Howdy folks,
My tercel has developed a nasty habit of pulling to the left. I took it in for a wheel alignment and that didn't fix the problem. The alignment guy said the frame might be bent and suggested I take it to a body shop.
The body doesn't look obviously out of whack and I'm not super excited about the walletectomy I'm sure to get at a body shop. Is there anything else that might cause the tercel to pull to one side?
Thanks
Pulling to the left
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Re: Pulling to the left
A tire can cause a pull or if the caster is not within specs. Did they give you a print-out with the alignment specs?
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Re: Pulling to the left
The alignment was done on new wheels and tires. The car was pulling with the old set as well.
I didn't get a print out of the specs. I can see if I can get them from the mechanic.
I didn't get a print out of the specs. I can see if I can get them from the mechanic.
- dlb
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Re: Pulling to the left
dragging brake on one side? bad wheel bearing? have you checked the camber adjusters yourself? i don't know if many other vehicles use a similar camber adjusting method so i would check just in case the alignment tech neglected to notice it.
- lannvouivre
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Re: Pulling to the left
Check your brakes and feel for loose or worn components by putting tension on them. There may be a guide on here, but here's also one I found with Google:
https://www.automd.com/155/how-to-check ... omponents/
https://www.automd.com/155/how-to-check ... omponents/
But...did you try hitting it with a hammer?
- Petros
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Re: Pulling to the left
not likely the frame is bent, that would be obvious I would think.
check all the rubber parts on the suspension and steering rack, if they are beat and sloppy, one side could flex more than the other under certain driving conditions. This may not show up during an alignment when it is sitting still on a rack. I have had this happen when a strut upper mount was failed and delaminating (it did not look bad, but when driving it allow the top of the strut to shift with every bump).
good luck.
check all the rubber parts on the suspension and steering rack, if they are beat and sloppy, one side could flex more than the other under certain driving conditions. This may not show up during an alignment when it is sitting still on a rack. I have had this happen when a strut upper mount was failed and delaminating (it did not look bad, but when driving it allow the top of the strut to shift with every bump).
good luck.
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Re: Pulling to the left
My money is on the rubber suspension parts. The sway bar bushings look pretty beat up so I can only guess what the rest of the rubber is like. I'm planning to do some front end suspension work later in the year (have to tackle the transmission and vacuum system first), so I'll
just have to put up with the pull for now.
Should the list of front suspension parts in this thread (viewtopic.php?f=16&t=3203) cover most of the potential culprates? I'll also check the strut mounts as Peteos suggests and probably swap out the CV axel assemblies while I'm at it (since the boots are shot).
just have to put up with the pull for now.
Should the list of front suspension parts in this thread (viewtopic.php?f=16&t=3203) cover most of the potential culprates? I'll also check the strut mounts as Peteos suggests and probably swap out the CV axel assemblies while I'm at it (since the boots are shot).
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Re: Pulling to the left
I think the smartest man in the world but if the frame was bent the body would be twisted or mangled in some way shape or form because the unibody construction on these vehicles
i will find a tercel in a music video
That's my new goal
That's my new goal