Chrysler Repair: 1996 Plymouth Grand Voyager SE Front End, plymouth grand voyager, alignment shop


Question
My Van started pulling to the left this morning.  When I park the car and line up the steering wheel so that the van should be pointing straight, the left tire seems to be straight.  However the right tire appears to be pointing to the right a bit.  
When I'm driving, the steering wheel will stay in a position that is cocked a bit to the left if I let go of the wheel.  In this mode the car pulls to the left.  To straighten the car, I need to apply a little force to turn the steering wheel to the right.

Answer
Hi Mark,
Something in the steering geometry has changed which needs to be studied at a front-end alignment shop. If you want to check one aspect yourself, start by measuring the amount of toe (the difference between front and rear separation distance between a set of thin marks that you put on the tires): first put marks at 3 o-clock, measure, then push the van forward or back till the marks are at 9 o'clock or as near to that as will allow you to get your tape measure across without interference with the chassis. The distance should be less at 3 than at 9 by about 1/16 of an inch. If not then change tie rod length on one side or the other to achieve that spec. A good way to mark the tread is to put a dot of 'white out' on the rubber, then use the edge of a knife or razor to score a fine vertical line in the paint.
Roland