TakmaN Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 So I'm pretty puzzled as I got new wheels and tires. Had the tires properly mounted and balanced and even got 2 alignments (the second from a reputable shop with some crazy looking Hunter alignment machine). My car pulled to the right with my old wheels and tires and still pulls about the same to the right with my new wheels, tires, and alignment. It almost seems like the steering wheel is just off-center since when it's straight, my car goes right. Any ideas for things to check before I go back to the alignment shop? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
covertrussian Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 Verified tire pressure to be the same between two sides right? If it's not that, check your swaybar endlinks. Are your lower control arm rearward bushings shot? http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t188/covertrussian/Cars/05%20LGT/Suspension/Front%20LCA/Rear%20Bushing/CIMG0524.jpg~original Last thing is the shock, it could be shot and underdampaning. 05 LGT 16G 14psi 290whp/30mpg (SOLD) 12 OBP Stock 130whp/27mpg@87 Oct 00 G20t GT28r 10psi 250whp/36mpg 22 Ascent STOCK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TakmaN Posted January 5, 2015 Author Share Posted January 5, 2015 Tire pressure is even. I'll take a look at the swaybar end-links and also the rear control arm bushings. Hope it's not my shocks since I have KW V2's but it might be nearing time for a rebuild. I also find it weird that when I make a left turn/lane change, my steering wheel snaps back to 12 o'clock pretty sharply. When I make a right turn/lane change, my steering wheel turns back much slower and seemingly more controlled (I prefer this feel over the quick snap-back from a left turn). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
covertrussian Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 Make sure to check the front lower control arm rearward bushing, not rear control arm bushing . Might be your steering rack, was the car ever in a wreck? 05 LGT 16G 14psi 290whp/30mpg (SOLD) 12 OBP Stock 130whp/27mpg@87 Oct 00 G20t GT28r 10psi 250whp/36mpg 22 Ascent STOCK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TakmaN Posted January 5, 2015 Author Share Posted January 5, 2015 Make sure to check the front lower control arm rearward bushing, not rear control arm bushing . Might be your steering rack, was the car ever in a wreck? Got it, thanks! I'm not too knowledgeable on suspension parts as I've never really messed with them before other than installing/removing coilovers. I'll try to see if I can locate the rearward bushing. What are signs that it is bad? I bought the car from the original owner and it does have quite a few miles on it at ~143,000. I was told it was never in any major accident, only a minor hit with damage to the front bumper. It was inspected by a Subaru dealership before I purchased it with no such issues noted (then again, not sure how much you can really trust them). I'll be having my brakes worked on soon and will most likely ask them to take a look at my suspension parts/shocks and also check the steering rack. I'm guessing there must be some issue with the steering rack since it seems like the car wants to pull right because the steering wheel wants to turn right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quick4dr Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 Food for thought: Are your KWv2s evenly adjusted for height and dampening, any varrience could be your issue. Did you do upgraded ball joints and rods to account for being lower? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TakmaN Posted January 5, 2015 Author Share Posted January 5, 2015 Food for thought: Are your KWv2s evenly adjusted for height and dampening, any varrience could be your issue. Did you do upgraded ball joints and rods to account for being lower? I adjusted them as evenly as I could height-wise and also adjusted the rears and fronts to the same clicks dampening wise (4 from soft in the front and 3 from soft in the rear). I did not upgrade any ball joints or tie rods. I'd hate to have to spend $$$ to replace the ball joints, tie rods, LCA bushings, and/or wheel bearings if none of them are the culprit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
covertrussian Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Look for tears in the bushing, at 140k miles they probably is already toast. While you are in there take a look at the lower ball joint and the tie rod while you are in there . 05 LGT 16G 14psi 290whp/30mpg (SOLD) 12 OBP Stock 130whp/27mpg@87 Oct 00 G20t GT28r 10psi 250whp/36mpg 22 Ascent STOCK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris GTO TT Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 also food for thought.... most roads have a crown to them from left to right even a car with perfect alignment will still typically pull slightly to the right on those roads. 2003 Baja 5MT 2016 Outback 2.5i Premium w/Eyesight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TakmaN Posted January 6, 2015 Author Share Posted January 6, 2015 also food for thought.... most roads have a crown to them from left to right even a car with perfect alignment will still typically pull slightly to the right on those roads. Yup I factored that in. Drove my Infinity and my Legacy on the same roads and the Legacy clearly has a pretty strong pull to the right. Something is amiss with the suspension/steering. I don't think any bushings or bearings have been replaced and the car has seen a lot of highway miles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starlite Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 (edited) Hello im from Sweden with a Legacy 3.0 07 and having the same problem as you have. See this is a old thread and as usual no conclution what the problem was. So are you still here and can tell what problem you had? I have new tyres,rims , rotors , calipers , brakecylinders , wheelbearings struts springs ...well all those parts and bushings are new in the front. Well not the cv axles. When going straight i must hold the steeringwheel about 5° left, if i let it go my legacy will go right. If i drive on the opposit side of road (left) my car going straight if let sterringwheel go. I have noticed my legacy is very sensetive of how much the road lean. If driving slow and turn left and let go it will center as normal. If driving and turn right it will center slow when letting it go. Edited February 18, 2020 by Starlite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Capacity Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 Have you rotated the tires and tried again to see how it steers ? That's the easy thing to do. 305,600miles 5/2012 ej257 short block, 8/2011 installed VF52 turbo, @20.8psi, 280whp, 300ftlbs. (SOLD). CHECK your oil, these cars use it. Engine Build - Click Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starlite Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 Have you rotated the tires and tried again to see how it steers ? That's the easy thing to do. Yes i have but still the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Capacity Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 Oh dear... Is the shop that did the alignment helping you out with finding what's wrong ? 305,600miles 5/2012 ej257 short block, 8/2011 installed VF52 turbo, @20.8psi, 280whp, 300ftlbs. (SOLD). CHECK your oil, these cars use it. Engine Build - Click Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
08SpecB_DE Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 Do you have the alignment printout? It sounds like they messed up the alignment. My guess would be the right side has less negative camber which essentially causes the car to pull in that direction. They may have not aligned the steering wheel prior to adjusting the toe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Capacity Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 ^ x2 305,600miles 5/2012 ej257 short block, 8/2011 installed VF52 turbo, @20.8psi, 280whp, 300ftlbs. (SOLD). CHECK your oil, these cars use it. Engine Build - Click Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starlite Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 This is not the latest but same except for the red SAI is corect now after struts replacement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
08SpecB_DE Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 (edited) The rear camber is messed up. It looks like the spec changed over .5° which is quite drastic. I dont think the .2° difference in the front camber would cause the type of pull you're experiencing but it would be nice to at least see them the same on both sides. It's strange that the specs can be that out of whack and the thrustvinkel (stealing this word!) is still 0. Edited February 20, 2020 by 08SpecB_DE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrlisterfiendz Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 (edited) Have you figured it out? I'm having pretty much the exact same issue. Just finished getting an alignment, and there's still some pull. It was a LOT worse a couple days ago when I had new wheel bearings put in. Now after the alignment it's back to about the same pull as before the bearings were replaced Edited August 19, 2020 by Mrlisterfiendz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Capacity Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 It is normal for these cars to have a slight pull to the right side on most roads because of the crown in the pavement, which helps the rain water flow to the side. On a three lane highway my cars will sometimes pull to the left on the left lane. It is had to find a truly flat road. 305,600miles 5/2012 ej257 short block, 8/2011 installed VF52 turbo, @20.8psi, 280whp, 300ftlbs. (SOLD). CHECK your oil, these cars use it. Engine Build - Click Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrlisterfiendz Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Not this much pull tho Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awfulwaffle Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Here's one potential that I didn't see mentioned. I've had a bearing seize in the top hat, such that it would no loner rotate when the steering wheel was turned. Instead, the spring wound up in the direction where the wheel was turning, and would occasionally pop over to a new position in the spring seat as it unwound. What ended up happening, though, is I would notice random pull in one direction or the other depending on which way I had last turned the wheel, because the spring would wind up, pop over to a new position, and then wind up in the opposite direction when I straightened the wheel out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
08SpecB_DE Posted August 22, 2020 Share Posted August 22, 2020 Post the alignment sheet if you have one. How do your tires look? Try swapping the 2 front tires and see if the pull changes directions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starlite Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 I have changed everything in the front. When i changed tyres from winter dubbed to summer the right pull went away. So it must be the tyres. Now i only have this vibrations when tyres is cold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now