Why Does the Car Pull to One Side While Driving?
2 Answers
Driving direction deviation is caused by: 1. Excessive wear on one side of the tires; 2. Damage to the ball joint shock absorber; 3. Inconsistent tire pressure on both sides of the vehicle; 4. Deformation or poor performance of related components in the vehicle's suspension system. The effects of driving direction deviation include: at best, causing tire wear and rendering tires unusable, and at worst, leading to tire blowouts and dangerous situations of vehicle loss of control. Driving direction deviation refers to the phenomenon where the car, while moving straight on a flat road, naturally veers to one side, resulting in the centerline of the front and rear axles not aligning with the centerline of the driving trajectory.
A few days ago, I encountered an issue where the steering wheel kept pulling to the right. Later, the mechanic helped me identify the cause: uneven tire pressure is the most common reason for pulling, as my left front tire was underinflated, causing uneven friction on both sides. Incorrect wheel alignment can also lead to this—like when I replaced the shocks but didn’t get an alignment, causing the car to drift. Loose ball joints in the suspension system or deformed lower control arms are another hidden danger, making the front end feel floaty during turns. Tire issues are often overlooked, such as tread depth differences exceeding 2mm or mismatched tire brands on the left and right wheels. I remember one time when braking downhill, the right wheel overheated due to brake drag, causing a persistent pull—such braking system faults can be quite dangerous. Before every long trip, I make it a habit to check the tire pressure on all four wheels, as prevention is key.
