What Causes a Car to Pull to One Side?
2 Answers
The reasons for a car pulling to one side: 1. Poor brake release or incomplete separation of a wheel's brake, which is equivalent to applying partial braking to one side continuously; 2. Unequal tire pressure on both sides can cause the tires to become different in size, inevitably leading to pulling; 3. Deformation of shock absorber springs, with inconsistent damping on both sides, can be checked by pressing or removing and comparing to determine the condition of the shock absorber springs; 4. Different tread patterns on the two sides or uneven tread depth; 5. Excessive wear of vehicle chassis components, leading to abnormal gaps in parts such as tie rod ball joints, control arm bushings, and stabilizer bar bushings, which are common areas with excessive gaps. The vehicle should be lifted for a thorough inspection.
Last time my car kept pulling to the right, and after some troubleshooting, I found out it was a tire issue. A big difference in tire pressure between the two sides can make the steering wheel fight you, especially noticeable at high speeds. After checking the tire pressure and it still pulled, the mechanic said the wheel alignment was off, probably from hitting the curb last time. The scariest part is when suspension components fail, like cracked lower arm bushings or deformed tie rods—this kind of pulling is often accompanied by clunking noises. Also, if the steering gear is leaking fluid and the power assist is unstable, the car will swerve unpredictably. Remember to check the brake calipers when doing a wheel alignment; if one side is stuck, releasing the throttle will cause a sudden pull to one side.