Car pulling to the right

[JGood]

The car is an m50 swapped 85 325e. Has H&R sports and Bilsteins. 95 M3 rack. Stock bushings everywhere. Everything is pretty new and in good shape (control arms, CAB, strut bearing, tie rods, etc...)

The car is pulling to the right. I gave it an alignment, set the toe to 0, and it's still pulling. I'm using the Longacre Toe plate kit to do the alignment. My method is correct, as the other two cars I've used it on are perfectly aligned and drive perfectly straight. I've double and triple checked it on various surfaces after driving it around, it's always exactly 0 toe.

I checked to make sure my strut towers aren't sagging by taking a strut brace and installing it. It fits on like it should, so they aren't bent.

It pulls so hard I can only let go of the wheel for 3 seconds or so before it will go off the road. That is something that a good 1/2" + of toe out would cause, not 0".

Any ideas?

[moatilliatta]

got a caliper dragging?

[JGood]

I don't think so, I checked my pads last night and they are both still 3/4. I drive 100 miles a day, so if it was dragging hard enough to pull the car for the past few weeks I think it would be noticeable.

When my track car had a sticking caliper, it didn't pull at all, it just got really hot and created an even drag, the car just wouldn't roll freely.


I'm starting to think my tires are causing it. I have 3 brand new 205/45/16 General Exlcaim UHP's, and one with one 75% tread on the right rear. It's a long and stupid story why I have one with less tread

I think I'm going to switch my drivers side tires to the passenger side and see what happens.

[Dirtbleed]

Is the rear out of alignment? Kinda acts like a rudder. I would guess so with the 75% on the rt rear.

[JGood]

Is the rear out of alignment? Kinda acts like a rudder. I would guess so with the 75% on the rt rear.

No, I measured 1/8"-1/4" of toe in or so. Disregard the wear on the rear tire, it hasn't been there long.

Here's the story:

The car started pulling, so I gave it an alinment. I cranked the passenger side tie rod in about 10 turns to get it 0. Then it came out of spec in a couple days and began pulling pretty hard to the right. So I take a look, and the damn inner tie rod came loose on the passenger side. So I tightened it back down, set the toe back at 0 (where it was to begin with, it never needed asdjusted). And now it's still pulling. Since it took a good 2 weeks to figure this out, I managed to cord the right front tire. So I ordered a new one. I already ordered 2 new rear tires. So now I had a front left with 75% tread and 3 new tires. I should have just got 4, but oh well.

Basically, the thing that started this was my passenger inner tie rod came loose. It changed the toe, so I adjusted the toe before I knew the inner tie rod was loose. Then I realized it, tightened it, and set the toe back at 0. Now it's at 0, but still pulling.

[Dirtbleed]

Caster in the front adjustable?

[JGood]

Nope. Stock upper mounts in good shape.

[jlevie]

Toe won't cause the car to pull to one side, that will be a difference in camber, caster, or tires. As Dirtbleed mentioned, also make sure that the rear wheels are correctly aligned. The rears aren't adjustable, so if they are out, something is worn or damaged.

[JGood]

OK, I'll try different wheels/tires. If that doesn't change anything, I'll get a 4 wheel alignment professionally done, check the specs, and buy adjustable parts as necessary to get it back to spec.

Thanks

[E30_fiend]

I think you are having whats called a radial pull. My service truck does it from being constantly loaded in the rear. It wears the tires funny so the wont track straight. Had it aligned numerous times and still the same thing. Then radial pull popped into my head. Swapped the front right over the the left and the left to the right. What ends up happening is the tires pull against eachother and in result make the truck drive straight.

It would probably be worth it for you to swap the front tires from one side to the other and see what happens. Costs nothing and you will have an answer in 30 minutes or less.


GL







Taylor

[Wh33lhop]

I think you are having whats called a radial pull. My service truck does it from being constantly loaded in the rear. It wears the tires funny so the wont track straight. Had it aligned numerous times and still the same thing. Then radial pull popped into my head. Swapped the front right over the the left and the left to the right. What ends up happening is the tires pull against eachother and in result make the truck drive straight.

It would probably be worth it for you to swap the front tires from one side to the other and see what happens. Costs nothing and you will have an answer in 30 minutes or less.


GL







Taylor

Pulled the words right out of my mouth. Everything this guy said.

I've rotated my tires only to have the car start putting to the left. Checked the alignment and everything was fine but it still pulled. Un-rotated the tires and it drove straight as an arrow. Radial pull ftl; give it a try.

[JGood]

It was my tires. Brought rear tires to the front and put the front tires on the back. Pull is gone, car tracks straight. Called Tirerack for a warranty claim. Tires were purchased on 6/22/09. They have 2000 miles one them. They are worn to 7/32's from the 10/32's they are molded at. Since they are over 2/32's of wear, they can't be warranted.

They wore so bad because of the alignment and pull issues I've been having. Hopefully they last for 15k miles or so. That's typically how long tires last me...