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2005 Taurus pulls right after alignment
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comnavguy
User
Aug 16, 2012, 10:50 AM
Post #1 of 5
(1893 views)
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2005 Taurus pulls right after alignment
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2005 Ford Taurus 3.0L V6 with 75570 on odometer. Suspect there is closer to 130,000 but...
Car is pulling to the right after two alignments and mumbo jumbo about tires, but both front tires are practically new.
Question: What would be wrong with swapping both front tires to see if it changes the pulling? AND why don't we cross rotate tires as we used to do?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Aug 16, 2012, 11:41 AM
Post #2 of 5
(1877 views)
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Re: 2005 Taurus pulls right after alignment
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Doesn't take much on tires themselves to make them pull. You need to look right at tire for anything saying NOT to cross rotate or if you see an arrow indication or plain saying "direction of rotation" on the tire or go to the tire maker's site if necessary.
If two alignments are showing the adjustable angles within spec then perhaps something else is causing it to pull to one side. Some locations of normal use have a fairly reasonable arch to the road which alone can make a car/vehicle drift that way and some vehicles when that is annoying can be adjusted to compensate for some and be within specs.
If tire size is the same and tire brand/age real close I would consider cross rotating if only as a quick test. If "directional" keep them that way as the tread pattern is highly likely to be for proper traction for forward driving in that position. Same tire size front to rear should be fine and a routine.
If things part II: If this continues to pull rule out brake or usually a front wheel dragging some OR just try hoisting front (all drive for any all drive vehicles) and start engine with wheel centered and see if the dang power assist nudges the wheel by itself! Rare but has happened that valving for assist is assisting when it shouldn't. If so let's see what the best fix is for that.
Basics: Since forever with recirculating ball or rack and pinion the alignment is set with wheel centered as the free-play should be close to zero there. Note on some with engine off with wheel turned part way when it was running that there is free-play which is to accommodate sharper turns and the different radius path, which if you completed a circle would be all different. A geometry exercise! Different vehicles accommodate that differently but has to be factored in.
OK - more: You seem to come up with several assorted vehicles which is all fine and may not have a full history. Unfortunately some either collision repair shops or lazy alignments don't center the steering wheel first and most wouldn't think it was altered but if in doubt check that. Put wheel pointing straight ahead and if need be look at tires that they are then count how many turns before it stops (don't burn out pump - just to the end) and should be the same either way from the real center. If not that needs to be brought up with alignment places if you need to show them that.
Hey - studied this big time now long ago but the ability of decent steering behavior has to be considered in anything added as things get newer like variable assist and some pretty wild things with steering like the cars that park themselves that I'll never get over! Smile - does the car pay the ticket if in a no parking zone some of which are just temporary?
Whole thing really could be tires and tricky to come to a certain conclusion on that,
T
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comnavguy
User
Aug 16, 2012, 12:20 PM
Post #3 of 5
(1859 views)
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Re: 2005 Taurus pulls right after alignment
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I have some study to do. Thanks for that info. We'll try some of those suggestions/tests and see if we can solve the pulling problem.
This is really great stuff for future as well as dealing with the current problem.
Someone suggested that this car needs a camber kit, but they could not tell us why.
We're going to plough through this and get it right, and your info is very helpful.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Aug 16, 2012, 12:50 PM
Post #4 of 5
(1852 views)
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Re: 2005 Taurus pulls right after alignment
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I'll try to be more concise this time. A current day quality alignment is both the right machine AND the training of the tech using it. Before going nuts or adjusting anything an assortment of things should be noted first. Tire condition and pressure as they are the only thing touching the road, all suspension and steering items are not worn out, height of vehicle even especially side to side but should be setting as it would with no problems. If a load is excessive in a trunk or back or interior that can and will change heights and the measurements.
Bent wheels or flaws where equipment attaches messes up readings. List goes on but just know you or tech needs to know what can and will alter results.
Lots to know. Real that can go without notice is if the usual driver is a very heavy person or load on one side can make a car tend to pull one way. Lots to consider,
T
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