Got 4 new tyres and wheel alignment done; car now pulls left

[zmk]

Hi all

I just got 4 new tyres on my MY07 Lib last week (Bridgestone RE002's 215/45/17) along with wheel alignment. After driving to work and back (local roads) I never got a chance to go onto a freeway/highway etc (I am in Perth).

On Saturday I was driving on beeliar drive and when I let go of the steering wheel for a few seconds I noticed the car veers to the left quite badly. Same thing happened on Kwinana freeway and Roe highway, if I let go of the steering wheel for a few seconds I change lanes with the car veering off.

I'm obviously not going to drive around town without holding onto the steering wheel, so thats not the problem, I am more concerned about the fact that I could be chewing up my brand new tyres if they're misaligned. I dropped of my car at Bridgestone again and they've said that it could be 'radial drag/radial pull' on the tyres, and since they're asymmetrical they will just swap the two front tyres around and see how it goes.

Am I being taken for a ride by Bridgestone? or could that be the actual problem. Even though the tyres are asymmetrical surely they would still have a recommended 'this side goes outside' label? - see thread: http://www.bridgestone.com.au/lib/image ... dRE002.jpg

Will have a chat to them when I go back to pick up my car this arvo, but figured I'd get some advice for now.

tl;dr: got new tyres/alignment and car starts veering left - bridgestone claims its 'radial pull' and not sure if they're bullshitting

cheers

[jay.ritchie]

I once got a wheel alignment and when i got back into the car, the steering wheel was a noticeable 10 or so degrees off to the left.
There might be a chance that your alignment was inaccurate.

[Surge]

I had a bad alignment and it ended up ruining 2 good tyres on the front. Funny enough it was also pulling to the left. I was told it was normal. Then when I went back with the ruined tyres I was told that they were wrong and they offered a free wheel alignment but I was out 2 tires.

Anyway I would say trust yourself. It you believe it's not aligned take it somewhere else to be aligned.

[JKeep2.5i]

I thought that was always a safety feature, so when you fall asleep you end up in front of a stationary tree not another doing 100 clicks...

[zch91]

The car will naturally pull to the left a little bit.. Due to the camber in the road and other things. But it sounds like the OP is experiencing more than normal left pull..

[gloryboy]

I am having the exact same problem with my car at the moment.

Had the car aligned by pedders and straight away noticed it pulls to the left.

I took it back 3 days later where he reviewed the alignment. He said the toe and camber were all within acceptable ranges and left it as was.

I'm not happy because it feels like I'm holding it straight when driving straight. I'm probably being pedantic.

[alessandro132]

I am having the exact same problem with my car at the moment.

Had the car aligned by pedders and straight away noticed it pulls to the left.

I took it back 3 days later where he reviewed the alignment. He said the toe and camber were all within acceptable ranges and left it as was.

I'm not happy because it feels like I'm holding it straight when driving straight. I'm probably being pedantic.

The last two wheel alignments I had done have been bang on and car does not pull at all. I think it's time to find a new wheel alignment place

[zch91]

Do they give you a print out ?

[gloryboy]

I am having the exact same problem with my car at the moment.

Had the car aligned by pedders and straight away noticed it pulls to the left.

I took it back 3 days later where he reviewed the alignment. He said the toe and camber were all within acceptable ranges and left it as was.

I'm not happy because it feels like I'm holding it straight when driving straight. I'm probably being pedantic.

The last two wheel alignments I had done have been bang on and car does not pull at all. I think it's time to find a new wheel alignment place

It really does annoy me. Cost $110 and I really don't think anything is better in terms of drivability.

You've convinced me to call them again tomorrow haha.

[gloryboy]

Do they give you a print out ?

I do have it but it's at home. I will head home tomorrow morning before the gym and post up some deets. (The numbers mean little to me so advice is gratefully accepted haha).

[blkdog]

+ 1 for roads running left & right, so they don't retain water debris etc. try driving on the highway in the far right lane & see what happens?
Got mine done by Kmart & surprisingly all good! I also watched them do it, 4x KU31s balance and alignment for $1020 they were the cheapest by far! And they loved my Lib including bilsteins & teins... I think they fapped over them. I suggest try and be there when they do it and get involved. (in the alignment that is...)

[gloryboy]

For those playing along at home.... this is the read out from my alignment.

Rear Axle:

Camber
Initial measurement: Left -2.15' Right -2.13' Final measurement: Left -2.06' Right - 2.07'
Individual Toe Initial measurement: Left - +3.5 mm Right + 1.9 mm Final measurement: Left - +2.5 mm Right +1.0 mm
Total Toe Initial measurement: +5.4 mm Final measurement: +3.6 mm

Front axle:

Castor 10 Initial measurement: Left +5.55 Right +6.32 Final measurement: Left - 6.03 Right 6.38
K.P.I 10 -Initial measurement: Left - +16.56 Right +17.40 Final measurement: No data
Camber - Initial measurement: Left - -2.08 Right - 0.42 Final measurement: Left - -1.25 Right -0.44
Individual Toe: Initial measurement: Left -4.5mm Right -4.8mm Final measurement: Left +0.00mm Right -0.1 mm
Total Tow: Initial measurement: -9.2' Final measurement: -0.1mm
Setback: +0.29
Included Angle: Left - +11.49 Right +16.55.

Sorry to hi-jack OP's thread!

[gloryboy]

Bump... Can anyone tell me if those numbers I posted seem right?

[dle]

Bump... Can anyone tell me if those numbers I posted seem right?

For those who may be interested

According to the service manual for the GT-B here are your OE specs:

Front:
Camber –0°15' (Tolerance ±0°45' between RH and LH or less)
Caster 5°55'
Toe-in 0±3mm (Toe Angle - Sum of both wheels: 0°±0°15')
K.P.I 13°45'

Rear:
Camber -0°40' (Tolerance ±0°45' between RH and LH or less)
Toe-in 0±3mm (Toe Angle - Sum of both wheels: 0°±0°15')

[Robbks]

Bump... Can anyone tell me if those numbers I posted seem right?

your alignment looks terrible
Rear Individual Toe Final measurement: Left - +2.5 mm Right +1.0 mm
that's pushing the rear of the car to the right which will make the front of the car turn left

Front Camber Final measurement: Left - -1.25 Right -0.44