Pulling Under Torque

[PhilH]

My car is pulling to the right. I've had the tracking done twice (they screwed it the first time and put it back to how it was the second time - £32 well spent! ). I've now noticed that if I put the car in neutral, the steering wheel visibly centres itself and the pull to the right stops. This started after I replaced the intermediate drive-shaft. 

 

Can anyone suggest (I'm not replacing the drive shaft again ! :) ) what might be causing it and how I can troubleshoot? 

[PhilH]

Just thinking about it.. at the same time as doing the dirve shaft, I tightened up the lower wishbone bolt as I'd notice a bit of a knocking... could it be a worn bush causing it perhaps?

[seatkid]

Yes, sounds like a suspension issue.

[PhilH]

Ok I'll getu nder and have a look. Would it still be suspension even if the wheel goes back to centre (stops pulling right) when knocked out gear? 

[seatkid]

 Would it still be suspension even if the wheel goes back to centre (stops pulling right) when knocked out gear? 

 

Difficult to be certain, but I just cannot see anything in the drivetrain cause this. Unless there is a "braking effort" on one side the torque to both front wheels must be equal.

 

So I reckon it must be suspension - as it only happens under power it ought to be the front suspension (slight possibilty of one side at right moving  causing it to "crab"). I would say check the front control arms and the big bushes in them.

[chrispb123456]

a worn tyre worn on one side can cause the car to steer in that direction but that usually happens all the time not just when pulling.

 

A worn or loose suspension joint or bush or mounting would seem most likely.

[bigdave982]

Looking at your first post id be getting them to track the car with the steering wheel centred

[bigdave982]

Looking at your first post id be getting them to track the car with the steering wheel centred

[PhilH]

Well it's been in 5! times now and I have a full refund on the original £32 quid the charged me for the tracking. The last time was today and haven't been able to give it a good run to see if it's finally been tracked straight. They did say that they've checked over all the suspension and they don't know why it's pulling to the right.

 

I think I'm now back to the intermediate driveshaft being the cause :( I'm regretting not getting the polish part and going for an eBay part now.

[Scorpiorefugee]

BigDave has made a valid point. My experience in 200K+ in MKII and MKII is that the best policy is to ignore offers to do tracking and just make sure that everything else is OK. I must have done well over a million miles in a wide range of cars (Possibly 2) without having the tracking adjusted on any car because  they have only ever made things worse. If I remember correctly, I eventually did it myself using the method suggested by bigdave and balancing the length of the track rod ends but that was getting on for 30 years ago. :rolleyes:  :rolleyes:  

I think you should go back to the beginning. Did you replace the driveshaft before or after the problem and why did you get it tracked in the first place? Seatkid's point about it being a suspension problem is also a good one but, depending on when the problem started, it may be a good idea to get the work you did on the drive shaft checked because all of the bits which have to be disconnected to do the driveshaft may not have gone back right. Which side was it by the way?

[Bigjeeze]

I don't see how it could be the intermediate drive shaft. As has been said check the bushings and anti roll bar bushes. As a last resort check that the track control arm isn't or hasn't been damaged.  Also maybe the bottom swivel joint is naff.