simple fact is that a dragging brake pad can cause a pull to one side. This being true since the dawn of the automobile. Gawd man! You should know this,,,,you were there.