Just drove my new (to me) 2006 JWC Cabriolet up the coast from LA to San Jose. I noticed that it has a tendency to drift just a hair to the right when going in a straight line. At first I thought might be side wind. Then I thought maybe the road crown. But as far as I can tell, when the road is straight and level, it just slowly creeps over to the right. Is this a known problem? Should a realignment take care of it? The car has JCW 18" wheels with Dunlops (I think) in the 40 profile. Run flats. It also has 15mm H&K wheel spacers.

Thanks much!

 

You've never noticed this in any other car you've driven ?

It's common practice for automakers to align the steering ever so sligthly to the right. In fact, it may be a requirement from the government.

Why ? So that in the event a driver falls asleep at the wheel, the car drifts toward the shoulder and not into the lane of oncoming traffic.

 

But, yes, alignment will probably correct this if indeed it is not just road crown you're feeling. One way to test is to drive in the left lane on a multilane divided highway - it should be crowned such that the car pulls left. It the car still pulls right, alignment is the culprit.

 

oh Wow really?? holy crap I NEVER knew that? that sounds like one of them fun factoids to bring up every now and then. learned something new everyday.

I was going to tell him to get his tires aligned. lol

 

Just going to add that manufacturers might do a less than stellar job aligning the car at the factory, if at all.

 

wow, all my cars are illegal then cause they all track dead straight on flat roads.

 

very true, nabeshin.

 

Stop driving after drinking Sake.

 

Hmmmm.... name and personalized plate for ken's MCS... "LIL SAKE"

 

 

I've never heard of this being a requirement, my cars always go straight. If there is a slight bias to one side, it can often be tuned out by taking 1/2lb of pressure out of the tire on the other side. If that doesn't do it an alignment should.

 

yah, these kenchan wannabies ie: blimey and CR&PW&JB just tries to make up stories to convince themselves their cars are perfectly fine...when they are not.


blimey has a big right ear that drags air causing his car to drift to the right.

CR&PW&JB found some great tire bargains $25 for 2 at discountRus and using 205/50/16's on the driver side and 195/50/16's on the passenger side.

 

Smart ***.

 

hahaha.