Car barely pulling to the right, alignment done, NOW WHAT?

[harrymaneuvers]

My car had started pulling to the right over the last 25k miles or so.

About a month ago I got 4 new tires (Faulken) and had a "4 wheel" alignment. In the process of the alignment, the shop adjusted the front to within specs and showed me how their alignment machine said that the rear end wasnt adjustable. The tech then said that I could source some bolts (camber bolts or strut bolts I think) and swap them out to make the rear adjustable.

The issue is that after 4 brand new tires (balanced properly) and an alignment, my car still pulls ever so slightly to the right. It doesnt seem to do it as much on acceleration, but coasting at about 45 mph, i have to have constant pressure on the wheel keeping it tilted just barely counterclockwise from center. If I let go, the car starts creep over to the right .

I am sure nearly all of the suspension parts are factory original and my car just rolled 225k miles.


A list of most likely things that could be causing this would be greatly appreciated...

[Huffer]

Stock alignments do that. Its so if the driver falls asleep the car runs off to the shoulder instead of into oncoming traffic.

Camber bolts eg Eibach will allow about a 1deg change for your rear struts.

[harrymaneuvers]

So what can I do so that when I let go of my wheel... my car goes straight... even at 70 mph?

And what good does adjusting the rear do?

[Grafton]

So what can I do so that when I let go of my wheel... my car goes straight... even at 70 mph?

And what good does adjusting the rear do?

ask for a custom alignment, so you can get the spec you want.

also check to see if a tire is low on air

[Huffer]

So what can I do so that when I let go of my wheel... my car goes straight... even at 70 mph?

And what good does adjusting the rear do?

Subaru doesn't allow for rear camber adjustment from factory. Using camber bolts will allow you dial out extreme negative camber in the rear if you don't want it.

I don't think you want your car to go straight even at 70mph without some steering input...but a custom alignment will help.
Don't forget also, roads are not flat - they camber from the middle (on a 2 lane dual direction road) down to the shoulder to help water drain off the road. So no matter what, you will drift toward the shoulder unless your alignment is extremely specific - which is not worth it if you drive long distances.

[harrymaneuvers]

And I do drive long distances... That is why I am worried about uneven tire wear... I am always having to tilt my wheel to the left just to maintain a straight line...


At 70 mph... if I let go of the wheel... I will be crossing the into the slow lane (or onto the shoulder) within about 3 seconds... and that is on the flattest road I can find.

[Huffer]

3 seconds is a long time - in 3 seconds at 70mph you've covered quite a bit of ground. It's not like you're fighting the pavement the whole time.

You won't have uneven tire wear if you rotate your tires every 8000miles. (every other oil change).

If your alignment is correct and neutral then your car is simply following the curvature of the road. You can't predict that or even be sure if it's flat or not.

Not even runways are totally flat, how do they get the water to drain off in a rainstorm?

[Lojasmo]

Stuck caliper?

[harrymaneuvers]

Not likely... After my 600 mile trip on Friday, I am sure I would have smelled something or seen something after stopping half way through.

[silver_s13]

You also need to take into account that the road you are driving on isnt level. If you were in the other lane it would likely do the same thing in the opposite direction. Roads are not flat by design, that why water doesnt pool on the highway. Take a second and think about it.

[harrymaneuvers]

I can tell you that it isnt the road. I have drivin the exact same stretch of hiway in my girlfriends car (2005 chevy aveo) and her car doesnt do it at all.


I can also drive on a divided highway where the fast lane would be angled into the center median and the slow lane is sloped towards the right shoulder... and my car does still pulls to the right even when the road is sloped to the left.


I understand what you guys are saying about the road being slopped but even on surface streets in the center of town... barely angled left or right and my car still pulls to the right.

[Huffer]

I can tell you that it isnt the road. I have drivin the exact same stretch of hiway in my girlfriends car (2005 chevy aveo) and her car doesnt do it at all.

I can also drive on a divided highway where the fast lane would be angled into the center median and the slow lane is sloped towards the right shoulder... and my car does still pulls to the right even when the road is sloped to the left.

I understand what you guys are saying about the road being slopped but even on surface streets in the center of town... barely angled left or right and my car still pulls to the right.

Whoah, slow down cowboy. Just because you drive the same road in a different car doesn't mean it's not the road. You can't do a fair test like that.

What you have to do, is get your alignment nailed down with the exact specs. And then make a slight adjustment to the front wheel toe, and see if it still does it. Your tire pressure plays a massive part in this too.

I can drive the same road in my wife's Accord, and it feels completely different in her car vs. mine. Both have 16" wheels, but the alignments are different because mine is grip and her's is orientated toward neutral/novice.

Get the alignment specs up here so we can have a good look.

[harrymaneuvers]

Will do.

I have them at home.