Gareth
Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26779
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My car has always had a very slight tendency to wander left if you let go of the wheel, and it has never really concerened me because the camber of the road in the UK is to the left, as we drive on the left.
I have two sets of wheels, 19" best set shod with Michelin Synchrones, and a 17" rough set shod with Wranglers.
A month ago I was running on the 17's and the wander left did not bother me. Then I re-fitted the 19's and the pull left became noticable and made my arm ache on a long run! Checked pressures and all was spot on.
Last weekend I went laning in the Peaks, so re-fitted the 17's, no pull left.
Yesterday I re-fitted the 19's, but swapped front left for right, and rear left for right. Now the car tracks straight, but the steering wheel is canted to left slightly when driving straight! to me this could be the car wandering right, but the camber of the road cancelling it out.
All pressures are spot on, and checked cold with a digital meter. What else can affect the rolling resistance of a tyre?, and does swapping left to right cause other problems with wear patterns etc.
Any advice welcome, as I am confused.
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 24th Sep 2006 7:25 am |
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AndrewS
Tarquin of the Desert
Member Since: 06 May 2005
Location: Y...... because I can
Posts: 10442
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All I can think is to check the wear on the tread. Is it the same over the tread area on all thy tyres? Were you using the same bit of road when you spotted the difference? In the Beginning there was nothing, which exploded.
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| 24th Sep 2006 7:49 am |
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bluebarchetta
Member Since: 25 Oct 2005
Location: Aylesbury
Posts: 524
 
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I assume that Michelin Synchrones are not directional (?)
I am not sure if it was on the D3 but somewhere I recall reading that changing the direction of rotation was not recommended - even non directional ones - this may alters the rolling resistance?
Mine does pull slightly to the left too
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| 24th Sep 2006 8:17 am |
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simon
Member Since: 11 Jan 2005
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 18296
 
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The larger wheels will tramline more than the 17's and this issue has cropped up with more than a few people now... did not DD mention this too ? His is an HSE so would have the 19's fitted.
My 18's will go slightly left but its very road surface dependant. A smooth wide road is fine but most narrower and slightly cambered roads will produce a slight left pull.
Maybe its natural to some extent... but not to the extent of causing arm aches.
-s
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| 24th Sep 2006 9:35 am |
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Gareth
Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26779
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Well, the arm ache could be down to my extremely bad habit of resting my left arm on the fold down armrest, and holding the wheel with my left hand, but the pull is most noticable when accelerating. The tyres seem to be evenly worn. I notice it most on dual cariageways and motorways.
I reckon it could be something as simple as rotation direction. I think I will now swap front right with left rear and compare again.
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| 24th Sep 2006 9:52 am |
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DG
Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50979
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After my double puncture incident a few months back...my wheels were changed around and it never really felt right after. Since putting on the 19's though I haven't had any problems.
One thing that I found with 18's scorpions is that the steering was prone to pull to camber. One road would be fine and straight line, another would pull ...I couldn't find anything to put it down to other than camber. 21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021
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| 24th Sep 2006 10:10 am |
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Slimer
Site Moderator
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Last Exit to Nowhere
Posts: 16295
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I get the same issue Gareth, drives straight but steering wheel sits slightly to the left and it does vary with what tyres/rims I'm running, I've always put it down to uneven wear as I gave up keeping track of what wheel came from where a while back and just stick them on and adjust the pressures appropriately nowadays. If I get a chance I'll swap left for right wheels and see what difference that makes The End
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| 24th Sep 2006 11:33 am |
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Gareth
Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26779
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Great, makes me feel better! While we are talking wheels, Whats the correct Torque for the wheel nuts??
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| 24th Sep 2006 12:04 pm |
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AndrewS
Tarquin of the Desert
Member Since: 06 May 2005
Location: Y...... because I can
Posts: 10442
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Gareth if you notice it more under acceleration that would suggest worn bushes in the suspension. Maybe in the wishbones or whatever they are called these days. In the Beginning there was nothing, which exploded.
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| 24th Sep 2006 12:09 pm |
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Gareth
Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26779
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That possible, 60k service will be soon, and will mention it.
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| 24th Sep 2006 12:12 pm |
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dylansdad
Member Since: 04 Apr 2006
Location: Solihull
Posts: 745
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yes it was me! (and others) .... mine is noticable on motorway/dual carriageway. (not accelerating hard)
Dealers response was ...its the road camber pulling you left. I explained happens in right lane of dual carriage ways to which he mumbled will have to look at it. of course they decided no fault found after test drive. 
Mine also appeared more noticably after they fitted new tyres. along with vibration in steering ... which we now know is not a wheel balancing issue. 2004 TDV6 HSE Auto Zambezi Silver
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| 24th Sep 2006 12:32 pm |
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10forcash
Member Since: 09 Jun 2005
Location: Ubique
Posts: 16534
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I can be wheel balancing, there's a TSB (GTR is down at the mo) that mentions dynamic balancing, or something to that effect, to cure vibration /steering shimmy.... quite an old one ISTR
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| 24th Sep 2006 12:38 pm |
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Airboss
Member Since: 07 Sep 2006
Location: Washington
Posts: 16
 
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I may be able to help with this one. As we all know, radial tires (okay, okay...tyres) have steel belts running through them for strength. Problem is, these belts move within the tyre over time and get 'trained' to one side of the vehicle. Remember back in the bias-ply days when it was recommended to rotate them in a criss-cross pattern. Now, with non-directional radials, we are told to rotate them front-to-back on the same side of the car.
Now, your problem is obivously with the alignment of the vehicle. Whether or not you get this fixed, your tyres are now 'trained' to that alignment problem. What I'm saying is that it doesn't matter if you have an alignment done - the car will still pull left due to the improper wear of the tyres. Swapping the tyres to the right side of the vehicle (with no apparent pull) seems to confirm this.
This theory was explained to me by an expert in the field after I had a similar problem with one of my cars. I hope this helps!
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| 24th Sep 2006 3:52 pm |
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Gareth
Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26779
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Sounds plausible Airboss, thanks for the info. I wonder if tyre can re-learn its new position?
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| 24th Sep 2006 3:57 pm |
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Slimer
Site Moderator
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Last Exit to Nowhere
Posts: 16295
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Torque is 140Nm The End
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| 24th Sep 2006 4:46 pm |
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