Pulls left

[johnniee_691]

hey guys, just noticed today on the hwy that my 6 month old challenger pulls to left at hwy speeds. not too sure if it occurs at lower speeds. is this caused by off road use? is it just a minor problem? and do i just need a wheel alignment to fix it? lastly does anyone know if this should be covered under warranty?

thanks in advance

[greig]

I'd say its not covered under warranty unless there is a " fault " with the car..

Most likely something you may have hit ( on or off road )..
A wheel alignment is probably your 1st call....

[wasarangie]

Yeah second the not covered unless there is a fault and a wheel alignment.

You have checked the tyre pressures I guess.

[900canoes]

Something else you can do is check if the brakes are sticking on the left. Jack it and make sure the wheels can spin freely.

[LukeS]

You know that all cars (within Australia) are set up to pull left? Its because if the drive falls asleep the car pulls off the road rather then into oncoming traffic - all my cars have done it. Not sure how drastic yours is, but it may just be that it needs a wheel alignment to check its within specifications.

[jimsiron]

You know that all cars (within Australia) are set up to pull left? Its because if the drive falls asleep the car pulls off the road rather then into oncoming traffic - all my cars have done it. Not sure how drastic yours is, but it may just be that it needs a wheel alignment to check its within specifications.

I thought that it was more due to road camber?
regards
Jimsiron

[wasarangie]

I thought that it was more due to road camber?
regards
Jimsiron

Would have been my guess also. My Calais pulls left on the left of the road and right if travelling on the right lane of multi lane freeway. depends which way the camber is going.

BMW does not pull either way anywhere.

My Challenger does not seem to pull left or right.

[LukeS]

I've been told this a couple of times now. In a past life I use to import wheel alignment and wheel balancing machines and apparently they had to be calibrated upon entering Australia to configure this.

Camber of the raod would compond the issue.

[xrrob]

I have 4 cars and not one pulls to the left or right unless there is a severe camber. It would make for a tiring driving experience if you had a car that pulls and you were doing a long trip. I would get it checked out as it usually only a wheel alignment issue.

[johnniee_691]

thanks everyone.
my suspicions are that it is wheel alignment, it is only slightly pulling but still probably something to haqve checked out anyway.
and yes our old 97 pajero used to pull left as well...

[wasarangie]

See if they will tell you what the settings are before any adjustment. Then what they set them. It would be interesting to know how much difference there is, if any.

[TheTaipan]

You know that all cars (within Australia) are set up to pull left? Its because if the drive falls asleep the car pulls off the road rather then into oncoming traffic - all my cars have done it. Not sure how drastic yours is, but it may just be that it needs a wheel alignment to check its within specifications.

Don't think so mate. That would mean mounting the footpath and killing pedestrians.

[cate03]

Just had my Challenger wheel aligned at Bridgestone. I was scrubbing the outside edges on the front.
My first indication was excessive tyre squeal at low speed in underground concrete polished floor carpark. I use this carpark every day and noticed after a particularly rough rock climbing trip to Menai the following week the tyre squeal was excessive.
Interestingly, the Bridgestone guy I was chatting to reckons that you should always get a wheel alignment check on new cars straight off the lot.
His experience is that there is a huge customer base of 'new' vehicle owners where he has found incorrect alignments. He also has some local new car dealers send him cars as part of their pre-delivery. (Mitsu dealer was not one of them )
I know a heavy truck wheel aligner, he says that all trucks are set to steer a little to the right to compensate for road camber (left). Because trucks don't run a radial tyre like a car, they are more susceptible to road camber.
Perhaps the better quality radial tyres fitted to cars/4wd's negates the need for L/R adjustment.
Food for thought...I'll ask the opinion of the next wheel aligner I find!

Carl

[LukeS]

Don't think so mate. That would mean mounting the footpath and killing pedestrians.

The chance of hitting pedestrians is far less then having a head on with several cars, I dont see many pedestrians on highways and open roads where most people become fatigued. Had a quick search and there are other forums saying that it is an ADR requirement. I personally think it is a good idea having the car 'drift' to the left (not pull). I'd much prefer to run off the road into a guard rail, a few shrubs or stationary objects then oncoming traffic.

[TheTaipan]

The chance of hitting pedestrians is far less then having a head on with several cars, I dont see many pedestrians on highways and open roads where most people become fatigued. Had a quick search and there are other forums saying that it is an ADR requirement. I personally think it is a good idea having the car 'drift' to the left (not pull). I'd much prefer to run off the road into a guard rail, a few shrubs or stationary objects then oncoming traffic.

Well it didn't work at Bondi last week. Bloke had a heart attack, veered to the right head on into a bus.

BTW it isn't an ADR requirement.