xantia pulling over to o/s

walshy · Unread post by **walshy** » 23 Apr 2003, 03:18

1994 19td xantia problem i have car pulling over to the o/s wheels balanced tracked etc new tyres fitted jan03 [?] many thanks pete walsh

Dave Burns · Unread post by **Dave Burns** » 23 Apr 2003, 04:38

No doubt you have checked the pressures, could be a brake sticking, trackrod end worn, bottom ball joint worn, suspension arm rubber bush or even pothole damage to suspension components.
Does it do it at all times or just when braking.
Does it make any difference if accelerating or slowing.
Dave

walshy · Unread post by **walshy** » 26 Apr 2003, 15:18

Yes, the car pulls over all the time, at any speed. Pressures regularly checked.
thanks pete.

Unread post by **alan s** » 26 Apr 2003, 15:34

Did it do this prior to getting the tyres & the wheel alignment done?
If not I'd suggest that whoever did the alignment got it wrong. This is on the proviso that as Dave suggests, you don't have a binding brake on that side.
Alan S

Dave Burns · Unread post by **Dave Burns** » 26 Apr 2003, 16:22

Examine the tread wear on the tyres for any clues as to whats going on.
Get it on axle stands and have a good feel round for any play in steering and suspension, especialy ball joints and susp. arm rubber bushings.
A good tyre fitting establishment with the very latest laser alignment gear should be able to tell you if there is something wrong without you saying a word, such is the accuracy of this equipment, of course it relies on a skilled operater though.
Dave

jeremy · Unread post by **jeremy** » 26 Apr 2003, 19:02

Is this a severe pull all the time or does the steering just feel a bit heavier to one side? The reason I ask is that generally when tracking is adjusted it is done incerrectly from one side only and on detailed examination you find that the rack is not centered properly. This means that when you turn the wheels do not move at the correct angles relative to each other and the car doesn't feel right.
A simple method of checking is to get the car straight and mark the top of the steering wheel with tape, then drive gently forward and turn onto one lock and note where the tape is. repeat for the other lock and if the rack is centered correctly you should have turned it EXACTLY the same amount in the other direction. If not - well there is a problem.
You can check the camber angle quite easily using a spirit level about 2 ft long by holding it against the wheel and seeing if the gap needed to get the level straight is the same both sides. The camber angle is the amount the front wheels lean from the vertical and most modern cars have negative camber - ie the bottom sticks out a little (few mm). Camber angle changes are generally indicative of wear in the bottom balljoint or wishbone rubbers or subframe damqage.
Jeremy

MW · Unread post by MW » 26 Apr 2003, 23:20

Pete, this won't be your first line of enquiry, but it might be worth remembering in case you get really stumped. Are those new tyres of a good quality?
We had a problem many years ago with an Austin Metro that would veer hard over to the offside (!) whenever you hit the brakes, however gently. Very scary. Our garage checked everything and was still totally baffled - but eventually the boss, who raced cars at weekends, said he reckoned it was a defective tyre casing. They took the tyre off, and sure enough the steel wires in the casing (a nearly-new Bridgestone, if I remember correctly) were ruptured. Replaced the tyre, problem sorted.
Just a thought