directional problem - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

d0rkiishchris · 08-04-2005, 10:01 PM

Car seems like it is pulling to the right a lot when i accelerate. it will drift slowly to the right during normal cruise, but when I accelerate its pretty bad. I think I need a balance and alignment. But, if it were alignment wouldn't it pull all the time?

*The cars right brake was worked on recently just to look at it. There is the theory that it was put back together wrong, but i doubt it because i think the car would always pull to the right again.

touringcamry · 08-04-2005, 10:12 PM

Is there any problem with the left brake? Is it dragging or has it been serviced recently?

d0rkiishchris · 08-04-2005, 10:14 PM

well the rotors are being trued on saturday, and the pads are being replaced anyways so if its the brakes its about to be fixed, but if the left brake was the problem wouldn't it pull to the left?

HoboJoe · 08-04-2005, 10:20 PM

Sounds like an alignment or brake problem. If you are accelerating hard than the car is going to pull due to torque steer. Any of those probs would make torque steer worse though.

MrSo0h0o · 08-04-2005, 10:23 PM

i have that same problem.. i just got an alignment and it still does the same thing. but the guy who did my alignment told me my right front tire doesnt have much tread left. im guessing this was why. also, keep your tires inflated properly.

d0rkiishchris · 08-04-2005, 10:27 PM

aaahhhh could be the problem right there, I'll rotate one of the good tires to the front and see what it does. thanks

it does it under normal accelerationg?

MrSo0h0o · 08-04-2005, 11:29 PM

yea normal accelerating.. sways more when i accel harder.. im almost definitely sure its just cuz of tire wear

***BLUEMEANIE*** · 08-04-2005, 11:34 PM

could also be an inflation problem.

redgtxdi · 08-04-2005, 11:59 PM

I was introduced to something new a couple years ago. It's called "tire alignment". (Or more properly, tire 'out of' alignment).

I went to have my truck aligned........(4 wheel alignment)........for the very same reason & noticed it STILL pulled when I got it back. WTF?? So I took it back & the guy said it's straight as an arrow. He suggested the tire alignment prob & switch it from left front to right front & presto, the truck now pulled in the opposite direction.

Now, it's still present whether accelerating or declerating so it may not be your problem, but something to be aware of. I went that weekend & had new tires put on the truck & voila..........problem solved!

Mike Gerber · 08-05-2005, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redgtxdi

I was introduced to something new a couple years ago. It's called "tire alignment". (Or more properly, tire 'out of' alignment).

I went to have my truck aligned........(4 wheel alignment)........for the very same reason & noticed it STILL pulled when I got it back. WTF?? So I took it back & the guy said it's straight as an arrow. He suggested the tire alignment prob & switch it from left front to right front & presto, the truck now pulled in the opposite direction.

Now, it's still present whether accelerating or declerating so it may not be your problem, but something to be aware of. I went that weekend & had new tires put on the truck & voila..........problem solved!

This is called a "radial pull" and is probably your problem too. The belts inside the tire shift to one side and the car pulls to that side. The true test is just as redgtxdi said, switch the 2 front tires. If the car now pulls to the opposite side, then the tire now on that pulling side needs to be replaced. You can move it to the back as a temporary fix, but you will no longer be able to properly rotate the tires. Also, if the other front tire has an extensive amount of wear on it, it would be better to replace both front tires. It is always better to keep the same tread pattern tires on the same axles with approximately the same amount of tread depth wear. This will keep the car tracking properly.

Mike