mannetti21

iTrader: (3)

I've noticed on the highway, and when I accelerate from a stop, the my car will pull either left or right. The direction seems totally random and varies between one way or the other on my 30mile drive to work. There also seems to be a very slight shimmy/vibration in the steering wheel that is hardly noticeable. Tires have about 3,000 miles on them. I noticed the first change in pulling direction after they were rotated @ 1,000miles (don't ask).

I assumed at first that it was my alignment, but when it started to pull in the opposite direction, I started thinking that it might be something more serious. Any ideas?

I'd like to have some knowledge before I bring it in to the dealer this weekend so I don't get ripped off with some bull$hit maintenance.

whazzzzuup

iTrader: (22)

If it is pulling left or right from a stop with your hands off the steering wheel, then it is probably just torque steer (normal). If it is pulling either left or right randomly while cruising, then it is your toe (alignment).

ravens2552

nice write up!

melvinman2003

On a side note. I noticed my maxima likes to chirp alot off the line .

zero2sixtyZ

iTrader: (30)

Yeah, whazzzup pretty much explained it. After I got mine, minus the torque steer, mine pulls to one direction while cruising. The dealership did 3 alignments and 2 wheel balances, still pulls to one direction. I kinda gave up on them. Might go to Firestone and get the lifetime one. Hope its not a suspension issue.

TONYKUJAWA

It can also be a tire issue if it is pulling to both sides. Mine was doing the same thing and I had it aligned twice. The guy that aligned it swithced left and right tires on the front and it went from pulling slightly to the left to slightly to the right afterwards

Maxima570

iTrader: (1)

My car also pulls, I'm thinking its the tires, although when the wheel is turned all the way in either direction, the front end suspensions or axle creaks going over a bump. I have michelin pilot sports that I bought the car with and I think that is part of the problem

sciff5

iTrader: (1)

Every single time my car accelerates from a stop it pulls one way and than the other... just torque steer

FriscoMaxima

iTrader: (1)

easy off the gas pedal...

Loonee02SE

Somes times a front to back rotation will ease/solve the problem - could be a tire or rim issue.

rule da road

maybe its just the roads?

Hoooper

dont drive through puddles with only one tire.

chr0nos

iTrader: (1)

lol. you should turn around and make sure to hit the same puddle with all 4 wheels.

KabirUTA13

iTrader: (11)

if its going left and right at the same time u should be good... its going straight...

cutter

iTrader: (1)

Definitely can just be a tire problem. I know that when my car was pulling to the left while just coasting on a flat road, I switched my front driverside tire with the back driverside tire and the problem went away.

KCMC582

iTrader: (4)

as stated, its probably torque steer, but do you have aftermarket rims? or directional tires on your OEM wheels? high performance tires, usually of course on aftermarket rims, are directional and have a tendancy to follow grooves in the road. each tire is different how it responds, but its just something to think about if you have them.

JSutter

iTrader: (46)

Check the wear on your tires. Then report back.

mannetti21

iTrader: (3)

Tire wear looks normal, perhaps slightly greater at the outside edges of both front tires. I'm going to get the alignment next Friday morning, hopefully that takes care of the issue.

AceofSpds

iTrader: (4)

Might wanna check the air pressure in those tires, correct me if im wrong but tire wear that is greater at the edges hints to underinflation.

Edward Lee

iTrader: (3)

Don't do that, the problem is that you own a Maxima. I have the exact same problem and took it to Goodyear 6 times within the week on my lifetime warranty. They could never get it fixed. I then took it to Westend alignment and it's now better. It still has a little drift to the right but it's barely noticable. Once Firestone gets it within spec, they no longer have to work on it.

Hoooper

i think he means the outside edges meaning the right side of the right tire and left side of left tire. which would mean that he has a camber (or caster, not sure which is which) issue. if its both edges of each tire then it is underinflation.

AceofSpds

iTrader: (4)

that makes sense too

MaximaGT-R

iTrader: (7)

i've done three allignments and my suspension is brand new so i just concluded that its torque steer.

RichP

I actually had this exact problem fixed today - depending on the road, the car would either pull to the left or the right. I didn't really understand what the mechanic was telling me (something about "toe" on all four corners?), but it just needed an alignment. The car tracks straight as an arrow now!

Edward Lee

iTrader: (3)

Toe on all 4 corners?

Hoooper

uhhh, not really sure how you get toe in the back, but alright. he probly meant toe in the front. that would make you track into grooves in the road much easier than with a properly adjusted toe.