steering pulling to the left

[Mr Cali]

Hmm if your wheel is sticking out more on one side then you probably have damage to your suspension. Get them to check your lower control arm, struts and stub assembly.

Also worn bushes may cause your car to track, get them all checked out.

[big_gordy]

right this ia all good advice but who wants to put it all in to a point check cause im havin the same kinda problem
ie
1. check tracking
2. check breaks

ect

[sinbrad]

Carried out a true measurement from the chassis to the edge of both front wheels and they are the same. So it looks as though it's the wing if anything that's making the wheels look as though it's sticking out more on one side? Gonna get the tracking done by laser as soon as the new wheels are on and see how it goes. Won't do any harm to get all the parts Mr Cali has mentioned checked. Just strange that it seems to have happened since having two new tyres fitted prior to mot. Can't see how the garage would have damaged anything in the process? Back at work again so won't be able to do anything 'til next week at the earliest.

[sinbrad]

Well finally managed to get the tracking looked at this time four wheel and laser. The guy at the garage said the tracking was spot on and that if the car is pulling to the left then it is something else. Where do I go from here guys. I don't want to put the car in to vx as they cost an arm and a leg. Don't know what else to do? Help

[cornishtaz]

I take it checked the suspension, ie springs, shocks and top strut bearings, if these are weak on the left could cause the car to pull. Also during the MOT was the brake balance exactly the same on each side. Are the tyres wearing evenly? When you had your tracking done did they check all aspects ie camber,castor, Steering axis and toe, as if any of these are out compared to the manufacturers specs would cause the car to pull, the first 3 aren't adjustable on the front if these are out then theres a possibilty that the car has had a knock affecting the geometry.

Is your steering wheel straight after the tracking was checked.

Could be worth taking the car to a accident repair specialist with a jig

[Stupink]

Just a couple of questions.
When the "tracking was checked" was it 4x4 alignment? Ie the REAR is also pointing straight?

When you say pulling, do you mean when you put your foot down. or will it do it with it knocked into neutral just coasting?

how bad is it? if just "a small ammount" try (dont sue me if u crash or get arrested) finding a straight quiet road(so you can see oncoming traffic) and driving on the wrong side and making sure it doesnt now pull to the right and its not just the road camber.

does it actually PULL left, ie you hold the wheel central and it goes straight, but feel the wheel trying to pull it anticlockwise, or does it feel light and normal but to drive straight the wheel has to be a bit to the right.

[sinbrad]

Cheers for the further advice. Front suspension was replaced and at one stage swapped to alternative sides. Still same result? The tracking was four wheel tracking, I assume this is 4x4? and the guy said it was spot on.

Steering wheel has to be slightly turned to the right to avoid the car steering into the left. when I let go of the steering wheel on a normal flatish road, the steering wheel seems to have a life of it's own and starts turning to the left. It seems to be doing it in small continuous stages.

Haven't tried to see what the result would be driving on the opposite side of the road, that'll be the next thing.

The steering seems not to pull to the right at any force but the wheel has to be slightly to the right to stop it going left. What would this indicate. As far as I know the car ain't had a knock and it hasn't been mentioned by my local garage and mot centre over the past few years I've had it.

I'll get there in the end. Maybe have to bit the bullet and take it to VX but that's the last thing I want to do

[tazz666]

stupid question have you checked that the spring are sitting in there seats properly especielly the front ones, it only an idea

[sinbrad]

Unfortunately Yes. Last weekend had both arms taken off for inspection and put back on again. Once again everything looked ok?

[damo1]

i also say it will be the tracking

[sinbrad]

i also say it will be the tracking

As mentioned quite a few times, tracking has been checked and is spot on!

[sinbrad]

What would cause a twisted chassis apart from an accident that is? The car hasn't been in an accident since I've had it and I've never had this problem with the steering until recently?

[Calibra_Mike]

If your cars pulling to one side it will be one of the following...

1. Defective tyre
2. Warn out steering or suspension component
3. Incorrect wheel alignment
4. Accident damage to steering or suspension

[sinbrad]

1. New tyres all round
2. Steering component a possibility. Further investigation needed?
3. tracking etc done. All wheels given the ok
4. Nothing to warrant damage to steering or suspension. As stated car has never been in an accident since I owned it and there is nothing recorded with previous owners. Steering problem only started happening recently

Going to have a go at swapping all the wheels around again and see if there is any change. If not think I'll have to bite the bullet and get the car into VX after christmas and see what they say?

[Calibra_Mike]

Looks likely to be a steering or suspension component then...

1. Lower suspension arm bushes
2. Ball Joints
3. Shocks
4. Anti roll bar links
5. Track rod ends
6. Steering rack
7. Top Mount bearing or rubbers

These are just some of the suspension components you might wanna check...