Car pulling to right, garage can't figure it out

[Goddy]

Hi, my clio 182 has developed an issue where it pulls to the right, if I don't hold the steering tight it will start to slowly drift right, then if you leave it longer it angle of right turn will increase.

I took it to renault, nothing noticeable wrong mechanically so they did full wheel alignment which they said is fine, although the front castor and KPI are 'different' but they put this down to the fact I have different springs that lower the car.

They have basically said leave it for now, but I'm still keen to try and resolve... One thing I am wondering is that I recently had lower arm and ball joint replaced on one side due to hitting a kerb back in January, although the garage said that all looks fine could it still be related somehow?

Any help or thoughts wild be great, cheers.

 

[1812lsd]

How hard did you hit the curb?

 

[Goddy]

How hard did you hit the curb?

Hard enough to need the lower arm and ball joint replacing as they were bent, not so hard that anything snapped or other parts damaged... I hit it with alloy side on to the curb (and bounced off it - was on ice at between 5-10 mph at a guess)

not sure if that makes it any clearer? It was pulling to the right immediately after the damage but once the arm, ball joint and also driveshaft were replaced it was back to normal... Now it's started again but far less severe then before.


Thanks, Matt

 

[Tunst]

Could have bent the subframe slightly..

 

[bright]

Non matching lower arm (theres 2 different types, although you'd expect renault to notice)

Steering rack bushes? Can be aligned in one position, move a bit in the bushes and then be out.

 

[Goddy]

Ok, do you think I should go back to them with these suggestions and ask them to double check? With the bushes is it something they will be able to see or should I ask them to replace as precaution?

I'm driving it a fair distance this weekend (le man) should it be OK? Renault said it is perfectly safe / fine to drive but I still have my concerns (not that I have a clue.. I just know its not driving right)

 

[Harbinger]

When you say it pulls to the right is this when you kane it or in general, does it pull to the right when cruising only? does the steering wheel wobble? any funky noises?

 

[Goddy]

No noises, it pulls even when cruising, if I was at 60 on straight motorway with cruise control on it would slowly start to move right and then if you leave it pick up more right angle... It's not severe and you can easily keep it straight by counter steering slightly

No steering wobble, no noises, just had full 72k service since repair work.

Garage also tried switching wheels around which made no difference either

 

[hilldawg172]

Not that's its any of my business but Renault must be raping you senseless for poor advice and service. If you can't do it yourself, for the love of god take it somewhere else! They are called stealers for a reason!

 

[Chip-mk1]

Hi, my clio 182 has developed an issue where it pulls to the right, if I don't hold the steering tight it will start to slowly drift right, then if you leave it longer it angle of right turn will increase.

I took it to renault, nothing noticeable wrong mechanically so they did full wheel alignment which they said is fine, although the front castor and KPI are 'different' but they put this down to the fact I have different springs that lower the car.

They have basically said leave it for now, but I'm still keen to try and resolve... One thing I am wondering is that I recently had lower arm and ball joint replaced on one side due to hitting a kerb back in January, although the garage said that all looks fine could it still be related somehow?

Any help or thoughts wild be great, cheers.

What are the figures for caster?

Have you checked you have the same spec wishbone on both side?

Lots of 182s getting less caster wishbones fitted to them but should all have the extra caster ones, if you have a mismatch it will cause pulling that you will NOT sort out.

 

[Harbinger]

What Chip has said or it could be where you've lowered it and the camber is out, but you'd need to check it, is the steering wheel perfectly aligned when it pulls or is it off centre?

 

[Goddy]

@hilldawg - not really sure where I can take it locally other than Renault, had some poor service from general garages. going to specialists like BTM / KTEC would mean taking a day off everytime the car needs stuff done (which atm seems to be a lot...) I have been to both I the past tho when I have time

@chip - Renault didnt give me the figures, ill ask.. No idea how I'd check wishbone sorry I'd have to get someone to look at it

 

[Chip-mk1]

@hilldawg - not really sure where I can take it locally other than Renault, had some poor service from general garages. going to specialists like BTM / KTEC would mean taking a day off everytime the car needs stuff done (which atm seems to be a lot...) I have been to both I the past tho when I have time

@chip - Renault didnt give me the figures, ill ask.. No idea how I'd check wishbone sorry I'd have to get someone to look at it

You literally only need to look the arms are quite visibly different, in fact so much so that with the steering straight you can normally see if one wheel is sat further from the back of the arch than the other!

 

[Goddy]

@harbinger - the wheel is well aligned, it moves with the pulling... It's only slight tho

 

[Goddy]

@chip - ill take a look... Would my friends at Renault not have reported that the castor was not the same on either side when doing the alignment... All try said was that it was different from standard

 

[hilldawg172]

@chip - ill take a look... Would my friends at Renault not have reported that the castor was not the same on either side when doing the alignment... All try said was that it was different from standard

Renault won't check camber or castor its a kinda specialist thing. Take it somewhere with the hunter alignment system.

 

[Chip-mk1]

@chip - ill take a look... Would my friends at Renault not have reported that the castor was not the same on either side when doing the alignment... All try said was that it was different from standard

Depends if they have a clue what they are on about or not TBH, and also how much it was out by.

ALWAYS ask for a printout when you get alignment done, then we can help with advice.