Hi,

I have a problem with my Fiesta pulling slightly to the right during acceleration, which is mostly annoying at higher speeds (70 kmh / 43 mph or higher) since I have to countersteer a bit. I went to get my wheels aligned, however it is still a problem. I noticed that my rear left wheel is out of alignment (toe) but the mechanic told me there is nothing to do about that (see picture).

Any ideas if the left rear wheel could be the cause of my car pulling a bit to the right when accelerating? Or is it something else?

Thanks!
/Jonas

Do you have any mismatched tyres?

All tyres are matching and tread depth were the same last time i checked (6 weeks), but I've had the problem for more than 6 weeks

could it be torque steer? 

1 hour ago, Jonashs said:

Hi,

I have a problem with my Fiesta pulling slightly to the right during acceleration, which is mostly annoying at higher speeds (70 kmh / 43 mph or higher) since I have to countersteer a bit. I went to get my wheels aligned, however it is still a problem. I noticed that my rear left wheel is out of alignment (toe) but the mechanic told me there is nothing to do about that (see picture).

Any ideas if the left rear wheel could be the cause of my car pulling a bit to the right when accelerating? Or is it something else?

Thanks!
/Jonas

Accident damage chassis bent. Alignment is a static test.

24 minutes ago, Adam Wilson said:

could it be torque steer? 

This does sound like it could be due to torque steer since it only happens during acceleration 

18 minutes ago, st line x 140 driver said:

Accident damage chassis bent. Alignment is a static test.

I hope not, I guess it would be expensive to fix. However, I don't think there was a problem with the car pulling when I bought the car, and I have not damage the car in any way since. But you do think the rear left toe could cause the car to pull ?

17 minutes ago, StormfuryVG said:

This does sound like it could be due to torque steer since it only happens during acceleration 

Would that be related to the drive shafts?

As far as I understand, the rear left toe should not influence the handling?

9 minutes ago, Jonashs said:

I hope not, I guess it would be expensive to fix. However, I don't think there was a problem with the car pulling when I bought the car, and I have not damage the car in any way since. But you do think the rear left toe could cause the car to pull ?

Would that be related to the drive shafts?

As far as I understand, the rear left toe should not influence the handling?

left toe - 3 minutes is 0.05 deg negative Right toe - 11 minutes is 0.183 deg positive negligible difference probably get more movement in wall of tyre.

You don't mention what year the car is. 

If it wasn't pulling to one side when you bought it perhaps it could be a worn steering rack ? 

2 minutes ago, Wino said:

You don't mention what year the car is. 

If it wasn't pulling to one side when you bought it perhaps it could be a worn steering rack ? 

Sorry, the information is on my profile, just assumed people here would see that (o:
It's a 2008 1.6 Ti-VCT

 

13 minutes ago, st line x 140 driver said:

left toe - 3 minutes is 0.05 deg negative Right toe - 11 minutes is 0.183 deg positive negligible difference probably get more movement in wall of tyre.

I can see that the total toe is within specs, so could be something worn in the steering/suspension even though it has been checked by my mechanic and myself multiple times in the last two months

6 minutes ago, Jonashs said:

I can see that the total toe is within specs, so could be something worn in the steering/suspension even though it has been checked by my mechanic and myself multiple times in the last two months

if steering/suspension  was worn i would expect play in steering wheel and or clunking noise. Tyre pressures are correct haven't a slow puncture?

12 minutes ago, st line x 140 driver said:

if steering/suspension  was worn i would expect play in steering wheel and or clunking noise. Tyre pressures are correct haven't a slow puncture?

Actually, when I drive over small bumps/holes there is some kind of clunking noise coming from left side (not 100% sure though). There is no play in steering. 
I will re-check tyre pressure and also try to swap the front wheels with the rear wheels and see if it helps

5 minutes ago, Jonashs said:

Actually, when I drive over small bumps/holes there is some kind of clunking noise coming from left side (not 100% sure though). There is no play in steering. 
I will re-check tyre pressure and also try to swap the front wheels with the rear wheels and see if it helps

could be a radius arm bush/swivel worn causing it to clunk, i had something similar in different make of car but never affected seering.

1 hour ago, Adam Wilson said:

could it be torque steer? 

 

32 minutes ago, Jonashs said:

It's a 2008 1.6 Ti-VCT

I think we can rule out torque steer then!   On a serious note though, torque steer is usually left due to the shorter driveshaft on that side.

 

Does it happen while cruising at a steady speed or is it only when you accelerate?  The rear toe could affect it but it would be all the time while cruising, not only when accelerating.

No, find out what the clunking noise is.

No, find out what the clunking noise is.

No, FIND OUT WHAT THE CLUNKING NOISE IS.

5 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

 

I think we can rule out torque steer then!   On a serious note though, torque steer is usually left due to the shorter driveshaft on that side.

 

Does it happen while cruising at a steady speed or is it only when you accelerate?  The rear toe could affect it but it would be all the time while cruising, not only when accelerating.

Funny 😉 

It is more pronounced when driving at higher speeds. When cruising at a steady speed, the steering wheel is almost centered. In Denmark most roads are not 100% flat so I would expect the steering wheel to be slightly off centered. When accelerating at the highway or motorway, the car pulls to the right and I have to counter steer. When I'm off the accelerator pedal, the steering wheel is again (almost) centered

you are experiencing torque steer, torque steer has nothing to do with rear wheel alignment as far as I know, so if the front wheel alignment is OK, which is obvious, then you have to look elsewhere , there might be something wrong with the front suspension, check for worn control arm bushings, worn inner or outer tie rods or worn steering rack,

engine or transmission mounts also can be the culprit however if there is something wrong with the mounts you would experience other symptoms.

good luck 🙂 

1 hour ago, Eng_Ahmad1986 said:

you are experiencing torque steer, torque steer has nothing to do with rear wheel alignment as far as I know, so if the front wheel alignment is OK, which is obvious, then you have to look elsewhere , there might be something wrong with the front suspension, check for worn control arm bushings, worn inner or outer tie rods or worn steering rack,

engine or transmission mounts also can be the culprit however if there is something wrong with the mounts you would experience other symptoms.

good luck 🙂 

Thanks, I'll take another look during the week, hopefully I can find the fault this time and repair it

Hi. 

Have you already sorted your problem? 

I've got exactly same problem. Got Fiesta 2009 /1.4 petrol. 

I had old worn tyres on it so I bought brand new ones. As soon I got on the road my car started massively pulling to the left. I thought that will be wheel alignment needed. So went to the garage 6times! No change at all! Went to the garage and they recommended to change the left ball join, so they did it but car still pulls to the left. Guys in the garage haven't found anything else.. 

I went to another garage for mot, I passed and said about the problem, but once again they checked the car and everything is fine. 

 

It's very strange that my fiesta didn't pull to the side at all on old tyres at all, only started when I bought new tyres. 

So I took the tyres for rebalancing, all done and car still pulls to the left. 

So decided to swap tyres, rears to front, left to right and also put my spare wheel (size 14)my car tyres size are 16.on every place to see the difference... Unfortunately any step I did the car still pulls to the left. 

It's only pulling to the side above 30mph. 

Any suggestions please? Thank you 

 

 

2 hours ago, Juraj George said:

Hi. 

Have you already sorted your problem? 

I've got exactly same problem. Got Fiesta 2009 /1.4 petrol. 

I had old worn tyres on it so I bought brand new ones. As soon I got on the road my car started massively pulling to the left. I thought that will be wheel alignment needed. So went to the garage 6times! No change at all! Went to the garage and they recommended to change the left ball join, so they did it but car still pulls to the left. Guys in the garage haven't found anything else.. 

I went to another garage for mot, I passed and said about the problem, but once again they checked the car and everything is fine. 

 

It's very strange that my fiesta didn't pull to the side at all on old tyres at all, only started when I bought new tyres. 

So I took the tyres for rebalancing, all done and car still pulls to the left. 

So decided to swap tyres, rears to front, left to right and also put my spare wheel (size 14)my car tyres size are 16.on every place to see the difference... Unfortunately any step I did the car still pulls to the left. 

It's only pulling to the side above 30mph. 

Any suggestions please? Thank you 

 

 

Does sound similar to my problem, however mine does it all the time when accelerating/decelerating. I haven't got the time to check it thoroughly yet, but something is definitely worn or loose. I can feel it. I also got my wheels aligned once more after this post, but no luck. 
Maybe check if you have worn inner tie rods or in worst case a bad steering rack, however it sounds weird that your car didnt pull to one side on your old tires and an alignment didnt fix it.