Car pulling to left

[andy1103]

My 2008 Exclusiv has pulled to the left from new. Dealers checked tracking and said it was ok. Had 4 wheel geometry checked yesterday and rear left was toe in too much. Still is pulling left so swapped front tyres but no difference. Was wondering if Vectras are succeptable to road camber as complaints re drifting are mostly to the left.

[wanna veccy]

i know u say it has done this from new and only a few months old but have u checked ur rear control arms as this was the issue with my vec when pulling to the left. just grab the rear tyre from under the arch so that u can pull the wheel towards u. and that is what u need to do try and pull the wheel at the 12o'clock position towards u the wheel shouldn't move, if it does then the raer control arms will both need replacing.hth

[Big Sig]

It depends how much its pulling to the left. I was under the impression that all cars pulled over to the left a small amount for safety i.e. if you fell asleep at the wheel on the motorway etc.

[ghostrider]

As above, I thought all right hand drive cars pulled slightly to the left when hands off, to avoid drifting to the offside if the driver fell asleep. Left hand drive cars, alternativly pull to the right.

Here's something i found on the tinernet (It's an Americcan site, but the theory's the same):


Car Pulls Right or Left When Driving or Braking

A vehicle when driven down a straight flat road should go straight ahead with a slight pull to the right for safety. A slight right hand pull was designed into US and other left hand drive vehicles to avoid head on collisions when a driver falls asleep or is rendered unconscious. In right hand drive countries a [COLOR=green ! important][COLOR=green ! important]car[/COLOR][/COLOR] is designed to have a slight left hand pull for the same reason. If the car has an excessive pull to the left or right while driving or braking, this could be a signal that there is a problem with a worn or failed steering or suspension component. We have listed popular reasons below:

Troubleshooting Procedure/Inspection

• Inspect Front Strut Rod Bushings - If strut rod bushings are worn or missing it will allow the suspension control arm to wonder while driving and braking. When inspecting suspension bushings look for cracking, dilapidation or shinny surfaces showing that suspension components have moved. When bushings wear they can allow the suspension components to move causing the car to dart from one side or the other when braking or traveling over bumps in the road.
  
  
  Cracked Strut Rod Bushing
  
• Inspect Upper/Lower Ball Joints - The ball joints act as a universal joint that is connected to solid suspension arms and spindles. Ball joints have little to no clearance to hold suspension components in-line while steering or traveling over rough roads. If the ball joints become worn they will allow suspension components to move out of line causing the car the wonder from one side to the other. When checking the suspension components lift the car slightly but leave the wheels on the ground, this will take pressure off of the ball joints to allow proper inspection. (Heavy pressure on ball joints will make it difficult to test for play in the ball joint). Use a large pry bar and insert between the ball joint components rock back and forth while checking for excessive movement in the ball joint. Little to no play should be observed. If excessive play is observed the ball joint has worn and needs to be replaced.
• Check for Tire Tread Separation - The tires on your car are designed with many separate layers that can become dislodged internally. The tire will act one way when the car is driven normally, a shift can occur within the tire when the [COLOR=green ! important][COLOR=green ! important]brakes[/COLOR][/COLOR] are applied causing the car to pull one way or the other.
• Check for Brake Hose Operation Blockage - Your car has flexible brake hoses that are reinforced rubber hydraulic pressure hoses. These hoses are needed to compensate the vehicles suspension. Solid metal brake lines will not bend with the suspension travel. (This travel will cause a solid metal brake line to fail) These brake hoses are capable of holding thousands of pounds of brake fluid pressure without failing. Because these hoses are made of rubber they can fail internally allowing a small part of the inner hose liner to become dislodged and act like a one way check valve that will either hold full brake pressure from getting a particular wheel or not allowing the brake pressure to bleed off. This condition with cause the brake to not work as hard as the other wheels or cause the wheel to drag and not fully release. Either of these conditions will cause a brake pull condition. If you suspect this problem use a pocket IR thermometer laser temperature reader. Drive the car for a short distance with repeated braking then park the car and use the pocket IR thermometer to test each wheel. You must test each wheel in the exact same place (I like to use one lug nut on each wheel). You are monitoring temperature differences from side to side, not from front to rear. Front to rear temperature differences are normal, side to side is not. (both front or both rear wheels) If a measurable amount of temperature differences exists replace both brake hoses involved. (Note: most brake pull problems of this nature are front brake related). Example: if both front wheels are tested and the right temperature reading is 190 degrees and the left side is 80 degrees, there is a problem.

Hope this may be of some use.