It’s scary when your car begins pulling in one direction or the other. In most cases, you can safely arrive at your destination and schedule an appointment at the shop. If, however, the pulling makes it difficult to drive or is accompanied by shaking or strange noises, you should pull safely to the side of the road and contact roadside assistance to ensure the safety of yourself and other drivers.
Here are seven of the most common reasons a steering wheel (or your car) pulls to one side or the other.
If one or more of your tires loses pressure faster than the rest, it could result in steering pulling pull to one side or the other. Stop at a local gas station with an air pump. Consult your vehicle’s instruction manual to check the recommended tire pressure (some models recommend differing pressures for front and rear tires. If you notice a tire is deflated, fill it up.
As you fill the tires, examine them for nails, screws, or punctures. If you find one, drive to the nearest tire shop for a repair. Call for a tow if your tire is visible deflating as or directly after you fill it up. Driving on a flat tire poses a safety hazard and may result in permanent damage to the rim.
In most cases, tires should be rotated every 5000 miles or so (your tire manufacturer’s instructions include that information). This ensures even wear and extends the life of your tires. If your tires haven’t been routinely rotated and are wearing unevenly, it will cause the vehicle to pull to one side of the other, spending on the angle/side of the worn spots.
If you bought new tires in the past year or so, and the car is pulling to the right, schedule an appointment with your local tire/brake shop. It could result from tire conicity or separation, which results from tire defects. If your vehicle pulls to the right and pulling increases with acceleration, conicity could be the cause.
If your vehicle pulls to one side and you notice it shimmies or shakes at lower speeds, the defective tires may be experiencing separation as air forces the tire belts to separate from the carcass.
Are all of your tires from the same manufacturer/model? If not, the different tire tread patterns may create an uneven ride. Often, to save money in a pinch, drivers purchase the most affordable tire available after a blowout. If, however, that tire has a different tread pattern than the rest, it can cause problems. Or, maybe you had an old tire put in your trunk as a spare. If you’ve used it, but your replacement tires were different, the pulling will continue until you replace the spare with the same tires as the rest of the car.
Sometimes it’s the road and not the car. Most vehicle or tire issues causing a car to pull consistently or in consistent situations (slower, faster, while braking, etc.) indicate mechanical issues. If you notice your car only pulls on certain roads, odds are it’s the road and not the car.
Many roads are engineered with a particular slope to allow water to drain during storms. Any vehicles traveling on a slightly sloped road will pull in the direction of the slope.
If tire issues have been ruled out, and pulling occurs on any road you’re on, the next step is verifying alignment and brake function. If the pulling only happens when you’re braking, odds are the brakes are the cause. Usually, we find you have sticking calipers or a brake pad making continuous contact with the rotor. In either case, the car will pull in one direction. Worn suspension parts may also be the cause.
Some people assume that rotating the tires includes wheel alignment. That is not the case. They are completely different - but related- services. If the steering wheel and axles aren’t aligned correctly, the steering wheel - or the front of the car - will pull left or right.
Schedule an appointment with your preferred tire shop and let them know what’s happening. They’ll inspect the car and realign the tires if that is the problem.
Just as the “check engine light” is a message to pay attention to, so are any strange, clunking, rattling, or unusual sounds from the car. Usually, when tire bearings are going bad, they let you know via grinding noises emanating from the tires or a shaking sensation. Don’t ignore them!
However, if you ignore them and the bearings continue to fail, pulling left or right is the next and last sign before they give out. This puts you in dangerous territory because failed wheel bearings can result in serious emergency situations, such as losing control of the car, brake failure, or (in worst-case scenarios) the tire rolling off your car while in motion.
If your car is pulling left or right, and you’re not sure why then schedule an appointment with your local tire shop or mechanic. If you find yourself stranded, J&T Towing is at the rescue. We provide roadside assistance in Fairfield and throughout the Bay Area 24/7. Contact us, at 707 356-4613, and we’ll get you to the next best place.
