Tracking.......
Discussion
Got new tyres on the Grand Cherokee.
Had the tracking done, felt like pulling to the left a bit, had the tracking rechecked some weeks later, all within tolerances I'm told. The guy had it on the ramps for 30 mins and seemed to go through it all.
Yet it still very gently wants to drift left, even if I "test it" with a drive on the other side of the road.
It's just passed its mot as well.
So what else might it be ?
Had the tracking done, felt like pulling to the left a bit, had the tracking rechecked some weeks later, all within tolerances I'm told. The guy had it on the ramps for 30 mins and seemed to go through it all.
Yet it still very gently wants to drift left, even if I "test it" with a drive on the other side of the road.
It's just passed its mot as well.
So what else might it be ?
Oh Gawd, I feel your pain - I've had similar problems over the years too with various cars from Hot Hatches to Wranglers.
My OCD has to have the steering wheel dead centre, and the car feeling neutral, even on a camber (well, maybe I'll forgive a steep camber, obviously...)
Road cars can generally be fiddled with enough to get this - but it might be harder on a big off-roader, especially with leaf springs?
But anyway - my 2p's worth is that if you are still getting any pulling to either side, even after extensive tracking / geo set-ups, then you need to start looking at the tyres.
There are two things to consider. I have had cheaper tyres, even when brand new, exhibit signs that they're all not quite matched circumference-wise, or construction-wise. So an afternoon spent swapping wheels around to different sides and axles (obviously limited with 'direction' tyres) has produced a good result.
Then with top-quality tyre brands, I have had the same issue start to appear after a period of normal wear and tear. Seems that eventually, due to road camber mainly, tyres can begin to wear to a particular angle across their width that starts to show up as pulling the steering one way or the other.
The fix is the same - start to swap them around the car (starting with just a 'front-to-back' swap) and see what happens.
Or, in some cases, I have had to bite the bullet and buy a new pair across an axle - even though they might have a few mm of good tread left. But it's been a price worth paying - instant smooth neutrality with no more pulling.
Oh, and one last little temporary fix - pressures. If you have a pair of tyres across an axle that are being slightly annoying with this kind of pulling, then pumping in another 5 or 10 psi can sort them out for a while.
This is not an ideal solution obviously - and you need to adjust your driving style to suit (i.e. in wet / winter conditions, running at 40 psi instead of 30 psi means you need to be a bit more careful) but it can show you where the problem might be.
HTH
My OCD has to have the steering wheel dead centre, and the car feeling neutral, even on a camber (well, maybe I'll forgive a steep camber, obviously...)
Road cars can generally be fiddled with enough to get this - but it might be harder on a big off-roader, especially with leaf springs?
But anyway - my 2p's worth is that if you are still getting any pulling to either side, even after extensive tracking / geo set-ups, then you need to start looking at the tyres.
There are two things to consider. I have had cheaper tyres, even when brand new, exhibit signs that they're all not quite matched circumference-wise, or construction-wise. So an afternoon spent swapping wheels around to different sides and axles (obviously limited with 'direction' tyres) has produced a good result.
Then with top-quality tyre brands, I have had the same issue start to appear after a period of normal wear and tear. Seems that eventually, due to road camber mainly, tyres can begin to wear to a particular angle across their width that starts to show up as pulling the steering one way or the other.
The fix is the same - start to swap them around the car (starting with just a 'front-to-back' swap) and see what happens.
Or, in some cases, I have had to bite the bullet and buy a new pair across an axle - even though they might have a few mm of good tread left. But it's been a price worth paying - instant smooth neutrality with no more pulling.
Oh, and one last little temporary fix - pressures. If you have a pair of tyres across an axle that are being slightly annoying with this kind of pulling, then pumping in another 5 or 10 psi can sort them out for a while.
This is not an ideal solution obviously - and you need to adjust your driving style to suit (i.e. in wet / winter conditions, running at 40 psi instead of 30 psi means you need to be a bit more careful) but it can show you where the problem might be.
HTH
Brand new Grabber AT's all round.
Tyre pressure correct.
I think the AT's do seem to pull to the left a tad more than the road bias tyres I bought ther jeep with.
Looking back over the years Ive had a few cars that want to go left even after tracking all set up. My classic Saab 900 was one of them. The mechanic had it for an hour trying to sort it out but couldnt.
Maybe Im OCD about this too, it's not a big PITA I guess but in a perfect world.............
Tyre pressure correct.
I think the AT's do seem to pull to the left a tad more than the road bias tyres I bought ther jeep with.
Looking back over the years Ive had a few cars that want to go left even after tracking all set up. My classic Saab 900 was one of them. The mechanic had it for an hour trying to sort it out but couldnt.
Maybe Im OCD about this too, it's not a big PITA I guess but in a perfect world.............
I'd be looking at bushes, arb, panhard rod - see if there's any wear.
Also, try a different place for tracking - or ask to see the numbers.
You could try a pro geo place.
They will check for warped unbalaned tyres or wheels, check the car with weight bags in seats simulating people and check everything.
But, it'll cost a few hundred ££.
Your pull left could be due to unbalanced rear wheels pushing you round - so a full 4 wheel geo is the way to go.
Also, try a different place for tracking - or ask to see the numbers.
You could try a pro geo place.
They will check for warped unbalaned tyres or wheels, check the car with weight bags in seats simulating people and check everything.
But, it'll cost a few hundred ££.
Your pull left could be due to unbalanced rear wheels pushing you round - so a full 4 wheel geo is the way to go.
Cars imported to the UK are set up to track ever so slightly to the left, its partly a safety feature. If you fall asleep at the wheel the idea being you don't career accross the central reseveration and kill people or puppies!
However it should be bearly discerable from behind the wheel. If it is a definate pull you could have a sticky brake caliper, knackered track rod ends, faulty wheel bearing, uneven tyre pressures, warn ARB bushes all sorts really you just have to go through and check them all and replace anything that looks warn!
However it should be bearly discerable from behind the wheel. If it is a definate pull you could have a sticky brake caliper, knackered track rod ends, faulty wheel bearing, uneven tyre pressures, warn ARB bushes all sorts really you just have to go through and check them all and replace anything that looks warn!
I suffer a similar issue on my land cruiser, I replaced my steering rack and needed the tracking done as it was out, they tracked it and it slightly pulls left.
I also had 4 mud tires put on...and they have not done a great job with balancing as there is a slight steering shake at 60mph...but I'm told they are hard to balance. The place is apparently very good, I was a tad disappointed but I just can't be arsed to go back as it's not local to me
I also had 4 mud tires put on...and they have not done a great job with balancing as there is a slight steering shake at 60mph...but I'm told they are hard to balance. The place is apparently very good, I was a tad disappointed but I just can't be arsed to go back as it's not local to me
351GT said:
hi. u need top fit an offset ball joint, which will stop pulling the jeep to the left. it changes the caster angle to 1.5degrees.
it is a known tsb with grand cherokees.
My car mechanics aint quite up to speed with this, is there anything online I can read up to learn more about this solution ?it is a known tsb with grand cherokees.
thanks
http://www.wjjeeps.com/tsb.htm
ball joint is here http://www.wjjeeps.com/tsb/tsb_wj_0200102.pdf
However, my WG has adjustable suspension & the pull cannot be adjusted out when keeping the specs within reasonable limits
ball joint is here http://www.wjjeeps.com/tsb/tsb_wj_0200102.pdf
However, my WG has adjustable suspension & the pull cannot be adjusted out when keeping the specs within reasonable limits
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