Maybe someone has had a similar experience. I have a 95 model two wheel drive, it wants to go left when you let off the steering wheel. Little background, there is no play in the steering wheel other than it just veers left when you let go still the steering is solid, tires are evenly worn, has had two alignments, new rotors and pads, new bearings when I replaced rotors. Any thoughts, there is not a lot to the steering so if someone had a similar experience maybe you could shed some light. Thank you for your time

 

How long ago was the last alignment. Make sure they are on spec FIRST, as this 75% is the result of steering problems.

Your tires are typically the next 20%. Most newer roads are crowned so that water will drain off quickly. Being you pull to the left, I would take a look at that. What type of tires are you running? I've found that cheapo tires will cause pulling no matter what vehicle they're on.

The next thing could be the calipers on the brakes. If your brakes are aging, then it could be time for new pads and a good inspection of the calipers. My 1993 F-150 2wd was doing similiar to what you have due to a stuck piston. I chose to replace the calipers due to age, and solved my pulling problem instantly.

 

A pulling problem caused by the brakes is usually noticed when applying the brakes, ususally not when you're just driving down the road.

 

Check your air pressures - a difference side to side can cause pull as well as the things mentioned by the others.

 

Try crossing the front tires and see if the pull follows or goes away.

 

Well it did this for about the past 4 years. I installed new tires they were $440 tires I can't remember which brand as I have put tires on a couple things and can't remember which is which. I noitced it went to the side somewhat before the tires but not this bad somewhat so I had it realigned actually was gonna do it anyway as a person should, with new tires. It continued but was liveable for a couple of years then for about a year or more the truck basically set, then started driving it about a year ago everyday and it progressively got worse. about six months ago it was aligned again and it seemed better but well its back. The first time the fellow put a caster camber kit I believe in it actually I don't remember what he called it but he showed me what it was and I told him to go ahead. I tried to get it to go straight as best as I possibly could and hit the brakes many times to see if it would pull and it did not, did this after I changed the rotors and pads and bearings. The pressure is right on as I check it ever so often. I may actually try the tire switching this weekend. I have heard of tires going or being bad so maybe that is it. Again the tread is great no wearing that seemed unreasonable as I mentioned it sit forever and the only thing wrong with the tires is dry rot, otherwise they look almost new. any more thoughts appreciated I will switch tires and see if that works. Appreciate it

 

Like I mentioned above Jwtaylor, I would inspect the calipers well. As many times as you've had it aligned and ruled the obvious problems out, my fingers are pointing, still, at the calipers.

A stuck piston in a caliper usually is noticeable during braking, but CAN cause pulling as well.

I basically had the same problem you've had, and had the same symptoms. Calipers did the trick for me.

 

Pastmaster
What should I look for? As mentioned I just changed rotors and pads recently and noticed no difference in effort to compress either caliper. So if you have some specific things to look for or try that would be great, I could do it as I switch the tires. Appreciate it

 

If everything is new and tight (check radius arm bushings) then it probably is your alignment. I recently had a sad but funny experience with Whaleen Tire, a Goodyear dealer here in Fort Lauderdale. I'm not shy about mentioning their name because they shouldn't be allowed to do alignments. I dropped the van off, told them the camber was way off and upon picking it up it didn't look like it had changed. The pass wheel was vertical and the top of the drivers wheel was about 2 inches less at the top than at the bottom, very obvious. Just to say I did it, I took it by another shop, showed them and they just laughed, saying that they didn't even try to align it. Took it back the next morning with the factory shop manual and the manager argued that the specs in the manual were wrong and he was right. Demanded my money back and the idiot insisted that I let them align it to my specs (even though he insisted they were wrong). The guy did the camber adjustment and said he was done. I told him that when you change the camber you must do the toe-in last. So he did it with a tape measure. I was amazed at this level of incompetence and told the manager that I should have videotaped this joke. I have since had it aligned properly elsewhere. The sad part is that to most people his BS would have flown and they would have worn out tires quickly and wandered all over the road without being the wiser. We had used this outfit for over 15 years and no more. So be carefull on alignments. Either watch them or get a readout and check the specs.
Another issue is the fact that most fords track wider at the front and narrower at the back. This inherently makes the vehicle want to dart left or right following the small ruts in the road. Search on the internet for adapters to widen the rear. It will at least explain this issue. Just a suggestion that could help.

 

As far as the darting of the vehicle I know what you mean however this think makes a hard turn when you let off the steering wheel. Makes sense it could just be the caliper progressively sticking more or something. To give a little more background the reason I have let it go this far is I had a 90 model ford truck way back when and it did the same thing. I just assumed it was because I used the widest tire I could get on the rim (yeah I like the look). The first time I figured that it must be the wide tires, and when the guy was doing the alignment when he said I needed a new caster/camber kit I said okay now lets go see what your talking about and I went back and watched him work he used a computer big alignement setup. The second time couple years later, I went to a different shop and well it came out with the same results. I called around and asked if a wider tire would cause alignment problems and I got a no it shouldn't, so I am going to change the calipers they need it anyway and see if that does the trick. Appreciate the response tiap, it is funny when you tell a "mechanic" what needs to be done they act like your crazy and then turn around and do it or ask you questions, been there. I am not even a mechanic but recently I research whatever it is so I can go informed, and well, being as the mechanic usually does general work they can't be expected to know everything but it is still funny. Later

 

I had an F-150 that pulled left bad. Alignment shops told me it was within spec. Maybe for a Nascar car. I could take 35 mph left hand corners at 50 with no hands. I found it my self. The rear u-bolts had loosened on one side and the rear axle was moving around a little. Once I put the rear back where it was supposed to go it drove straight as could be. You couln't see it was loose. I checked them with a torque wrench.

 

Does it pull when you push the brakes?

I had a stuck piston on the driver's caliper. By looking at it, there wasn't any problem. I drained the fluid completely, then tried to push the piston out with a compressor. No luck. Instead of fighting that one, I just got new ones. I also replaced the hoses, as occasionally they will begin to get blocked if you have older fluid.

BTW, have you adjusted the rear brakes lately?

 

I redid all the brakes at once and yes I made sure the rear was correct.

Well I guess I will take some measurements of the rear end to see if for some reason it is moving.

It doesn't do anything if I hit the brakes other than stop. If I get it somewhere were I can let it go straight or as straight as it will go and hit the brakes hard it does not pull any more off center than it already is.

Look at it like this you are driving down the road you take your hands off the wheel and the second you do bam there you go making a hard turn.

Appreciate the responses I will check later and check all the basics first just to be sure, I have checked the tire pressure many times, but I shall do it again and I will measure the axle to a reference point for straightness and may do the tire swap. Thanks

 

UPDATE

Well it seems it was tire pressure, was the bulk of it, good thing I decided basics first huh. When I redid the brakes I thought it drove pretty straight but well I don't drive the truck it is mine but well.......my wife drives it, so I didn't experience it as it went only when I heard honey my truck is going off the road. When we had it aligned I would assume tire pressure would be the first thing checked aparently not, I figured it needed alignment since it had been some time since it was done. All excuses aside, it drives acceptable now. It does seems to be partial to the right now even on flat road as mentioned that is normal and I know this but it still seems to be a bit much just a small bit, I think I found out why and it is a mystery, the left tire is actually an inch taller I measured????? So I am gonna wait until we get new tires before I start replacing things such as the calipers. Reason I don't think the calipers are the problem is I took it on a road were I could slow down and drive it and well I doesn't pull so I figure if it were the caliper it would pull all the time. So right now I will focus on the tires being replaced. Get this my back tires have a dip in them????? You would probably say well they have been over inflated and I can say honestly no the recommended max is 44 I have kept it at 33-35 which is what they put in it. So it never was over inflated it only appears on the back tires the front are normal the back both appear to have a dip when I was putting air in them I noticed it at a glance that bad. I was wrong the tires were goodyear gt, I am beginning to think maybe this store is selling irregular tires. j/k Any thoughts about the tires or anything else appreciated

 

Wheelspin, as in burning rubber, will make them wear like that.