Pulling to left after multiple alignment attempts
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1st Gear
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 49
Likes: 6
From: Renton, WA
Pulling to left after multiple alignment attempts
Hi - I have a 07 MCS with 160k miles, which has a slight but constant pull to the left. When steering wheel is set dead ahead, the car drifts to the left. It does not pull when braking in a straight line, if aimed straight down the road (with steering wheel turned slightly to the right) the car goes straight. Ive had the car to two different alignment places (incl dealer) and they have aligned the car to spec both times, with very little diff between the before and after readings. A few things Ive checked: dragging brakes - seems fine side to side, wheel bearings - fronts probable need to be replaced, but there is no noise and no difference I can feel side to side when I lift the car and turn the wheels by hand. Tires have a lot of life left in them, but, I have NOT tried a different set of tires / wheels. I will do that as a next step to eliminate any tire issues.
Not sure what else to check at this point. Could this be a power steering issue? There are no codes...so I'm thinking its unlikely.
Is my only option to have an alignment shop artificially point the steering wheel slightly to the left, so when the car runs straight the steering wheel is straight? Seems like the wrong way to solve it, but not sure what else to try.
Ideas? Thx!
Not sure what else to check at this point. Could this be a power steering issue? There are no codes...so I'm thinking its unlikely.
Is my only option to have an alignment shop artificially point the steering wheel slightly to the left, so when the car runs straight the steering wheel is straight? Seems like the wrong way to solve it, but not sure what else to try.
Ideas? Thx!
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 375
Likes: 87
Is it *pulling* or is the steering wheel not centered?
If it's just that when you're driving straight the steering wheel is off center but it's not pulling, then it's likely the shop didn't bother to center the steering wheel. This is pretty common: they throw it on the rack, all the numbers come out fine, and they send it. They skip the step where they make sure the wheel is centered.
Assuming camber/caster/toe are in spec you can actually fix this at home by shortening one tie rod and lengthening the other by equal amounts. It will probably only take like 1/8-1/4 turn. But the shop should have gotten it right in the first place.
If it's just that when you're driving straight the steering wheel is off center but it's not pulling, then it's likely the shop didn't bother to center the steering wheel. This is pretty common: they throw it on the rack, all the numbers come out fine, and they send it. They skip the step where they make sure the wheel is centered.
Assuming camber/caster/toe are in spec you can actually fix this at home by shortening one tie rod and lengthening the other by equal amounts. It will probably only take like 1/8-1/4 turn. But the shop should have gotten it right in the first place.
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