Camry still pulls to the left! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

jermag24 · 04-09-2011, 06:19 PM

04 Camry XLE, 63k miles. Since we bought this car, it has pulled to the left. I've taken it to two shops I trust and they showed me the report showing that the alignment is correct. This leads me to believe there is a worn joint somewhere that allows the front wheels to aim a bit left when driving. Where would be a good place to start troubleshooting?

Background:
So far, I've called Toyota to verify that our car is up to speed on all TSB's and it is.

I've put my hand over the intermediate steering shaft upper joint while my wife moves the wheel side to side. There is some play there, but not much. I'm not sure how much there should be.

Any other issues prone to this gen Camry or any suggestions on how to narrow it down without throwing parts at it? Thanks!

Mike Gerber · 04-09-2011, 08:41 PM

First, switch the 2 front tires with each other and take the car for a test drive. It won't be the first time a tire has developed what is known as a "radial pull". This is where a belt shifts inside the tire and causes the car to pull to one side. If this is the problem, switching the 2 front tires usually causes the car to pull to the opposite side.

Mike

kenny1773 · 04-10-2011, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Gerber

First, switch the 2 front tires with each other and take the car for a test drive. It won't be the first time a tire has developed what is known as a "radial pull". This is where a belt shifts inside the tire and causes the car to pull to one side. If this is the problem, switching the 2 front tires usually causes the car to pull to the opposite side.

Mike

Great advice.

I have a pull like this on one of my tires now and the above proved it after I had an alignment done.

No one said anything about this being a safety issue, so I just put the tire with the pull on the rear and I don't notice it there. I figure I will run it for a while and then replace all the tires (there is maybe 10k left on the ones I have)

jermag24 · 04-10-2011, 10:17 AM

Thanks for the replies. I forgot to mention that I've had a rotate and balance done and the problem still occurs. What's the best way to check things like tie-rod ends, etc...?

SimplyACruiser · 04-10-2011, 05:51 PM

My 09 has pulled to the left since day one. I've gotten used to it & even just let go of the steering wheel when I want to do a leftward lane change. Got 4 new tires and an alignment in December, still does it.

jbrnigan · 04-11-2011, 07:48 AM

jermag, if you have been to two competent alignment shops, they would have looked for worn steering / suspension components. trust me, they would have been happy to "fix" it if that were the problem. I suggest that you need to have specifically, the front end caster angles rechecked and even adjusted to remove the "pull". if you have eliminated the tire issue (earlier replies) and since it's been a problem since you have owned the car, caster angles have the most pronoumced effect on vehicle tracking. Adjusting caster angles beyond factory specs have little effect on tire wear, (unlike camber and toe settings). have seen in some geographic areas that excessive "road crown" can a significant effect on vehicle tracking.

RickF · 04-11-2011, 08:38 AM

I had a 2002 Camry that pulled to the left, especially during acceleration (thrust error??). I took it to a place that specializes in front ends (Weber Wheel in West Palm Beach, FL) and they minimized it but couldn't completely fix it without major part replacement. They told me my LF wheel was 3/8" behind the axis of my RF wheel. Suggested I try to live with it — which I did for another 3 years till I traded it for my current '09 Camry.

Lookatmyfatrols · 04-11-2011, 11:01 AM

My 2005 Camry not only pulls hard left, but the front left brakes has gone from a light squeeking noise at times, to a vibration in my steering wheel and straight grinding noise. Sounds like i have no brake pads. This started after i got new brakes put on by a local mechanic. I have taken my car into 2 different brake shops sense, had my alignment fixed and still am living with this dang noise and pull to the left. Also it is starting to shift hard in low gears. Can some one give me some sound advice on what to do. Im not a brake mechanic and am tired of wasting money if its unfixable. PLEASE HELP!!!!

***arabianobsession*** · 04-11-2011, 01:03 PM

Weird, my 2011 SE pulls to the RIGHT, and it has since day one. Gotten the tires rotated, an alignment....the car has 5060 miles, I just put on 1000 miles this weekend and all I'm going to say is that my arms ACHE from holding the wheel to the left all the time....

MJZ · 04-11-2011, 01:13 PM

It will pull forever. After many alignments and rotations, mine will never stop pulling to the left.

Let it go.

Judy H · 04-11-2011, 01:14 PM

My dad just went thru this with his, and he rotated the tires first with no success, then took it in for an alignment, and they told him he had a bent frame. But after
the aliment, he went and had four new tires installed and walha, that was it.

Hope this helps.
~Judy in MI~

AlmightyCamry777 · 04-13-2011, 11:24 AM

I have had this problem on more then one front wheel drive car, radial pull as discussed above is the most common cause. It's such a touchy thing on my 2002 V6 if i find tires that do NOT pull, i just leave them there til they wear out rather then rotate them.
Usually buying two of the exact same tire will fix it, if the problem is radial pull. Some tires are better then others in this respect, if you do suspect radial pull and have tried everything else, try michelins or dunlop, at least for the front - they seem to do much better in this respect then the cheapos (i.e. the ones i usually buy).

jermag24 · 04-15-2011, 06:25 PM

Thanks for all the replies, the car came with Michelins on it, and I agree Michelins are amazing tires. I'd like to just "let it go" but it takes significant effort to keep the car pointed forward. It really tires you out.

I'll talk to a few shops about caster angels and see if they agree that adjusting it will minimize the pull.

Robert1820 · 04-15-2011, 09:01 PM

I have 25 years experience doing alignments. There is no caster adjustment on any Camry. Assuming the caster is reasonably in spec, and after eliminating directional tire pulling, then it's time for camber cams. More 5 and 6 gen Camrys pull left than right in my experience, including my own 2011 Camry. For everybody bothered by steering pull on these cars, it can be fixed. The hard part is finding a tech who is willing to do it and who knows how. The cams are easy to put in. The difficulty is adjusting them to produce a straight drive. Each car is unique in the settings needed. The shop I work in is on the high end of pricing. We would charge about $50 for the cams, one hour labor $100 plus a four wheel alignment $89 to do one of these. After giving us nearly $250 for all of this, you would expect your car to drive straight. If I draw the job, it will.

jermag24 · 04-15-2011, 10:12 PM

I am familiar with camber cams from my last car, which was lowered. Are you saying the Toyota camber specs aren't correct and that I need these cams to achieve a wheel camber outside of the stock range? Man I wish you were in Denver, I do all of my own maintenance and hate talking to bumbling idiots at shops that do work I don't have the equipment for.