Is your car pulling to the right or left? There are several things that could be causing this. Click on each cause below to learn more and discover what you should do about it.
If your car is pulling to the right and you live in the Kitchener-Waterloo region, contact us.
Why Is Your Car Pulling to the Right or Left?
1. Improper Wheel Alignment
Probably the number one reason why your car is pulling to the right is that your wheels are out of alignment.
Over time, your wheels can be knocked out of alignment due to various driving conditions, like going over a really nasty pothole.
Watch the following video for a further explanation of what wheel alignment is and how it works.
Improperly aligned wheels can cause your vehicle to pull to either side
Properly aligned wheels and axis should make a perfect rectangle shape parallel to each other and at an exact 90-degree angle from the surface of the road.
Solution:
Take your vehicle to a mechanic you trust to make adjustments (wheel alignment) to the suspension angles to position your wheels and axis back into the rectangle position.
2. Defective Tires
If you notice your car pulling to the right or left just after you have purchased new tires, there may be a problem with the way the tires were manufactured.
Tire tread needs to lay flat along the surface of the road and not have a cone shape
If the belts under the tread of your tire were not perfectly aligned, it can cause your tire tread rubber to harden into a cone shape instead of lying perfectly flat.
This issue is known as tire conicity. This is a manufacturing defect and should be covered under warranty.
Solution:
Take your tires back to where you purchased them to have them replaced under warranty.
3. Uneven Tire Pressure
Another reason why your car might be pulling to one side could be a simple matter of having the wrong air pressure in your tires.
Your tire pressure can fluctuate while you are driving and result in one tire having less pressure than the others.
Solution:
Check your tire pressure to make sure that each tire has the correct amount of air. If you aren't sure how to check your tire pressure, this video will help.
Learn how to check your tire pressure
Having the correct tire pressure may not only solve your car pulling to the right or left, but it will also improve your gas mileage, extend the life of your tires, and keep you safe while you are driving.
4. Tire Separation
If your car is shaking when you are driving it at low speeds as well as pulling to the right or left, then the issue may be a different type of tire problem. The treads may have become separated from the tire casing.
This can be caused by a number of things including:
A manufacturing defect
A flat tire that wasn't repaired properly
Hitting a pothole
Over-inflating your tires
Solution:
If your tire has become separated, don't ignore it. It could cause you to get into an accident. Get it checked out and replaced.
5. Different Treads
Always drive with matched pairs of tires
If you are driving with two different tires on the front or back of your vehicle, then this could cause it to pull to either side.
This is because the tread design on two unmatched tires will be different, causing it to roll on the road differently.
Solution:
Always make sure that you replace tires in matched pairs. Never drive with two different tires on the front or back of your vehicle.
6. The Slope of the Road
Most roads are built with a camber or slope to them. This allows for water to run off to the sides where it can drain away and not pool in the road. The following video will explain further what road camber is.
Is your car pulling to the right? It could be due to the road camber
When your wheels are aligned, the technician will usually account for the slope in the road in their calculations. If the slope of the road is different from their calculations, you could notice a pull to the right or the left.
You may find that the pulling occurs only on certain roads. This could be because the slope of those roads is slightly different than the others you are used to driving on.
Solution:
Get your wheels aligned by a trained professional who knows how to take into account the camber of most roads.
7. Steering and Suspension
If the problem is not with your tires or your wheel alignment, then it could be an issue with your steering or suspension. You could have worn-out components in these systems that are causing your vehicle to pull to one side.
For example, if your lower control arm bushing may be starting to wear out. The following video explains further what happens if you have a bad lower control arm.
You may have a bad lower control arm that is causing your car to pull
If this is the case, then the control arm will start to shift when you apply the brakes causing your vehicle to quickly pull in one direction. The pulling will stop when you stop braking.
Solution:
Take your vehicle to a mechanic you trust and have your steering and suspension checked out.
8. Brakes
A sticky brake caliper could also be the cause of your car pulling to the right or left when you are braking. If that is the case, then you will probably also notice a grinding noise when you are braking in addition to pulling to one side.
Get your brakes checked out if you are having an issue with them
The calipers' job is to apply pressure to your brake pads which then push against the rotor. If you have a stuck caliper, then it won't be able to apply the right amount of pressure so your vehicle may pull in the opposite direction.
Solution:
If you think that you might have a problem with your brakes, get them checked out immediately. Brake problems can be a serious safety hazard and should not be ignored.
You Can Trust Hansma for All Your Repairs
At Hansma, we offer service with a difference. We have worked hard to gain a reputation for honesty and quality work.
Trust the professionals at Hansma to only recommend and carry out the repairs that you actually need. We will let you know what you need and when it should be done. We have experience servicing all makes and models of vehicles.
Our customers have come to consider us as their mechanic friend. And as your mechanic friend, we promise to give you top-notch service at reasonable and competitive rates.
Click here to meet our friendly team and contact us today and find out about the Hansma service difference for yourself.
We are open every weekday from 8 AM to 6 PM. Come see us at 88 Shoemaker St. in Kitchener, Ontario.