Hello, after much searching around I've finally bought myself an 54,000 mile 02 STi which seems to have developed an odd fault.

Basically I can steer it with my right foot

I'm not talking power slides - but instead the car pulls slightly to the left (which I put down to the effects of normal road camber) but when I accelerate is pulls slightly to the right. The harder I accelerate the harder it pulls.

I had something similar once on a Landrover and that was down to the two nearside tyres having lots more tread that the offside tyres. Because of the slight difference in rotational speed it caused it to pull more when accelerating.

But I've got the same amount of wear on either side. I haven't had the tracking checked but it brakes in a straight line which suggests that it's not the tracking.

I've also checked the tyre pressures and they are the same side to side at 33 psi front and 28 psi rear. Are these the correct pressures ? The owners manual was missing when I bought the car ?

Has anyone got any ideas what could be causes this pull ?

Thanks in advance

Phil

 

Your geometry is out.

Go get a 4 wheel aligment from someone who knows what they're doing.

Shaun

 

Worn balljoint or track rod end most likely.

 

Thanks for the replies guys - tire wear is even from side to side though. Wouldn't it be uneven if the alignment was out ?

The steering is as tight as a tight thing with no play in it - if I had a worn trackrod end would there not be play ?

Phil

 

You havent mentioned, But i assume your using the same make and pattern of tyre on both sides?

Deffo worth a full geometry check

 

Turbotits (I won't ask): yes, they are different front to rear but the same from side to side.

I've been looking around the forum and A&A seem to be highly recommended. They are close-ish to me (I'm in Abergavenny and they are in Cardiff) but how much am I likely to pay for a 4-wheel alignment ?

Any ideas ?

Phil

 

yep I recommend a 4 wheel laser alignment...

should take about 1hr - 1.5hrs to do properly

track,camber,toe, etc etc

about £120

Andy

 

Thanks for that Andy - does the alignment need to be done when new tyres are fitted or can I just get it done and then replace the worn tyres (which have about 1000 miles left) at a later date ?