Hoping someone can help, I have a 2006 wrx sti widetrack and have had it tracked and camber adjusted by specialists.

However the car still pulls to one side. I checked the pressures and the tyres are the same make and in good condition. The near side front does have an unusual amount of balancing weights on it.

When the cars moving and off power it stil pulls to the left but as soon as any amount power is applied it really pulls almost like the left front has more traction. I've played with the dccd but doesn't make a difference nor does the quality of road I'm on it happens 100% of the time. To my simple brain it appears to be tracking related but the guys spent a good hour tacking it and took it out for a spin came back and made more adjustments.

Any ideas?

 

Take it you have checked for a badly sticking caliper or a bad wheel bearing?

 

Did you have the geometry checked?

 

I can't hear a dodgy bearing the guys are Subaru specialists and made changes to all four corners so I assume they checked it all to be honest I didnt think about a striking caliper could be that. She's only done 48k but is 10 years old now. How do I check for a sticking caliper?

 

Easiest way is just to feel the alloys after a run . If its that bad, you will tell quite easily

 

And start with the passenger front , obviously.

 

Ok thanks I'll give it a try. If it's not that any other ideas? When the car is rolling its not to bad but as soon as I apply a very small amount of power literally feathering the throttle it really starts to pull. It's as if 90% of the power is going to the left front.

 

If its pulling to the left , then its that side where the problem is. Suppose the only other thing it could be is a problem with the front differential unit,hardly likely but im guessing.

 

Are there any odd noises from the front? Any warning lights?

 

Forgot to ask. Did this problem come on suddenly? If so, did you do something on the car or something happen prior to the problem?If you can answer that, it may help narrow the search

 

Got any further ?

 

Booked it in sat morning with the specialists. The rear shocks were changed and the front discs and pads. The camber was out a little and that was corrected but actually didn't make a difference. I thought it could be the diff i guess it could think the offside front is constantly slipping. No warning light and my Dad had the car from new so no accidents or kurbing.

It does have the common knocking noise on occasion from the front which is the shocks. My understanding is you can live with it although I plan on changing them. I mentioned it to the mechanics and they seemed to think it's fine. What do you reckon?

I've not long had the car and it was there when i first drove it my dad didn't even notice and believe me it pulls quite badly perhaps he did it on purpose lol

 

You sure the front shock isn't twisted or bent ? I had a Subaru which done the same and after a few people looking at it turned out to be bent / twisted

 

I take it you HPI the car and its not been in a bump and twisted the chassis.

 

My impreza is 15 years old and doesnt have knocking shocks, Its up to you if you can put up with it, i wouldnt want to as that knock is a sign somethings wrong or going wrong.

 

Were the pads worn out evenly? I take it the calipers were not sticking then?

 

Dad had the car from new so definitely no accidents front suspension has never been off only the rears when my dad changed the shocks. I'll ask the mechanic to check the entire suspension for signs of damage in case he did hit a kurb and just never told me. I'll give him call see if he remembers anything.

 

Its the pulling to one side that id be concerned with. Something is radically wrong if you say its that bad

 

A bent shock would show up on a geometry set up, esp if its causing the pull. Did you check the caliper on the pass side after a run?

 

This might sound strange but my dad had the exact same problem on his RB320 when he brought it and I managed to find the cause of the problem to be the tires, or 1 of them to be precise. 1 had a different year of manufacturer to the other 3 and as soon as it was replaced the car went arrow straight.

 

Would have thought that if that was the cause, the subaru specialist would have noticed the damage to a tyre under that amount of stress. But you never know

 

Well I am surprised you were correct it was the tyre can't believe it made that much difference. It looks in good condition a little scuffed on closer inspection but really not that bad. Mechanic put it on the offside front and now it pulls a little to the right. I'll move it to the rear later today.

 

Well done to Matt23 . Its true what they say , that you learn something new every day. God job theyre not directional tyres as they can only be swapped front to back on same side lol

 

Glad you got it sorted out mate