so why does it pull to the right???

stugotz · #1 (**permalink**) 09-22-2006, 10:30 PM

05 Tundra DC...just had it aligned at toyota...it's not bad but it still pulls a bit...bringing it back tomorrow...thought you 'experts' might have some ideas

Hugemoose · #2 (**permalink**) 09-23-2006, 02:43 AM

I'm no expert but some of my friends are mechanics and they have heard many times that guys at dealerships don't always do a "real" alignment. They simply fill the tires (which can effect alignment) and adjust just the camber i think? I may be wrong on what exactly it is but I have been told that some cheap guys may not do a full alignment.

If they get payed flat rate, they can work 15 min on your truck and still get payed for an hours job. It's a sad truth.

I payed $58 for my recent alignment and it was great! It was done on a Hunter alignment machine, and I saw the exact before and after numbers printed out from the machine. There is no lying in that! Plus the guy complimented my truck when it took it for a before and after test drive

. Said it sounded great and it drove very nice too!

Find a small shop and a guy with a trusting face. It's strange but I'm telling you it pays off. Make some friends and the life of your truck will be extended greatly! JUST STAY AWAY FROM DEALERSHIPS!!!!!

RBLTOY · #3 (**permalink**) 09-23-2006, 07:03 AM

Could be a few things...before i got my TC UCA's mine would always pull to the right from a bad upper ball joint. Once i fixed that and got it aligned it was good.

DJ · #4 (**permalink**) 09-23-2006, 09:47 AM

You might want to read DJ's Alignment Setting Recommendations and then get it aligned properly.

Hugemoose · #5 (**permalink**) 09-23-2006, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ

You might want to read DJ's Alignment Setting Recommendations and then get it aligned properly.

I second that. I did it for mine and it has been great!

benjams123 · #6 (**permalink**) 09-25-2006, 12:11 AM

Anybody ever hear of a "tire pull"? I never have, but was told that sometimes the tires will cause this dilema even though everything else is right on. ???

DJ · #7 (**permalink**) 09-25-2006, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benjams123

Anybody ever hear of a "tire pull"? I never have, but was told that sometimes the tires will cause this dilema even though everything else is right on. ???

Yup, a tire can generate a "pull" all by itself. It's called "coning" because the tire rolls along as if it's a cross-section of a cone.

You can identify it be swapping your tires, one at a time, with the spare. If the pull stops, then the tire causing the pull is the one the spare has replaced. It's easy and you can do it yourself.

Erik the Red · #8 (**permalink**) 09-27-2006, 11:37 AM

Ditto DJ's comments on tire pull. I'm battling my own alignment/wheel balancing issues (sordidly layed out in another thread) and during one of my failed re-balancing attempts the tech swapped the front tires. Yow, talk about a pull to the left! I swapped them back and the pull was gone, so, yes, tire wear can definitely influence perceived alignment.

Erik

DJ · #9 (**permalink**) 09-27-2006, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erik the Red

Ditto DJ's comments on tire pull. I'm battling my own alignment/wheel balancing issues (sordidly layed out in another thread) and during one of my failed re-balancing attempts the tech swapped the front tires. Yow, talk about a pull to the left! I swapped them back and the pull was gone, so, yes, tire wear can definitely influence perceived alignment.

Erik

Swap your front tires, one at a time, with the spare. You can quickly identify which tire causes a pull.

Blinkme28 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-02-2006, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ

Swap your front tires, one at a time, with the spare. You can quickly identify which tire causes a pull.

This is probably a dumb question but will this work if tire sizes are different? I have 285's on!

DJ · #11 (**permalink**) 10-03-2006, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blinkme28

This is probably a dumb question but will this work if tire sizes are different? I have 285's on!

It's not a dumb question. 285's are not remarkably bigger than 265's, but the size difference might induce a small effect of its own. Haven't been there, haven't done that. But, a pull caused by tire conicity would likely still stand out like a sore thumb. I'd give it a try.

murfdaddy · #12 (**permalink**) 10-04-2006, 04:52 PM

It's probably a factory alignment setting, so if you happen to fall asleep while driving you don't drift into oncoming traffic.

Ray Kane · #13 (**permalink**) 10-04-2006, 08:00 PM

Tell me if this makes any sense. My alignment was fine and the truck tracked fine. I could let go of the steering wheel and it would travel a long distance in a straight lline. I get the tires rotated and the truck pulls to the right MOST of the time but not always. Sometimes at high speed on the interstate you release the wheel and it seemed to slightly "glide" left and right but still track straight before veering off - always to the right.

DJ · #14 (**permalink**) 10-05-2006, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray Kane

Tell me if this makes any sense. My alignment was fine and the truck tracked fine. I could let go of the steering wheel and it would travel a long distance in a straight lline. I get the tires rotated and the truck pulls to the right MOST of the time but not always. Sometimes at high speed on the interstate you release the wheel and it seemed to slightly "glide" left and right but still track straight before veering off - always to the right.

A tire with a conicity problem that is on the rear can't generate a pull to the side because the rear axle can't be steered by the forces the tire generates. But, that same tire can generate a pull to the side if it is rotated to the front. Likely that's what's happened. I suspect you've got a front tire with a very slight conicity problem.

Ray Kane · #15 (**permalink**) 10-05-2006, 09:23 AM

I regret not knowing this but here it goes:
What's a conicity problem and what's the solution?