Car Pulls To Right?

[BigEquity]

Hey guys.... Got a problem with the 911s pulling to the right. I have taken it to two different shops to be aligned in the charleston, sc area. I took it to Autometrics (they are the big porsche shop here in charleston) they did an alignment, and now it pulls worse than when I took it to them. Took it back to them, and got the run around . Anyway, I was wondering what the problem could be? Maybe a stuck caliper? It pulls all the time, not just when hitting the brakes. Also we had the car set to its original ride height when we first bought the car. The previous owner had the car so low that the tires were rubbing the rear fenders and it bubbled the paint up on the fenders. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
- Matt

[Nine9six]

Hmmm,
Has the car been in an accident? Was a PPI performed prior to purchasing?
If you paid for an alignment at Autometrics, they either need to make good on the service you paid for, or tell you why they are not able to make the car drive straight without pulling. Did you have one of their mechanics drive the car, when you took it back?

[Tom '74 911]

Matt -
I'll bet it's ride height related. I battled a similar thing when I bought my car. After verifying your brakes aren't dragging - check your ride heights at all the corners and compare. Measure from the torsion bars AND the fenders as sometimes the fenders can be different from side to side and the torsion bars seem more likely to be straight. Chances are that the diagonals aren't even.

Tom

[Nine9six]

Tom,
Dont you think that should have been diagnosed by Autometrics, who performed the alignment?
Any shop that does an alignment, and doesn't take the car for a test drive, should NOT be in the business, recommended, or used ever again.

[Tom '74 911]

Yes, it should have been diagnosed by the "experts". I took my car to (2) "experts" and they couldn't figure it out though so I feel your pain Matt. If the ride height has been recently altered, I'll still bet it's the diagonals that are causing the pull. Did it pull when you first bought it - when it was set up super low and before the ride height was changed?

Tom

[Chuck Moreland]

As hinted at above, after the ride height was altered it needs to be corner balanced. The height can be perfect while the corner balance is way out.

Improper corner balance will cause the pull.

[Goth]

It is possible for the ride height to be correct R to L, and still have the corner balance way off (i.e. more of the cars weight on 2 apposing corners).

Push down on RF then LF. The RF and LF should have the same stiffness in the suspension. Try the same thing at the back. If the apposing corners seem stiffer. Corner balance may be way off even though ride height is even R to L.

Hope this helps

[Tom '74 911]

Originally posted by Chuck Moreland
As hinted at above, after the ride height was altered it needs to be corner balanced. The height can be perfect while the corner balance is way out.

Improper corner balance will cause the pull.

That's what I've been meaning to say, my vocabulary and sunday morning brain aren't functioning very well. When I was chasing my "pull" I used the tripod method to get close enough to eliminate my issue.

[schleg79]

Originally posted by Chuck Moreland
As hinted at above, after the ride height was altered it needs to be corner balanced. The height can be perfect while the corner balance is way out.

Improper corner balance will cause the pull.

Chuck nails it... I had the exact same problem you mention after a DIY ride height adjustment and the alignment shop was clueless as to why the right pull. Finally, one evening I got "physical" with the problem by raising the front right end (via the turnscrew, 1/2 turn at a time) until the pull completely disappeared. Granted, my corner balance was most certainly way off, but this got rid of the pull until I was able to get a true corner balance..

[Ned nyna 11]

check the wear pattern on the front tires. If both are worn on the same side, the car will pull in that direction.

[RLJ]

If you have a LSD that is set at 80/80 IIRC something as simple as tire pressue will make it pull.

After we stuffed the motor back in the car I wanted to drive the pig, she had been setting for some time. I was upset, the motor wizard thought for a moment and reminded me that the an LSD had been installed and set very stiff. I checked the front tire pressure and one side was down lots. Inflated all four to proper ranges and she drove great.

I have seen lineup guys "not" check tire pressure too.


Randy Jones
1971 911 "Iris"

[BigEquity]

Wow... Thanks for all the great advice guys. I certainly appreciate it. I will be checking the corner balance tomorrow after work.

I fought with rebuilding the pedal cluster today. Man is that a pain in the a$$. No more sticking throttle though (brake fluid had gummed up my plastic bushings). Those bronze replacements work great.

[BigEquity]

Nine9six :

You are exactly right about the service. I will never use them again. I actually was warned, by two previous customers, about their service before I went there, but figured they were the experts. My mistake for using them. Never Again!!

[schleg79]

RLJ,
Be sure to update us on what you find..
Kevin

edit: sorry, Big Equity, not RLJ

[jjwood]

Now that you've got all the good advice, it's time for the smart ass.

I predict that after the election, your car will cease pulling to the right and instead will return to "center"



Sorry, but all these political commercials on TV are driving me CRAZEEEEE!