2005 Nissan Altima Hard Steering/Car Pulls

Tiny
GREGBOB
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 55,000 MILES
My car periodically pulls to the left. Sometimes tracks straight and never pulls to the right. It steers noticably harder in right turns than left. Relaxing my grip on the wheel during a right turn causes an ABRUPT straightening out. Dangerous. Left turns very much less so; though the car wants to come out of all turns. It doesn't like to corner.
I've repeatedly aligned the car, put on 4 new tires, and replaced all brake pads and rotors. Jacked up, the front wheels don't bind or seem loose.
Any ideas?
Thanks
Friday, November 5th, 2010 AT 6:05 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,757 POSTS
What your describing is something intentionally done by manufacturers. They engineer an angle called Caster which sole purpose is to return the wheel to center. Some cars use more than other and it is adjustable on some cars but it was put there intentionally. I don't know if you have ever driven a car that doesn't return to center at all but it is very uncomfortable to drive. The same theory is used in bicycles when they angle the front fork back. That's why you can take your hands off the handlebars without crashing.
If you are seeing more to one side than the other, then something could be bent in the suspension because if caster is not equal on both sides, that's when you get a pull.
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Friday, November 5th, 2010 AT 7:08 AM
Tiny
GREGBOB
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  • 2 POSTS
The caster makes sense why the car doesn't really like to turn in either direction. But the much more difficult right turns compared to left turns is what makes me wonder.
And the pull (to the left) comes and goes. It is not consistant.
Does this still sound like a bent component?
Thanks
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Friday, November 5th, 2010 AT 3:18 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,757 POSTS
There are other possibilities too like a bad tire or binding strut plate. You can try switching the front tires left to right to eliminate tires. A binding strut would cause some noises and roughness in steering.
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Friday, November 5th, 2010 AT 3:27 PM

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