Steering Pulls Left (Mostly)

[WonkyGibbon]

Hi there,

Despite just having the diff fixed - still have a problem with the steering. The mechanic has totally been over it - the tracking is right, there's a bit of wear in the rack but that shouldn't be an issue. Switched the wheels (front to back and vice versa). Just can't work out what it is. Depending on the road camber, she pulls quite strongly to the left. Anyone - any ideas ? Feeling desperate - really trashes the driving experience.

Thanks,

WG

[bridgdav]

Have you got one arm shorter than the other..???

Seriously though, Have you had both the front and rear set up checked?

[Podie]

bridgdav said:

Have you got one arm shorter than the other..??? Seriously though, Have you had both the front and rear set up checked?

Bigger muscles in one arm?!? :fnarr:

Hmm... tracking? Buckled wheel? Alignment? knackered tyre? tyre pressures?

[WonkyGibbon]

Podie said:

bridgdav said: Have you got one arm shorter than the other..??? Seriously though, Have you had both the front and rear set up checked? Bigger muscles in one arm?!? :fnarr: Hmm... tracking? Buckled wheel? Alignment? knackered tyre? tyre pressures?

The right arm has a certain toned feel - yes

The setup has been totally checked out. Tyre pressures are correct and the tyres in good condition. Alignment is good. Wheels were swapped around so that the rears were on the front and the fronts on the back - made no difference. Just can't think what else could be causing it ? It's weird - 'cos it's quite a strong pull - you would think the cause would be obvious.

[Podie]

hmm... GreenV8S..? shpub..? any ideas...?

[Podie]

Steering rack? suspension problem?

[M@H]

Have you had a full 4 wheel laser alignment done..camber/caster etc.? ..the front may be correct in correlation to itself, but out of alignment with respect to the rear.

Cheers,
Matt.


>> Edited by M@H on Wednesday 12th November 16:09

[GreenV8S]

Dunno what your mechanic has checked, but some possible causes:

uneven tyre pressure
uneven front camber or castor
uneven corner weights
uneven ride height
worn suspension bushes

Definitely shouldn't do that, anyway.

[shpub]

Binding brakes, knackered suspension bushes particularly on tie rods, bent chassis (don't laugh - has been known for the front steering to be adjusted to compensate which when set to normal causes the bending to suddenly appear! Pretty rare though!).
I would suspect the brakes or a suspension problem.

[WonkyGibbon]

M@H said:

Have you had a full 4 wheel laser alignment done..camber/caster etc.? ..the front may be correct in correlation to itself, but out of alignment with respect to the rear. Cheers, Matt. >> Edited by M@H on Wednesday 12th November 16:09

Not the full wheel monty no. There's a place in Feltham that will do this if necessary though.

[Podie]

Austec do it as well BTW...

[WonkyGibbon]

shpub said:

Binding brakes, knackered suspension bushes particularly on tie rods, bent chassis (don't laugh - has been known for the front steering to be adjusted to compensate which when set to normal causes the bending to suddenly appear! Pretty rare though!). I would suspect the brakes or a suspension problem.

I guess a brake could be stuck on. It only started a few weeks ago. About a week after she was serviced ... (never a good sign !) Just started doing it on the A303 - there hadn't been any big bumps or knocks or anything. Very odd.

[WonkyGibbon]

GreenV8S said:

Dunno what your mechanic has checked, but some possible causes: uneven tyre pressure uneven front camber or castor uneven corner weights uneven ride height worn suspension bushes Definitely shouldn't do that, anyway.

Hmmm - I know the bushes and tyre pressures have been checked - but the others all sound like possibilities.

Thanks for all your thoughts guys - some things to work on here.

WG

[Rozza!!!]

Is there any play in any of the wheel bearings???

Roy.

[ASM]

I know it's not the same car but just had the same problem on the shopping trolley and had everything including the steering rack checked, reset and adjusted but still pulled to the left.

Turned out to be a binding brake that was only binding intermittently too which confused matters more.

Changed the pads and disk and lubricated everything and problem went away?

[WonkyGibbon]

Right - put all your thoughts to Mr Mechanic. And we came to the conclusion that it's unlikely to be the brakes - only because you'd expect the pull to get worse under heavy braking. The ride height does look right and the camber castor thing is apparently also right. Also there's no play in the bearings - although some in the stearing rack

Two things I have noticed. First on a dead flat road it's not to bad - but the pull get's worse as the camber of the road gets worse - so it could be tyre related (tho they look fine). Second - before it went in for it's last service - the steering wheel was dead centre when going straight ahead - but either during the service - or shortly after it changed to being slightly offset to the left. The car hasn't hit the kerb or anything like that as far as I know - so I can't see it being the result of something like that.

All very odd - and very annoying !

WG

[M@H]

WonkyGibbon said:

Right - put all your thoughts to Mr Mechanic. And we came to the conclusion that it's unlikely to be the brakes - only because you'd expect the pull to get worse under heavy braking.

Bollox!!

Edited to add..

If you have a "sticking" caliper for example, It will apply pressure at exactly the same rate and pressure as the caliper on the other side when under extreme hydraulic load, however will not back off under the pressure relief when releasing the pedal.

My landrover had a sticky fromt caliper for a while.. pulled to the left when rolling along, and braked in a straight line.. ..who's your mechanic !?

Matt.




>> Edited by M@H on Friday 14th November 13:12

[Rozza!!!]

WonkyGibbon said:

Right - put all your thoughts to Mr Mechanic. And we came to the conclusion that it's unlikely to be the brakes - only because you'd expect the pull to get worse under heavy braking. WG

That might not neccessarily follow. If the pad is loose then even though your brake system will be working perfectly, the pad might be binding slightly under certain conditions. Just a thought.

Roy.

[M@H]

WonkyGibbon said:

Second - before it went in for it's last service - the steering wheel was dead centre when going straight ahead - but either during the service - or shortly after it changed to being slightly offset to the left. The car hasn't hit the kerb or anything like that as far as I know - so I can't see it being the result of something like that. All very odd - and very annoying ! WG

My guess below (as the steering wheel thing doesnt just "happen" )

..At the service someone took it out for a swift spin... whacked a curb/object with it.. quickly re-tracked it (or had a bit of a go) as they knew they'd done something bad to it.. and now you have an alignment problem.

Sorry...

Matt.
Hope I'm wrong for your sake

>> Edited by M@H on Friday 14th November 14:19