Car pulls to the right hard, then breaks loose

[NEW911SC2]

Hello all,
Currently, I have an alignment issue. It pulls very slightly (drifts) to the right if I let the wheel go; nothing major. Now here's the issue. It's happned 3 times lately. I'll make a left turn on the street and and as I straighten out. I begin to feel the car pulling to the right hard to where if I let the wheel go, the car wants to shoot over to the right literally. When this is happnening I need to hold the wheel more firmly than normal so as not to let her go. After about a few seconds I feel a pop and then the steering breaks loose to where my steering is relaxed and the car is no longer pulling to the right so drastically. The "pop" can be felt in the column. Also, I recently have devolped up and down play in the steering that I hope should be cured with the metal steering sleeve bushing. Any ideas where to begin diagnosing? Thanks for any and all help.

Sergio

[sailchef]

I'm not an expert but I would put the front end up on jack stands and just start looking while a helper turns the wheel side to side. From the drastic handling you describe it shouldn't be hard to locate, you should be able to see where its hanging up.

At the very least this will get you back to the top of the forum so someone with a litle more experience can add their expertise.

[crustychief]

The up and down play is likely the steering column bushing. I am not sure about the pulling right issue without more info.

[NEW911SC2]

Thanks for the input. I'll have to look and see where it's hanging up. Also, I need to address the bushing issue as well.

[Flieger]

Could the "pop" be the ignition lock starting to interfere with the steering column without fully locking? After years of use, some components just wear out.

[rllevin]

Possible tie rod end wear problem. I wouldn't drive till I knew what the issue is.

[teenerted1]

also check all the u-joints on the steering rod. could be binding at one of the ones in the trunk?

[ljowdy]

I don't think you commented on the year of your car but, it could be a rust issue, broken welds or cracked metal... I'd check around the Strut towers, rack and pinion mounts and torsion bar mounts.

When you turn left, you're loading the right side of the car and this could be deforming mounting locations such as mentioned above.

After the apex of the turn and during the time you're straightening out the path of the car, the metal may be trying to return to it's normal position thus causing the noise you're hearing.

[lin7310948]

i would not drive the car until i found the source of the problem!

[Curt911]

Another suggestion - check the area where the steering shaft passes through the trunk, under the cardboard cover. I've had a small bolt fall into the trough below the cardboard and wedge between the body and the steering shaft. The car would turn left, but you had to jerk the wheel hard back to the right to straighten it out.

[yelcab1]

Did you do any recent work to the suspension? Like lowering it?

[NEW911SC2]

Hello all. It's an '81 911SC. I've never done any recent suspension work on the car. I've only owned it for about 6 yrs. Thanks for all the input.

[yelcab1]

Well, it is time to put it on a suspension rack and poke around.

[Oh Haha]

+1 on the u-joints in the trunk area. A little light oil will loosen them back up.

Do check the front suspension components, though. If anything to give you peace of mind if all is well.

The steering column bushing may have fallen apart and a piece is getting lodged causing the stiff steering but that is usually pretty to overcome. Replace it anyway but I would suspect the u-joints or a suspension part first.

Let us know what you find, please.

[Por_sha911]

Is it possible that he has a RF caliper binding? It seems rather extreme but it would explain the pulling to the right.

[Oh Haha]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

Is it possible that he has a RF caliper binding? It seems rather extreme but it would explain the pulling to the right.

Possibly but I would still suspect the ujoints first.

Does the car pull to the right when braking?

[NEW911SC2]

Good morning all. Oh Haha, the car does not pull to the right at all when braking. I'll have to make time this weekend to take a look at it. It's hard to find time with my two toddlers. We're always off on some kind of adventure. It's either going to have to be at the crack of dawn or in late at night when I get a chance. Thank you again for all the information. I'll keep you posted on my findings.

[BK911]

Originally Posted by NEW911SC2

Good morning all. Oh Haha, the car does not pull to the right at all when braking.

I'm guessing brake lines too. Does it pull to the left during braking than to the right after braking?

[NEW911SC2]

Hello BK911, hope this clarifies but the car drives normally (on the street, on the freeway, normal braking and hard braking, making left turns and right turns). I do have a very minor alignmnet issue. Recently, I've had the situation, after making a left turn, where the steering gets "stuck" in a manner that the car wants to pull to the right hard (if I let the steering wheel go). After a moment the steering breaks free (pops) and driving resumes as ususal (no more hard pulling). It doesn't happen all the time. It's usually on accasion. But recently it's been happening more frequently. Hope this makes sense. I will investigate further this weekend. Thanks all.

[David in VA]

Check your wheel bearings. I had one that was very loose causing symptoms similar to what you are describing.