Hi everyone, I have a question for you all. My wife has a 2003 Just-a-Cooper, and I recently installed new front struts on it because they were blown when we bought it. Well, after the install the car tends to pull to the right (more than a slight pull I would say). Not only that, but the steering wheel also seeming turns itself in that direction (if that helps).

I have my own alignment tool and do my own alignments and everything checks out just fine.

Now, the weird thing is, if you are driving down the road and make a few turns the car will start to pull slightly to the left. Keep driving, make a few more turns, and it will start to pull to the right again.

Any thoughts on what is causing this???

Thank you any advance for any help you can offer

 

If you are sure the alighnment is fine, it sounds like bushings...but when they are worn, a car is often unalighinable....just cause of the results you see driving...interesting though it started AFTER a suspension change....
strut towers were ok...no mushrooming? Common issue on gen1 cars, can cause issues too!!

 

look at the rear suspension

 

What kind of "alignment tools" are you using to align your front end?

 

ZippNH - On your last comment there, I looked over the car's front end last night and notice that both strut mounts are in fact cracked 9the passenger side is much worse than the driver side). I am guessing this is the cause of my problem and have already ordered new mounts.

IQraceworks - I use the FASTTRAX wheel alignment tool, it measures camber, caster and tool. cost me almost $200 but well worth it. Since I regularly autox my car and both my wife and myself enjoy modifying our cars I bet I has used that thing at least 20 times since I bought it.

 

No other thoughts? Any confirmation that the cracking/mushrooming of the strut mounts is what is cause my problem???

 

Hard to say what is causing it. Since they are cracked, there is a possibility that this is causing the problem. I would get the fixed and see what happens.

 

When I got my 2002 a couple weeks ago, same thing was happening. The dealer has the struts replaced but didn't do the mounts. Mechanic who put in mounts check the rear struts and one was messed up and the tire was just beginning to show signs of cupping. Fixed rear, new front mounts and all is good.

 

I replaced the cracked strut mounts and all is good, it would appear that was the cause

 

Hope you flattened back the strut towers before you replaced those cracked mounts & installed some reinforcement plates.