Diagnosis and Correction of Vehicle Pull
Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 6:21 pm
DESCRIPTION:
Several factors may cause vehicle pull, both vehicle related and external conditions. The purpose of this info is to assist in identifying the vehicle related conditions that cause pull and how to correct those conditions.
Vehicle pull is the tendency of the vehicle to drift right or left while driving in a straight ahead direction on a straight road at a constant speed with no pressure on the steeringwheel. This pull or drift may be gradual and can always be compensated for by inputs
through the steering wheel. One or more of the following conditions may cause the vehicle to pull.
CAUSES OF VEHICLE PULL:
External conditions that may cause the vehicle to pull:
• Cambered road surfaces - Most highways are built with cambered or "crowned" surfaces to drain rain water. Sometimes the road camber is visually noticeable. Other times, it is not. The vehicle may tend to pull to the left or right, depending
on the camber of the road surface.
• Cross-winds - A sometimes overlooked, yet possible cause of steering drift is cross-winds. Side winds at higher vehicle speeds may cause vehicle pull. Please do not rule out cross-winds when diagnosing a vehicle pull.
Vehicle pull caused by these two conditions is not related to vehicle adjustments and no repair should be made.
Several factors may cause vehicle pull, both vehicle related and external conditions. The purpose of this info is to assist in identifying the vehicle related conditions that cause pull and how to correct those conditions.
Vehicle pull is the tendency of the vehicle to drift right or left while driving in a straight ahead direction on a straight road at a constant speed with no pressure on the steeringwheel. This pull or drift may be gradual and can always be compensated for by inputs
through the steering wheel. One or more of the following conditions may cause the vehicle to pull.
CAUSES OF VEHICLE PULL:
External conditions that may cause the vehicle to pull:
• Cambered road surfaces - Most highways are built with cambered or "crowned" surfaces to drain rain water. Sometimes the road camber is visually noticeable. Other times, it is not. The vehicle may tend to pull to the left or right, depending
on the camber of the road surface.
• Cross-winds - A sometimes overlooked, yet possible cause of steering drift is cross-winds. Side winds at higher vehicle speeds may cause vehicle pull. Please do not rule out cross-winds when diagnosing a vehicle pull.
Vehicle pull caused by these two conditions is not related to vehicle adjustments and no repair should be made.