Pulling left when accelerating

[Defcon5]

Car is a 2001 Lupo GTI. Last year I hit a big pothole, and since then have had this problem.

With not throttle, the car drives straight regardless of speed (slightly drifts left, but thats due to the road camber I think)

On throttle, the car pulls left, the harder I accelerate, the harder it pulls. Let go of the wheel at full throttle and it will throw you straight off the road. If I hold the wheel straight it drives straight, but the wheel is pulling and you have to grip it to stop it moving.

This has been going on a while, and is really getting on my nerves now

I have changed the ball joints, wishbones, wishbone bushes (powerflox ones). I have changed the tyres front to back.

I had the alignment checked....

Front

Camber -2.03 -1.57

Caster 1.37 1.38

Toe -0.01 -0.01


Rear

Camber -1.45 -1.28

Toe -0.04 -0.02


Could the camber difference cause these issues? The car is on aftermarket Koni coilovers, so everything is adjustable



Thanks

[mk2 24v]

if its all adjustable, id get the camber back to 1degree each side if i were you. unless you are doing lots of track day stuff

would be my 1st thing to adjust anyway, especially as the other readings you have posted seem fairly symmetrical

[Defcon5]

Could the camber actually cause this though?

[BliarOut]

Yup, do you have a budget to get it sorted?

[Defcon5]

BliarOut said:

Yup, do you have a budget to get it sorted?

Why? The camber is adjustable, I can do it myself, just have no way of measuring it!

Or could there be something else causing it, something hugely expensive?

Edited by Defcon5 on Monday 21st February 13:35

[Defcon5]

Got some new topmounts, will get them changed and sort the camber out and go from there.

Im going to replace half the car at this rate!

[mickrick]

Defcon5 said:

Why? The camber is adjustable, I can do it myself, just have no way of measuring it!

Edited by Defcon5 on Monday 21st February 13:35

You can't do it yourself then.
Get it set up proffessionaly.
Anyway it's a FWD car, it's probably torque steer, and you never noticed it untill you had the bump, and got paranoid about it.

[Defcon5]

And so the saga continues...

Now changed the front top mounts and bearings (one was split, though I was onto a winner there!) and the track rod ends to no gain.

The front passenger shock has started to leak, which is just adding to my misery. Could it be this that is causing all my problems?


So, to recap

Changed:

Tyres
Suspension alignment
Track rod ends
wishbones
wishbone bushes
top mounts & bearings


Seem Ok
hubs
wheel bearings


Needs Attention:
FNS shock
My love for the car

Could the diff be damaged?
Engine/gearbox mounts?

[mybrainhurts]

I had a track rod end cause this, only a year after it had been replaced.

[davepoth]

The tyre could be damaged. I actually had this on my car, it caused a terrible vibration. Not sure if it would cause pulling, but it's possible. Also check to see if any of the suspension arms are bent.

[deveng]

Torque steer?

[Defcon5]

Not powerful enough Im afraid.

Got a new nearside engine/gearbox mount on its way, fingers crossed. Im running out of parts to replace!

[Defcon5]

Well needless to say the gearbox mount did naff all.

Any votes on what to replace next?

[mybrainhurts]

Track rod end has gone again...I've told you once, get on with it. Chop chop...

[Defcon5]

I have replaced it, its fine.

[mybrainhurts]

Other one, then....

[mybrainhurts]

Just thought...

Are you in the northern hemisphere or the southern hemisphere...?

[Defcon5]

mybrainhurts said:

Other one, then....

Already done!

[mybrainhurts]

Defcon5 said:

mybrainhurts said:

Other one, then....

Already done!

It's gone again...

I've just had one collapse, less than a year after being replaced...

[Defcon5]

Its an OEM VW part and has been on a month - its not the track rod end. There isnt any play in it at all