UK Car Repair: Car pulling to the left., cv joint, cruise speed


Question
Hi Howard,

I have a car problem, I know it's not on your expertise list, but hope you can help or give me some guidance before i take it to the mechanic.

Over time the car (VW GOLF GIT TURBO IV)has been pulling to the left has been getting worse. So far I've spent considerable time getting the wheels replaced, balanced and aligned and still no luck in resolving the issue. The last place told me that the caster on the left side is slightly out and may need a specialised jig to have it fixed. I know the car has not had any serious car accidents, could there be other factors that could cause this problem?

Lately i have nodiced that the steering makes squeaking noise when turning the wheels and reversing...would these symptons also be related?

Many thanks.
Mahesh

Answer
Hi Mahesh,
Find a flat smooth road, no trafic. Drive the car at cruise speed and note how much the car drifts to the left when you release the wheel momentarily. Now accelerate and do the same. Then decelerate and do the same. Note if it allways pulls to the left under each of the 3 tests. If it does, you need to find a front end shop that can check the alignment of the rear as well as the front. If it tracks straight on a crowned road then it may be that who ever you had set it the first time may have set it that way. If it pulls left driving and accelerating and pulls right on decel. Check for loose play in the suspension of the right side. Any good frontend shop should be able to correct a pull to the left or clearly tell you why it can't be aligned. A brake dragging on the left side can make one pull to one side but you can check that easily. Just jack the car up and have someone pump the brake up hard and release it and feel if any wheel is hard to turn afterward.

A noise when turning the wheel does not indicate anything to do with a pull to one side. Unless it is a loud clicking noise in a tight turn which is usually a CV joint going bad or needs greese.
Good luck, HMF