Alignment
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Record Breaker
Joined: May 2005
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Alignment
How do all your cars drive? My car has always had a slight pull to the right. This has been so through 2 sets of tires and even after rotating them. The steering wheel is straight and the alignment "looks" good the car drives fine and tire wear shows no problem, but you have to keep a hand on the wheel continuously, or the car will head for the ditch. If I let go, the car slowly but always and predictably heads right. It will even pull over the crown in the road from the left "fast" lane over to the right. I specialized in alignments in vocational school, so I know how they are "set" and the theories behind why you do what to what so I am not looking for an explanation of how alignments work, I got that covered, I just want to know how common a problem this is, or if it is at all. I am going to make some adjustments myself to correct the pull and then go get the toe reset on a rack. If it turns out to be a common problem and I am able to adjust it out, I will let you all know what I did and why. FYI, though I am not running stock wheels and tires anymore and my wheel offset is not stock anymore.
Let me know,
Thanks.
Let me know,
Thanks.
Captain
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 561
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RE: Alignment
When I first got my car it drove perfectly straight, I loved it! I can't stand when there's a pull.
After I lowered my car and got an alignment there was a very slight pull to the right. And now, well of course the car has other problems lol.
After I lowered my car and got an alignment there was a very slight pull to the right. And now, well of course the car has other problems lol.
Professional
Joined: Apr 2006
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RE: Alignment
ORIGINAL: Pressurecooker
How do all your cars drive? My car has always had a slight pull to the right. This has been so through 2 sets of tires and even after rotating them. The steering wheel is straight and the alignment "looks" good the car drives fine and tire wear shows no problem, but you have to keep a hand on the wheel continuously, or the car will head for the ditch. If I let go, the car slowly but always and predictably heads right. It will even pull over the crown in the road from the left "fast" lane over to the right. I specialized in alignments in vocational school, so I know how they are "set" and the theories behind why you do what to what so I am not looking for an explanation of how alignments work, I got that covered, I just want to know how common a problem this is, or if it is at all. I am going to make some adjustments myself to correct the pull and then go get the toe reset on a rack. If it turns out to be a common problem and I am able to adjust it out, I will let you all know what I did and why. FYI, though I am not running stock wheels and tires anymore and my wheel offset is not stock anymore.
Let me know,
Thanks.
How do all your cars drive? My car has always had a slight pull to the right. This has been so through 2 sets of tires and even after rotating them. The steering wheel is straight and the alignment "looks" good the car drives fine and tire wear shows no problem, but you have to keep a hand on the wheel continuously, or the car will head for the ditch. If I let go, the car slowly but always and predictably heads right. It will even pull over the crown in the road from the left "fast" lane over to the right. I specialized in alignments in vocational school, so I know how they are "set" and the theories behind why you do what to what so I am not looking for an explanation of how alignments work, I got that covered, I just want to know how common a problem this is, or if it is at all. I am going to make some adjustments myself to correct the pull and then go get the toe reset on a rack. If it turns out to be a common problem and I am able to adjust it out, I will let you all know what I did and why. FYI, though I am not running stock wheels and tires anymore and my wheel offset is not stock anymore.
Let me know,
Thanks.
Captain
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 709
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RE: Alignment
When mine was stock it pulled to the right, and also caused massive uneven wear on the tires. After my wreck however (replaced right control arm, sway bar, and steering rack/brace) I got a wider set of tires with new rims and the pull is less noticeable/almost completely gone....
R.I.P. Dusty (Retired Moderator
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Alamosa, Colorado (200 yards from the Rio Grande)
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Record Breaker
Joined: May 2005
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RE: Alignment
Hmmmm. Well the fact that some cars do pull left, is to me, probably a good sign. This means I will probably be able to adjust the pull out of it. I was concerned I would not be able to due to an anomally in the design and because FWD as we all know really effects the steerings neutrality. I will start by trying to either take caster out of the left front (1st choice) or adding caster to the right front (second choice) in very small amounts of course. This should create more of a left pull and zero me out.
For those who did not know, most cars are set up to have a slight left pull. This compensates for road crown since most of the time you are driving on the right side of a crowned road which would have the car pulling right. So with a slight left pull, it cancels out and the car drives straight. A good alignment tech can ask you where you spend most of your driving time (highway or rural two laners) and actually add a little more or a little less pull to match your answer due to highways being flatter than two lane rural roads.
For those who did not know, most cars are set up to have a slight left pull. This compensates for road crown since most of the time you are driving on the right side of a crowned road which would have the car pulling right. So with a slight left pull, it cancels out and the car drives straight. A good alignment tech can ask you where you spend most of your driving time (highway or rural two laners) and actually add a little more or a little less pull to match your answer due to highways being flatter than two lane rural roads.
