Why Does the Car Keep Drifting While Driving?
3 Answers
Drifting direction while driving often occurs because the method of maintaining straight-line driving is not fully mastered. To keep the car moving straight, avoid gripping the steering wheel too rigidly or applying excessive force. Instead, hold the steering wheel with both hands level and look straight ahead. Drifting while driving is an extremely common issue, primarily due to insufficient driving experience and inadequate control of the vehicle. Below are relevant details: 1. Drifting while driving is a relatively dangerous situation. A momentary lapse in attention could lead to scraping against other vehicles or pedestrians, causing unnecessary trouble. 2. To keep the car centered in the lane, at least the following aspects must be addressed: adjust to the correct sitting posture, ensure your wrists rest comfortably on the top of the steering wheel, and make sure your right foot still has a slight bend when fully pressing the brake. 3. While driving, try to look as far ahead as possible instead of just focusing on the tail of the car in front. 3. While driving, when you look at the road, you should feel like you're sitting in the middle of the road, which means the car is running in the center of the lane. 4. When there are arrows on the road, imagine yourself sitting on the arrow, and the car will naturally stay centered in the lane.
I've been driving for so many years and have encountered the issue of the car pulling to one side several times. I remember when I was young, driving my dad's old car, it always pulled to the left after getting on the road. After checking, I found that the tire pressure was uneven, with the left front tire much lower than the right front tire. In such cases, the wheels bear unbalanced force, causing the steering to pull. It's not just a tire pressure issue; improper wheel alignment is also a common cause. For example, incorrect toe-in or camber angles can make the car drift out of the lane without you noticing. I've also experienced, after a long trip, a brake caliper getting stuck, causing one wheel to drag and the steering to pull. If these issues aren't fixed promptly, not only will the tires wear out severely, but it's also easy to cause an accident. I recommend using a simple tire pressure gauge to check the tires once a month and ensuring all four tires have the same pressure before a long trip. If you feel like you have to constantly apply force to the steering wheel to keep the car straight while driving, quickly find a repair shop to check the alignment and brake system.
After working in a repair shop for a long time, I often encounter car owners complaining about their vehicles pulling to one side. The most common issue is wheel alignment problems. If the four-wheel alignment parameters are inaccurate, or the toe-in or camber angle is off, the steering system won't behave properly. Other reasons include uneven tire wear, such as when the tread on the left side is worn down while the right side is still new, causing the car to naturally pull to the left. Or aging suspension components, like a broken shock absorber, can affect the vehicle's balance. The braking system is also crucial—a stuck brake caliper can drag a wheel. During diagnosis, first use a jack to lift the car and check for uneven tire wear, then manually shake the suspension to see if there's any looseness. Don't underestimate these issues; prolonged neglect can halve tire life and pose a major safety hazard. It's recommended to perform a four-wheel alignment check every 20,000 kilometers and pay attention to the steering wheel's feel during daily driving. Addressing abnormalities early saves money and ensures peace of mind.
