Why is my car pulling to the right?

[Toad]

This has been an ongoing theme, ever since I either changed my stock wheels or stock suspension, but that was a long time ago. I've recently had a wheel alignment done, the pic of the pic of the results is below.

We all know that the road surface on a motorway slopes from right to left. So in theory, my car should ever so slightly drift to the left. Yet my car drifts to the right, up the hill so to speak! Even if I lock the wheel in dead centre, the car still goes off to the right! Does anyone have any ideas why this is happening? I don't see anything untoward from the alignment results, nor did the chaps who carried out the work.

http://i1.tinypic.com/6y5mkye.jpg

[MaRiO89]

The bits that are red are the problem..

They are only very slightly out and when i had my tracking checked on a very similar system the dude said that some area's of my car were out but not really worth the money to have put right, so i didnt and my car pulls ever so slightly to the left..

As i'm sure you know, all those red area's should be green..

My results came back quite similar to yours..

[Raz]

Mine does this, but to the left...its not a casual drift to the left, it does it when im doing about 70, and the steering wheel shakes like a fucking vibrator :y:

[Toad]

Yes, but there's nothing red that would cause the car to go to one side. At the front, I've got some negative camber which is fine, but there's a little more negative camber on the left than the right. The caster is little more positive on the right as well, but I can't see how that would cause the issue that I have.

The rear has some negative camber which is fine, and the total toe at the rear is fine also.

[Karl]

Mine pulls slightly left too...
...doesnt rly affect anything and im not spending $ getting it to drive perfectly straight ;)

[craigy_87]

my car pulls to the right aswell i had the tracking done came out the garage an it was exactly the same :n: no idea what it is now tbh

[jpsaxo]

I went to get my tracking done after hitting a curb in my car, he said its almost perfectly straight, not worth £25 in him changing it because it was so minimal he said...

Mine doesnt pull to either side, ever since i've had my group n rear wishbone bushes its been perfect....

[Ryan]

mine pulled to the left alot, found out was because i mashed a wishbone on track lol!

[Toad]

Interesting... I'm using poly bushes from Powerflex. I think all is in good shape...

[TypeRhys]

if its nothing to do with alignments....

have you checked;

tyres (including pressures)
are all the suspension components tight ?
what about driveshafts ?

[AdamH]

is this when accelerating or braking? if its braking it can be the brakes binding ever so slightly...

if not does your steering wheel shake lightly?

[Barry123]

Yes, but there's nothing red that

toadster, im afraid there is mate...


the camber of the left and right front have almost 0.75deg difference.

both are negative so both incline inwards, but the left inclines more.

because of the increased incline the wheel generates a lateral force through camber-thrust... and because of that the car goes to right.

think of the camber angles of a motorbike wheel when the motorcyclist wants to turn.


that my friend, is your problem :)

[Toad]

OK, good point Ad. I wonder why there is this difference then. It must have something to do with the replacement springs and dampers, as I'm sure the car was spot on before I changed the suspension, and I haven't had any bangs...

Cheers for that though mate.

[Toad]

Rhy - All the usuals have been checked.

Adam - This is when I'm coasting, not changing speed at all. I don't have any vibration in the steering wheel.

[Barry123]

Adam - This is when I'm coasting, not changing speed at all. I don't have any vibration in the steering wheel.
sorry dude only just seen this

weird... the camber inclination will still be the fundamental reason why your car changes direction but when you're changing speed it remains ok... hummm... i have a feeling (by feeling i mean educated guess) that because of the camber inclination difference, the kingpin difference (steer axis basically) is wrong too. because the steering axis is misaligned between the front wheels you're going to have a scrub radius (kingpin offset) difference between the two wheels

Im guessing the scrub radius difference is going to give rise to degree of torque steer.... which my be offsetting the camber thrust, although when reduce the throttle load the effects of torque steer decrease to the point where the camber thrust is the dominant force.

how is the car at low speeds i.e 20mph? coasting and under full acceleration?

if you describe in detail how the car behaves at various speeds and throttle inputs that would be a great help :)


This is why i wont lower my car lol

[Ryan]

This is why i wont lower my car lol

that and because you are a pikey student.

[Barry123]

that and because you love touching children.

thanks i know
:A: :A: :A: :xmas_mrgreen: :xmas_mrgreen: :xmas_mrgreen: :xmas_grin: :xmas_grin: :xmas_biggrin: :xmas_biggrin: :xmas_smile: :xmas_smile: :xmas_smile: :xmas_cheesygrin: :xmas_cheesygrin:

[Ryan]

thanks i know
:A: :A: :A: :xmas_mrgreen: :xmas_mrgreen: :xmas_mrgreen: :xmas_grin: :xmas_grin: :xmas_biggrin: :xmas_biggrin: :xmas_smile: :xmas_smile: :xmas_smile: :xmas_cheesygrin: :xmas_cheesygrin:

:homme:

[Toad]

OK, I'll give it my best shot mate...

There is no issue under acelleration. It's simply more noticeable the higher speed you are at, not acellerating though. So, cruising at 70 mph, let go of the wheel and the car will drift to the right. This is also against the camber of the road which should be taking left. Also, to keep the car straight, I have to have the steering wheel off centre slightly, effectively turning to the left a small amount. If I hold the steering wheel perfectly centre, the car will drift to the right at the same kind of pace as if i let go of the wheel altogether.

I'll say again, there's no issue at all under acelleration. I don't even have to consider it. This problem is really motorway driving orientated.

[Barry123]

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i52/adsayer/untitled-1.jpg

dont tempt me.

[Ryan]

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i52/adsayer/untitled-1.jpg

dont tempt me.


hahahaha! dont cry for me sadlayer.

anyway back on topic.

the fact the car is onl wandering when cruising seems very strange, rather than it wandering under heavy loads like accelleration.

[Toad]

Is that difference of .75 camber enough to throw out the straightness of the drive?

[Barry123]

camber thrust is going to be higher at higher speed anyway dude.

defo the camber.... still weird about acceleration though but im confident I'm right about that.

even if the bloke said it wasn't worth altering, i would if you can. What springs are you running? btw... looking at the geometry spec I'd say that one spring maybe making the car sit slightly lower than the other (the right spring in this case).


if i think of more I'll post it up.


anyway hope that helps man :)

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[Barry123]

Is that difference of .75 camber enough to throw out the straightness of the drive?

yep, its more noticable at high speeds (as you're experiencing). goodyear only test they're tyres as far as 3 degs on their tyres, beyond that point the reduced contact patch between the road and tyre due to the angle of the tyre minimises the generation of lateral and longitudinal forces anyway

With the tyre data i've got the highest lateral forces of the tyre were at 1 deg (although that was testing sideslip rather than camber thrust though)

[Toad]

I bought a Koni suspension kit about 18 months ago...

Thanks for your help mate.

[Barry123]

never realised you can adjust the camber by faffing with the top strut mounting.

(at least I'm guessing you can, had a look in the engine bay last night to admire my beast of an engine and looked over at the strut)

awesome.

[Toad]

OK, so how do you do that?

[Barry123]

not a clue tbh

four screws on around the top of the strut that hold it to the chassis... there looks to be some adjustment to it

[saxo-chrissy]

try getting the tracking done m8 its about £25 m8

[saxo-chrissy]

i had it done and it was fine then i hit a kurb and knocked it back out and had to get it done again lol.....................

[Toad]

Have a look at the first page...