My Cars Always Pull To The Left

[dagbladet]

It's something i've noticed with my last three cars. They start off going straight, but after having them for a few thousand miles they always start to very gently (at first) pull to the left. I keep the tyre pressures right, I don't whack kerbs or anything. I get used to driving with a slight pressure on the right side of the wheel, if i take my hand off the car will make it's way towards the kerb. It's almost imperceptable at first but gradually builds up over time. My little yaris is starting to do it now after i've had it for about 6-7000 miles. Why?

[Yaris SR Kid]

Have you had the tracking and balancing done recently!

[dagbladet]

Have you had the tracking and balancing done recently!

Had it checked and it's fine. This seems to happen to all of my cars after a while. If it was pulling to the right slightly, I would put it down to me being a bit lardy and sitting on that side but it's always to the left.

[Parts-King]

To be honest with you, most cars pull a little to the left, it has more to do with the camber of the road, than a particular fault, new tyres are better at hugging the road than slightly worn ones, so it is not as noticeable on a brand new car, keep your eye on any tyre wear/scrubbing, it should never pull violently to the left, just a gradual "veer". Kingo

[sphinktar1988]

this happened to me but i was told most jap and german cars are called "kerb happy" and will always go towards the left

[cfc1]

All UK spec cars are designed to drift slightly to the left.. the reason for this is should you fall asleep at the wheel, you wouldn't drift into oncoming traffic, this is also one of the reason that the road camber also takes you to the left.

Why does it get worse?.. well, cars with power steering tend to wear the N/S/F tyre (left) down on the outside edge, this is because we turn right more often than we turn left.. roundabouts for example.. the more worn the tyre becomes the more it will drift the car over to the left. Try swapping your tyres from left to right (as long as they are not rotational/directional tyres) or swapping them back to front (might require the back being balanced before going on the front) and see if this helps.

[welshphil]

All UK spec cars are designed to drift slightly to the left.. the reason for this is should you fall asleep at the wheel, you wouldn't drift into oncoming traffic, this is also one of the reason that the road camber also takes you to the left.

Why does it get worse?.. well, cars with power steering tend to wear the N/S/F tyre (left) down on the outside edge, this is because we turn right more often than we turn left.. roundabouts for example.. the more worn the tyre becomes the more it will drift the car over to the left. Try swapping your tyres from left to right (as long as they are not rotational/directional tyres) or swapping them back to front (might require the back being balanced before going on the front) and see if this helps.

LEAPS BACK IN AMAZEMENT!!!!!!!!!Road camber,yes.Design fault,where on earth does that idea spring from????

[gar]

All UK spec cars are designed to drift slightly to the left.. the reason for this is should you fall asleep at the wheel, you wouldn't drift into oncoming traffic, this is also one of the reason that the road camber also takes you to the left.

Why does it get worse?.. well, cars with power steering tend to wear the N/S/F tyre (left) down on the outside edge, this is because we turn right more often than we turn left.. roundabouts for example.. the more worn the tyre becomes the more it will drift the car over to the left. Try swapping your tyres from left to right (as long as they are not rotational/directional tyres) or swapping them back to front (might require the back being balanced before going on the front) and see if this helps.

LEAPS BACK IN AMAZEMENT!!!!!!!!!Road camber,yes.Design fault,where on earth does that idea spring from????

If you read the owners manual, it says 'rotate wheels' at certain mileage intervals. this helps keep wear even, so prolonging tyre life.

Funnily, Kwick fit-up questioned my need to do this, saying I would have to replace all the tyres at the same time... Is that not a good thing?

[dagbladet]

To be honest with you, most cars pull a little to the left, it has more to do with the camber of the road, than a particular fault, new tyres are better at hugging the road than slightly worn ones, so it is not as noticeable on a brand new car, keep your eye on any tyre wear/scrubbing, it should never pull violently to the left, just a gradual "veer". Kingo

this happened to me but i was told most jap and german cars are called "kerb happy" and will always go towards the left

All UK spec cars are designed to drift slightly to the left.. the reason for this is should you fall asleep at the wheel, you wouldn't drift into oncoming traffic, this is also one of the reason that the road camber also takes you to the left.

Why does it get worse?.. well, cars with power steering tend to wear the N/S/F tyre (left) down on the outside edge, this is because we turn right more often than we turn left.. roundabouts for example.. the more worn the tyre becomes the more it will drift the car over to the left. Try swapping your tyres from left to right (as long as they are not rotational/directional tyres) or swapping them back to front (might require the back being balanced before going on the front) and see if this helps.

Well thanks all. It's kind of reassuring to know it's not just me. The camber business certainly makes sense, as does the tyre wear. I'm surprised to learn that they actually design the 'drift' into the car. :o

[perfectshadows]

got a point actually I have had 2 peugeot 206's and both drifted slightly to the left though only very slightly, i notcied the drift was worse only gti180 than on my 1.4 sport seems the less tyre u compared to alloy the more it wanders, 14inch rims with 175/55 tyres on them moved less, where as the 205/45/r17 drifted more and also noticed road camber more

[welshphil]

"I'm surprised to learn that they actually design the 'drift' into the car. :o"

Not half as surprised as the rest of the motor engineering world!!!What utter rubbish!

If camber was other way the middle of the road would be full of water when it rains,instead of draining in to the gutter!!

[Chris81]

It's something i've noticed with my last three cars. They start off going straight, but after having them for a few thousand miles they always start to very gently (at first) pull to the left. I keep the tyre pressures right, I don't whack kerbs or anything. I get used to driving with a slight pressure on the right side of the wheel, if i take my hand off the car will make it's way towards the kerb. It's almost imperceptable at first but gradually builds up over time. My little yaris is starting to do it now after i've had it for about 6-7000 miles. Why?

Maybe you should get yourself a slimmer girlfriend?! :D

[alanbradley]

"I'm surprised to learn that they actually design the 'drift' into the car. :o"

Not half as surprised as the rest of the motor engineering world!!!What utter rubbish!

If camber was other way the middle of the road would be full of water when it rains,instead of draining in to the gutter!!

NASCAR Yaris!

...and lets face it, Kwik-Fit do have a vested interest in making you change as many of your car's tyres as they possibly can as often as they can, so why should you trust them to tell you how to preserve them?

Nah - its to do with the camber - I bet if you went to France you'd find it pulled the other way...

A

[tehl337]

the reason for road curvature (not camber) has nothing to do with falling asleep..... its purely so the rain can run off into the drains. :) simple :)

[HowardL]

All UK spec cars are designed to drift slightly to the left.. the reason for this is should you fall asleep at the wheel, you wouldn't drift into oncoming traffic, this is also one of the reason that the road camber also takes you to the left.

Wher on earth did you get that idea from???