Why Is My Car Pulling to the Left? Causes and Other FAQs
If your car starts pulling to the left while driving, you might have little to no control over the steering wheel. Don’t panic. Take your vehicle to an auto repair shop to address the problem and determine what’s causing it.
Reasons Why Your Car Pulls to the Left
The most common reason cars pull to the side is misaligned tires. Misalignment occurs when one or two of the wheels aren’t parallel with the rest, causing the vehicle to veer sideways even when the steering wheel is straight.
Other problems that could cause your car to pull to the left include:
Uneven Tire Air Pressure
Uneven air pressure on the tires results in a slight shift in alignment, which can cause pulling.
Uneven Tire Tread
Uneven tire tread refers to when the tires don’t wear out evenly, so one or several tires are smoother than the others. This causes a pulling effect whenever braking.
Tire Conicity
Tire conicity is a manufacturing issue that causes one of its components to misalign, causing the tire tread rubber to harden and come in a cone shape instead of the proper cylinder shape. This pulls the vehicle to the side the defective tire is on.
Bad Wheel Bearing
The wheel bearing is the part of the wheel assembly that connects the wheel and the axle. A faulty one affects steering, which causes the car to veer left or right.
Wheel bearings can become faulty due to poor driving conditions, such as driving through water, navigating bad road conditions, or driving with an overloaded vehicle.
Worn-Out Steering or Suspension
If there are no issues with the tires, worn-out steering or suspension parts might be causing the car to pull to one side.
Brake Issues
Issues in the braking system can result in a car that pulls when braking at high speeds. Here are some of the common ones:
Stuck Calipers
The brake caliper lets braking fluid flow from the master cylinder, enabling the brake pads to push against the rotating brake disc to stop the vehicle. If the calipers get stuck, it could create a pulling effect on one side of the vehicle.
Collapsed Brake Hose
The brake hose delivers the brake fluid to the brake calipers, so a collapsed one can cause leaks that could compromise the braking system. Anything that hinders the natural flow of the fluid can cause the car to pull to one side when braking.
Why Is My Car Pulling When I Accelerate?
Car pulling sideways when accelerating might be due to torque steer. It occurs when the engine torque influences the steering, tugging the vehicle to either side.
The car could also vibrate when accelerating, which feels similar to car pulls. It could be due to a problem with the accelerator and the following issues:
Dirty Fuel Injectors
A dirty fuel injector leads to loss of power when you accelerate, leading to misfires. Misfires send vibrations throughout the car, which could affect steering.
Blocked Catalytic Converter
A blocked catalytic converter can reduce engine performance, increasing the pressure on your engine and causing jerks when accelerating.
Worn-Out Spark Plugs
Worn-out spark plugs won’t ignite the fuel in the piston, which can cause acceleration issues, such as jerking.
Dirty Air Filters
Air filters keep pollutants away from the car engine, so a dirty air filter can cause issues, such as vibration when accelerating.
Diagnosing the Issue
If you’re confident with your car repair know-how, you can try to diagnose the issues yourself. Inspect the tires and steering components. Then, check the tire pressure and wheel alignment for issues. You can also go on test drives to confirm pulling.
Fixing a Car That Pulls to One Side: What to Expect
Whether you’ve determined the cause or not, take your vehicle to an auto repair shop to address it. The fix depends on the cause of the issue. Here are some of the ways mechanics will resolve the issue.
Wheel Alignment
If misaligned tires are the culprit, the mechanic will take measures to align them. They could do everything from ensuring consistent tire pressure to replacing tires with uneven tread.
Part Repairs or Replacements
If the mechanic determines that a faulty part is causing the car to pull to one side, they could either repair or replace it.
Can I Do Alignment Myself?
You can align the car wheels yourself, but it’s recommended to have an expert do it.
Should a Car Pull Slightly to the Left?
It shouldn’t. Cars should drive straight on flat surfaces. If it pulls slightly to the left or right, it might have wheel misalignment or brake issues.
Final Thoughts
Knowing what causes your car to pull to one side will help you keep it running at its best. While the reason varies, the problem is usually caused by the tires or the brake system, so it’s best to have them inspected first.
Regular maintenance can help prevent your car from pulling to one side, letting you drive safely and confidently. Practicing proper driving habits can also help keep maintenance costs to a minimum, as they can prevent various problems.
The post Why Is My Car Pulling to the Left? Causes and Other FAQs appeared first on In The Garage with CarParts.com.
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