What would cause a steering to pull to the right

Argeo · 06-23-2003, 12:26 PM

Hi, my 77 911 ROW slightly pulls to the right. What are some possible causes? I know there is no play on the wheels in the front if I try to jiggle. Also, an alignment was done last year and it still went to the right after.

Thanks.

Rot 911 · 06-23-2003, 12:29 PM

I suggest whomever did the alignment did not do it correctly. possible causes in no particular order: toe, camber, overinflation, underinflation, tie rods, ball joints, wrecked front end, worn out shocks, bent or worn out spindle.

Jdub · 06-23-2003, 12:29 PM

A dragging caliper? Do both wheels turn smoothly without binding when the front of the car is up in the air?

Also, does this happen when you brake or all the time?

John

Argeo · 06-23-2003, 12:34 PM

The car has pulled to the side on braking a few times. Do you think when the alignment was done they would have noticed any of these possible worn out pieces. I won the alignment in a silent auction so at least it only cost me $50.

Thanks.

Argeo · 06-23-2003, 12:36 PM

Oh, sorry. It always glides to the side. It is not a strong pull. It is just a slow, casual glide to the right. It is not as if I take my hands off the wheel and it would go off the road.

Thanks.

JonT · 06-23-2003, 12:48 PM

I had a similar problem (would drift to left more some times than others and especially while braking) and my front brake caliper needed a rebuild. Drives perfectly straight while braking/not braking. May be your problem if your alignment is ok

Argeo · 06-23-2003, 12:51 PM

I bought a caliper rebuild kit. Is this something I should attempt or will I just be opening a can of worms. Any special tools or tricks I should know about. 1 easy, 5 bad. How would you rate?

Thanks.

masraum · 06-23-2003, 01:28 PM

Calipers aren't too bad to do. You may want to have Wayne's book next to you. Getting the pistons out can be a bit of a pain since there are two, but it's doable. Also you will need something cut to a 20 degree angle. I used a small piece of sheet metal, but you could use cardboard or anything. This is to set the angle of the notch on the piston when you put it back in the caliper.

Rot 911 · 06-23-2003, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Argeo
I bought a caliper rebuild kit. Is this something I should attempt or will I just be opening a can of worms. Any special tools or tricks I should know about. 1 easy, 5 bad. How would you rate?

Thanks.

Argeo, slow down dude and think your way thru this. Before you go rebuilding calipers do what Jdub suggests and see the the wheel spins freely. Think your way thru the problem before trying to fix it.

North Coast Cab · North Coast Cab's Garage

It could also be the steering rack. I'm fighting the same problem and come to find that the steering rack had very little lubrication and is worn. If you can put a little load on the wheels, but still turn them, you may hear the worming sound in one direction. Also, the grease could just be hardened and a clean and lube could fix the problem.

JG

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Mine pulled when the front pads got too low.....replaced the pads..no more problem.

david c. · 06-23-2003, 07:01 PM

Hi,

I'm not sure if you are experiencing the problem only on braking or not. However, Porsches like these are rather light in the front end. Depending of the tire size you have, and pressures, you may experience more or less wander like this with no real problem. Don't forget, most roads (if not all) have a crown to them. Some crowns seem to be more pronounced than others. They will draw your car to the right.

Also, some tires are more or less susceptible to tramlining. There was a good, succinct explanation of this in a recent copy of Grassroots Motorsports I think.

I'm just suggesting that if your car is aligned, you may not be having a real problem. Have you driven another 911 on the same roads recently?

Argeo · 06-24-2003, 04:40 AM

Thanks guys. No I have not tried to another 911 to see if the same problem occurs. Good suggestion. I had heard that car can have a tendancy to float.

Regarding the rebuild kit, I bought that last year. I am in no rush to fix. The car has plenty of other issues to keep me busy if I want.

I will try lifting the car and spinning the tire to check for catching.

Thanks again.

1fastredsc · 06-24-2003, 05:24 AM

Tire pressure can also cause this, how do i know, the tires mounted on my 44 on the left leak air at 6 psi a week. So i must check the tires once a week and refill the ones on the left. Usually by the end of the week, before i refill, it will mildly pull to the left.

cab83_750 · 06-24-2003, 05:50 AM

Corner balancing! U r in the same situation as I was. Don't go thru rebuilding until you check the corner balance.

How do I know? I experimented with 'messing up' the corner balance. Sure enough, car pulled left or right depending on which side/corner is loaded/lightened.

hobieboy · 06-24-2003, 06:31 AM

Agreed with cab83_750. Mine was drifting to the right, w/ or w/o brakes.

That's after I had my alignment done, and verified that my brakes were not dragging (by looking @ difference on brake dust on either side).
In any case, corner balance the car (shifted >100lbs) and the drift disappeared.

tomswa · 06-26-2003, 07:52 PM

I have some steering stiffness when first driving my 78 911 targa. How would one lubricate the steering box?

Thanks

Tom Swafford

cab83_750 · 06-27-2003, 06:21 AM

Tom,

I think you need to go to the smuggler's box and shoot some lubricant. You may want to search the PP archives as I think this was addressed before.

Good luck!