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Nissan's answer to a car pulling right

wainwain Member Posts: 479
edited March 2014 in Nissan
when my Nissan was pulling to the right, Nissan/Infiniti gave me a service bulletin #FA00-002 that said it was caused by road crown. The service bulletin also said: "Nissan and other auto manufacturers design tires and position them on the car to provide a small amount of pull to the left"

design tires? position them??? and what happens when you rotate them???

Comments

  • swschradswschrad Member Posts: 2,171
    orchestrated cop-out. weasels. fuji bin laden.

    let them take some responsibility, and we won't have a re-naming contest online ;)
  • fleetwoodsimcafleetwoodsimca Member Posts: 1,518
    I just had my tires rotated (under road warranty) on my 98 Pathfinder, and now suddenly, it pulls a bit to the right. I suspect it is "tire run in" from where the tires were positioned previously. I went over 9K this time (mistake) before the rotation. I'm sort of happy with this explanation, so don't upset me... >:^]
  • bodydoublebodydouble Member Posts: 801
    Road crown often goes both ways, depending on whether you're in the fast or slow lane.
  • zueslewiszueslewis Member Posts: 2,353
    a car should pull slightly to the right. Federal mandate years ago made all the alignment equipment companies and manufacturers install a slight right toe setting in case you went to sleep or were otherwise incapacitated, your car drifts right towards the shoulder or the ditch instead of into oncoming traffic.

    Road crown influences this drift and can be overcome with the fast lane on some roads and a left drift can be produced.

    I'm sorry your "Parts installers" instead of technicians don't know about this. The mandate is almost 30 years old. Relax - it's supposed to do that, unless the pull is radical where in a fairly level parking lot, in the center of the lot, you let go of your wheel and the car turns 45 degrees - then you have a problem.
  • fleetwoodsimcafleetwoodsimca Member Posts: 1,518
    You been out cleaning the porcine mammals, again?
    You know, as in hog wash! >:o]
  • zueslewiszueslewis Member Posts: 2,353
    Working with alignment equipment for several years, understanding the art involved, certified by three different sources (Bear, Hunter and Vale National) and still privy to all current trade information.
  • fleetwoodsimcafleetwoodsimca Member Posts: 1,518
    zueslewis Please forgive the humor! I just couldn't resist...
  • zueslewiszueslewis Member Posts: 2,353
    I've just had that argument with people SOOOOOO many times. "My uncle was a mechanic from 1950 to 1970 and he said cars didn't pull to the right". You're right - road crown in a road wasn't common and the alignment mandate didn't exist. Back then, if you fell asleep at the wheel, you drifting left into oncoming traffic and killed everyone in both cars in the head-on collision.

    Same argument with fuel mileage. ARGGHHH! No, your car will not produce the mileage (100% of the time) that your window sticker says!
  • alcanalcan Member Posts: 2,550
    I'm currently teaching alignment and have the very, very latest Bear, Snap-on, and Bean laser equipment. The equipment suppliers use our facility to showcase their newest offerings and we have free use of same until they sell it out from under us. We are also provided with all current manufacturers' alignment specs. Absolutely NOWHERE does it specify that vehicles have to have a lead to the right. The 1/2 degree or so camber or combined camber/caster lead to the left is to accomodate road crown and/or coning effect of camber change due to the weight of a sole vehicle occupant. Federal mandate, huh? Hogwash.
  • zueslewiszueslewis Member Posts: 2,353
    I'm not going through the files in my old service department to show you a piece of paper from NHTSA from 1971 in order to win an argument with anyone.

    I was referring to toe settings, anyway.
  • alcanalcan Member Posts: 2,550
    Toe settings on rear wheel drive vehicles have no effect on steering pull, considering the fact that total front toe will split equally between both wheels under dynamic conditions. The only net result of toe change is tire scrub and a steering wheel off centre. Steering lead is achieved through cross camber and caster, not toe.
  • fwatsonfwatson Member Posts: 639
    OK, I admit I'm not an alignment specialist. Never done it in my life. And I can't argue whether it is the law. But of the 20 or so cars I have had, only one pulled right, and they finally got that fixed.

    Mazda must not know about it either, because my '01 Millenia zings along straight as an arrow, hands free, regardless of what lane I am in, unless there is a severe crown.

    It seems to me that the same torque steer an overpowered FWD car exhibits on nailing the throttle, might also cause a slight pull on the highway, in the same direction as the torque steer.
  • alcanalcan Member Posts: 2,550
    You're right, excessive toe out (or negative toe) on a FWD car can cause a pull, usually to the right on accel and to the left on decel. Doesn't have to be high powered, either. I recently drove an old 4 cyl. Topaz that tried to change lanes when I hit the throttle at 20 mph. Scared the bejeepers out of me. All else being equal though, a car will pull toward the side with the most positive (or least negative) camber, or the least positive (or most negative) caster. Problem is that more and more vehicles are now being built with no alignment adjusment provision except for toe. That's where aftermarket companies such as Specialty Products and Moog problem solvers come in. They manufacture replacement parts which provide alignment adjustment.
  • fleetwoodsimcafleetwoodsimca Member Posts: 1,518
    I hate hearing that! With me always desiring to be a well informed vehicle shopper, could you name some of the (now) toe-only-adjustable cars and trucks?
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    The problem isn't even new. I remember primitive cars /trucks from the 60s where you have to bend the axle to get any adjustment (Ford trucks, MGBs). Even my 80s Alfa doesn't have a complete range of adjustments unless you buy special aftermarket supsension parts.

    Of course, it's not as bad as it sounds, since many ordinary road cars don't need that level of precision. Most folks don't care if their handling isn't dialed in for very sporty driving.
  • fleetwoodsimcafleetwoodsimca Member Posts: 1,518
    If you go in for an alignment, they use devices and procedures that might make one think more is going on that toe-in. I guess you are saying in essence, caveat emptor.
  • wainwain Member Posts: 479
    an Infiniti dealer $59 to try to get the right pull out. they knew the only adjustment on that car is toe. Which does not affect pull.
    A private mechanic did some machining on the strut slots to improve (tho not eliminate ) the right pull.
    Odd, my toyota and 4 Hondas over the years always have gone right where they were pointed regardless of road crown.
  • corvettecorvette Member Posts: 10,236
    I think if left toe had become different than right toe, the car would pull.
  • fleetwoodsimcafleetwoodsimca Member Posts: 1,518
    If you mean what I assume, the answer would be that the steering wheel would not be "perfectly centered at dead ahead" and would appear slightly turned to one side or the other, thus splitting the difference in toe, so to speak.
  • oldharryoldharry Member Posts: 413
    when I worked for a Pontiac/Volvo dealer in 1964. I have never seen a "federal mandate" about pulling right. Most vehicles will not have noticable "pull" when aligned within specifications. Some tires are more sensative to road crown, and require tighter specs, and some cars are more affected than others. Most Nissan products do not have easy adjustments to correct a problem with lead to one side or the other. Cross the front tires before trying anything else, as you do not wish to change a car that is properly aligned. Tire pull has become comon again, as it was in the seventies.

    If crossing the tires produces a pull in the opposite direction, see your tire brand dealer. If it still pulls the same way, return to your dealer and ask about talking to a service rep.

    Harry
  • wainwain Member Posts: 479
    My problem was not a tire problem.
    I had to go to an independant mechanic as the infiniti dealer in 3 tries did not fix it.
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