ONE. I would just about bet on the tire issue. Try switching the fronts
from side to side and see if it pulls the other way, (why would you pay
someone else to do this most basic of car maintenance/repair operations.
Even Detroit assumes that every owner can change a tire, that's why they put
a jack in the trunk)
TWO. LSD would not cause a car to pull, unless the drive axle tires are
different diameters
THREE. a stuck caliper would not necessarily show up when braking (after
all, it is already rubbing on the disk, applying the brakes just makes it
rub a bit harder) ;-)
FOUR. Misalignment would not change the way it pulls from cold to warm. If
it was only misalignment, it would pull the same, warm or cold.
FIVE. A bad tire will generally not show a visual clue that something is
wrong, unless a broken belt shows up as a subtle "bump" in the tread surface
when spun on the axle.
HTH
Mike A.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael R. Clements" <mrclem@telocity.com>
To: "Autocross" <ba-autox@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, April 15, 2002 3:54 PM
Subject: RE: mystery: car pulls to the left ?!
> So far, some ideas but nothing seems to fit exactly.
>
> Tire problem: tire is somehow damaged and when it heats up it reduces
> the problem.
> -- possible, but all tires look OK on visual inspection with equal
> pressures and no leaks.
>
> Brake problem: caliper is rubbing.
> -- possible, but brakes work fine and applying the brakes does not
> affect the problem.
>
> Differential problem: LSD has a problem (is a Ford 8.8" clutch based
> LSD)
> -- possible, but diff feels fine, doesn't make noise or vibrate, and
> accelerating or decelerating does not affect the problem.
>
> Thanks for the ideas. I agree that a bad tire seems most likely but I
> can't find anything obviously wrong with any of the tires. It's a
> mystery, nothing seems to explain it. I hope the problem will disappear
> when I replace the tires, or that Custom Alignment will find something
> wrong when they look at it on Friday. . .
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net
> > [mailto:owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Michael
> > R. Clements
> > Sent: Monday, April 15, 2002 12:24
> > To: Autocross
> > Subject: mystery: car pulls to the left ?!
> >
> >
> > Hi all, seeking alignment advice.
> >
> > Car pulls to the left when driving. Has never done this
> > before, was fine in the morning, parked for about 3 hours,
> > was doing it when I started it up and drove away. Was not hit
> > by anything, nor was it tampered with.
> >
> > The pull happens only when cold. After about 5 miles of
> > driving, the left pull is greatly reduced as to be barely
> > detectable -- but still there.
> >
> > Tires are OK and pressures even all the way around -- no
> > flats or slow leaks.
> >
> > Nothing obviously loose or awry in alignment, but who knows
> > for sure ?? If it were alignment, why would it go away after
> > a few miles?
> >
> > No vibrations or shakes; car is smooth at all speeds.
> >
> > Maybe power steering pump? But fluid levels are OK, no leaks,
> > and steering seems to be working perfectly well.
> >
> > Have an appt. with Custom Alignment on Friday to get the
> > street tires put back on and to check out the alignment.
> >
> > Any ideas?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Michael R. Clements
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