If you are driving down the highway and the car is pulling to one side, you know there is something wrong, and you need to take care of it. You could just ignore it, but it’s not going to fix itself.
In this article, we give you the best reasons for why the vehicle is pulling to one side while you are driving it, and we also look for possible explanations for the car pulling to one side while braking and while accelerating after a wheel alignment. At the end, we will answer all your questions.
Reasons A Car Pulls To The Left or Right While Driving
A car may pull for various reasons, including improper tire pressure or bad alignment, but it could also be bad bearings, bad wheels, worn suspension, or dragging brakes. The only way you’ll know is to have a mechanic figure it out.
Here’s some additional information on the possibilities.
#1. Uneven Tire Pressure.
Car tires generally require inflation between 30 and 35 psi; however, this varies between vehicles. The recommended psi for your vehicle will be found in the owner’s manual or on a placard mounted on the driver’s side doorjamb.
If you drive with one of the tires at a lower psi than the others, you may experience a pulling sensation. A tire that is under-inflated works against the wheel alignment that, in turn, creates an uneven feel that results in a steering pull.
This is one of the easiest situations to remedy. Simply stop and check tire pressures. Fill the low tire and the ride should realign and even itself out.
#2. Bad Wheel Alignment.
When your car’s wheels are aligned properly, all of the tires will be angled in a position that allows the vehicle to drive straight down the road. If your car pulls to one side, it might mean that your alignment is off.
This can happen gradually over time and all of a sudden if you’ve recently hit a curb or pothole hard. If your vehicle’s suspension is worn, this could also cause alignment issues. Fortunately, this is another relatively easy fix, with wheel alignment typically taking less than an hour at a local mechanic.
#3. Bad Wheel Bearing.
Wheel bearings take a lot of stress, and they sometimes fail. If a wheel bearing fails, you might feel some pulling to one side, or feel loose steering.
It might also make a distinct warning noise, like a grating or grinding noise (especially when you turn the steering towards the side of the bad wheel bearing). You don’t want to drive with a broken wheel bearing because it will cause uneven tire wear.
#4. Dragging Brakes.
Brake calipers utilize hydraulic fluid for the pressure it needs to push the brake pads against the rotor. Each wheel with disc brakes will have a caliper, which can also cause it to feel as if the vehicle is pulling to one side if it is sticking.
If the caliper is stuck, it can lead to premature wear on the pads. Not to mention, when the pads become worn, it can lead to rotor damage. Rather than deal with these problems all at once, it is better to fix the caliper immediately.
#5. Worn Suspension Parts.
Suspension is an important system to provide a smoother and gentler ride, even on a rough road. If one of the suspension parts starts to fail, it can lead to a bouncier ride and the car may start to pull.
For instance, if the lower control arm bushing fails, the arm can shift when driving and create a pull. However, this could happen with any worn suspension component, so a complete inspection would be needed.
#6. Uneven Tire Wear Or Bad Tires.
Tires may have uneven wear from alignment issues or suspension issues. This can also happen if the tire pressure was not correct.
Once a tire wears unevenly, it is challenging to achieve a smooth ride. Rotate the tires and hope the wear evens out over time.
It is possible the tires are bad. A pulling sensation can come from defects in a tire. Replace any defective tires before you have a blowout.
You can experience pulling if you have mismatched tires. For example, having two new tires and having two old tires on the vehicle can cause pulling, as the old tires may have different wear.
Reasons Car Pulls To One Side When Braking
If your car only pulls to one side when braking, there could be a list of things going on with your brakes. The car could have a damaged or stuck brake pad, a bad brake caliper, or a worn brake rotor.
#1. Damaged Or Stuck Brake Pad.
The brake pads are only supposed to be applied when you push on the brake pedal. Once you let off the pedal, the brake pads are supposed to release, and you should be good to drive as usual.
However, if you notice your brake pads stick after you let off the brake pedal, clearly this is a problem.
It’s possible that something is wrong with the master cylinder or brake hoses that are supposed to provide hydraulic fluid to the brake pads. Whatever the case, you want to get it fixed before you ruin the brake pads and lacquer the rotor.
#2. Bad Brake Caliper.
One of the most frequent causes of sticking brake pads is a malfunctioning caliper. The caliper holds the brake pads in place, and the pistons push the pad into the rotor to ultimately stop the wheels from spinning. If the caliper pistons are stuck, the brake pad does not release. This can cause your vehicle to pull to one side, and certain noises when braking.
There are a few different reasons for a sticking brake caliper. A caliper can stick because of a crumpled brake hose, corrosion, or general wear.
You may be able to repair your brake caliper piston, or you may not. If you must replace your brake caliper, replace the other side as well, so both calipers will have the same braking ability.
#3. Worn Brake Rotor.
Brake rotors are metal discs that the brake pads push against to stop the wheels from turning. Often, the brake rotor might have a rough surface from damage or wear. The rough surface will cause a pulling sensation when braking.
Additionally, a rough surface might cause a grinding sound. You may be able to have the brake rotors resurfaced, or they may need to be replaced.
Reasons A Car Pulls When Accelerating
When a vehicle pulls during acceleration, the most likely cause is the tires.
The tread may be worn, the inflation may be incorrect or you may have a bad tire. If the belts break in the tire, it can also change the ride and cause a pull to one side.
It’s also possible that the pull is from a failure of a suspension component. If part of the suspension is loose or damaged, you may feel more pull than usual.
Whatever it is, you want to have a qualified mechanic look at the vehicle to prevent further wear.
Reasons A Car Pulls After a Wheel Alignment
While performing a wheel alignment all of the tires are pointed in the same direction to allow the vehicle drive straight down the road. If after the wheel alignment, the car still pulls to one side, there is another issue.
Most likely, the suspension or steering has a worn component that will cause the car to pull, regardless of the alignment. Additionally, you may have a leak in one of the tires, which would cause low pressure.
Why does my car feel like it’s swaying left and right?
Swaying in the steering can indicate broken or failed suspension parts that are causing pulling and uneven tread wear.
A qualified technician should inspect the steering and suspension to avoid more issues.
How much does it cost to realign your steering wheel?
During a regular wheel alignment, the steering wheel is realigned. A wheel alignment usually costs between $50 and $200.
Depending on your vehicle type, where you have your vehicle serviced and how many wheels are being aligned, most vehicles will require a wheel alignment about once a year.
Can you drive with a misaligned steering wheel?
You can, but it’s not a good idea. A misaligned steering wheel is a sign that the wheels themselves have been knocked out of alignment.
Driving with a misaligned steering wheel is not safe. It could lead to odd tire wear and result in the vehicle pulling to one side as well as vibration through the steering wheel while driving.
What is the most likely cause of a vehicle that pulls to the right when driving and pulls to the left when braking?
There could be several reasons a car pulls to one side. One possibility is that the tread on the tires is wearing unevenly, possibly due to improper inflation of one of the tires or bad suspension component.
It is also possible that a brake caliper is sticking, which is causing the right hand pulling when normal driving but goes to the left when braking. It may also cause strange noises when driving.
Can old tires make your car pull?
Yes, when tires wear unevenly, the car is going to pull. This is more likely if you have newer tires mixed with old tires.
The old tire with more wear will cause more pulling than the one with less wear and have an uneven wear pattern. Low air pressure in one tire can also cause pulling.
When your car pulls to one side, you will be alarmed and will have trouble controlling the car.
However, do not panic over a pulling vehicle when you are going to address the issue right away. Most often it is just a tire or alignment issue. Both are fairly easy to resolve.
But it could be a steering or suspension issue as well. A brake system issue is also possible. It may be tougher to diagnose any of those issues and you may need help from a professional.
Regardless of the underlying issue, the sooner you get the underlying issue treated, the better chance you have of not causing further damage to your vehicle. If you want to keep the repair costs at a minimum, you will take care of it sooner than later.