Car goes left after making a left turn

JP147 · Post by **JP147** » Wed Sep 10, 2014 6:05 pm

1984 MY.
I noticed that the car would pull to the left after making a left turn, but go pretty much straight after making a right turn.
I checked the wheels for play, there was a little bit in one so I regreased the bearing and tightened the nut. That got rid of the play.
There was play in one of the inner tie rod ball joints, I replaced that. Still the car would pull left.
I went to a mechanic at a suspension shop and asked him. He checked everything and said he doesn't know, but if he was doing the job he would start by replacing the ball joints.
The ball joints were going bad so I replaced them, but it didn't help with the car pulling left.
Maybe it is the tops of the struts, but I don't know so I was wondering if anyone has had a similar problem or would know how to fix it.

Post by **TOONGA** » Wed Sep 10, 2014 7:23 pm

Would be looking at the steering rack for excess wear.

As well check the control arm rubbers, the radius rods and rubbers and the bolts where the suspension fits into the knuckle.

Did you replace the bottom ball joints?

TOONGA

T.Farm.Brumby · Post by **T.Farm.Brumby** » Wed Sep 10, 2014 10:02 pm

Toonga's on it, steering rack would be my first check too.

Stock engine? Could be torque steer if you're running a more powerful engine than stock but that's far less likely.

If all else fails I'd be getting the front up on stands and running it to see what might be moving when it shouldn't.

Cheers,
Tom.

poprock1 · Post by **poprock1** » Wed Sep 10, 2014 11:05 pm

Insufficient castor will cause a lack of self centreing. Perhaps you have hit a large pothole or obstacle on that side. A wheel alignment will show it, but still check for worn parts as previously suggested.

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Thu Sep 11, 2014 8:01 am

I do recall needng to grease up my 84's top bush. Other than a wheel alignment, seems to be about only thing left

JP147 · Post by **JP147** » Thu Sep 11, 2014 6:15 pm

Thanks for all the advice.
All the rubbers are in good order, they are urethane except for the LCA ones which the mechanic also looked at and said it was good. I replaced the ball joints on the LCAs.
There is no noticable play in the steering rack, could there still be a problem with it?
It has had a wheel alignment since and it didn't make any difference, but maybe I will try a different place and see what they say. The place I went to didn't seem to know much about the car as they were confused why there was positive camber on the front wheels.
I know it isn't torque steer because it will persistantly pull slightly left, even after hundreds of km, until a right turn is made.

There is one thing I forgot to mention before though. I had the car on the ground and got someone to steer it and I did notice that the springs were turning in their seats a bit. I am not sure if this is normal or not. I did tighten up the springs a few turns but it didn't make a difference.

poprock1 · Post by **poprock1** » Thu Sep 11, 2014 6:54 pm

Your comment about pulling left until you make a r/h turn would appear to back Toonga's idea. The springs rotating could be an issue if the bottom of the coil is open ended. If it is flat like the top then it shouldn't alter ride height. If it is open ended it could ride up in the bottom saddle after a l/h turn , staying there until the r/h turn reseats it. But then there would be an increase or decrease in ride height, you could measure height when pulling left then after a r/h turn to see if there is a difference. Even then it may only affect camber and not castor.

Looking forward to learning the result.

poprock1 · Post by **poprock1** » Thu Sep 11, 2014 6:56 pm

Could be a broken spring, because if the spring has correct tension it should not turn.

Cliff R · Post by **Cliff R** » Fri Sep 12, 2014 10:52 am

What about a possible issue with the bearing on the top of the strut ?

Smokey · Post by **Smokey** » Fri Sep 12, 2014 5:37 pm

Have you lay under the car, engine running. Someone steering lock to lock with the car stationary. Most of these ideas mentioned would make some type of noise. Perhaps that might help track the area/cause.

Silverbullet · Post by **Silverbullet** » Fri Sep 12, 2014 6:39 pm

Cliff R wrote:What about a possible issue with the bearing on the top of the strut ?

MY's don't have a top bearing like in the L series. Partly why the steering is so heavy without P/S.

Nubaru · Post by **Nubaru** » Fri Sep 12, 2014 6:56 pm

no bearing - but they have a bush that can get dry & crusty. Just a little grease should clear things up unles you find the bush has crapped out ....

JP147 · Post by **JP147** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 6:19 pm

The springs don't look like they are broken. Maybe they are turning because there is too much friction on the top "bearing"? I could try greasing it like steptoe suggested.
I am not sure why running the engine would help, but I did go under the car and have someone steer and everything seemed good except for the spring turning (top seat turning slower than bottom seat).
I will give greasing a try. Should I take it apart to do it or should I just take the cap off the top of the strut and shove grease down there?

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 10:32 pm

if you are gonna spray use Lanotec Heavy Duty. Too far back to remember what I did .....

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 11:45 pm

Pretty sure the spring itself should not be turning within the seats.

Venom · Post by **Venom** » Tue Sep 16, 2014 8:31 am

Try swapping the front tyres around. If it changes the behavior but doesn't fix it, try swapping front to rear.

Generally cars "push" rather than "pull". So if you're going left it more likely to be an issue on the right hand side.

JP147 · Post by **JP147** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 12:26 am

I lubed the strut tops, I am not sure if that made a difference. I swapped left and right tyres, that made it always pull left but more so after turning left. I swapped front to back (the back tyres are a fair bit wider) and I think it still pulls left a little but the steering wheel shakes and the car wanders around on uneven roads.

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 8:08 am

fair bit wider ? What size tyres are you running? You might call on Silverbullet who just bought some mags for one of his MY's, may have some old steelies and tyres to sell you - se if that sorts you out ?

Post by **TOONGA** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 1:15 pm

Get 4 tyres of the same brand and same size... borrow them from someone to see if this solves your problem.

TOONGA

sublime · Post by **sublime** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 4:56 pm

Have you checked the leading rod bushes? When I changed these on my wagon the change was dramatic to say the least, no more tracking problems or wandering all over the road.

As noted by TOONGA you also NEED tires of the same size (and brand/make) on all four wheels. This could be a big part of your problem.

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Car goes left after making a left turn

Car goes left after making a left turn

castor.

steering pull

pulling