Violently pulls to the right
Discussion
Yet another problem.
The Mini has pulled to the right under braking for about a month. Everything - suspension/steering wise - seemed okay, so I just put it down to the tracking being out which I intended to get done anyway.
In the past week, however, it's started violently pulling to the right all the time.
If I let go of the wheel on a straight road, it will drift a little to the right and then suddenly turn a lot - to the extent that it will direct itself if I want to turn right onto a side road.
I've measured the distance between the front and back wheels on both sides, and it's the same (I'm on my own so couldn't get a completely accurate reading, but it was as close to the same as makes no difference).
I checked the tyre pressures and although the fronts were low, both were the same. (I got them pumped back up to 28psi.)
I switched the front tyres over, and it still pulled to the right.
Both wheel bearings seem fine: there's no noise or movement in either wheel.
The front tie bars are straight.
The driver's side track rod end rubber dust cover is cracked, which I hadn't noticed before (so it's probably only cracked in the last month), but I can't see that causing this.
As far as I can tell, neither of the brakes are catching (both wheels seemed to spin at the same speed when I had it in the air, although it was nothing like scientific).
It feels incredibly twitchy on a straight road, and will understeer a little at first if I try to turn left gradually.
So what on earth is causing it?
As an aside, I've also discovered today that the nearside wheel scrapes on the back of the wing (i.e. the outside of the passenger footwell) at full left lock. Again, why's it doing that? It's another thing that's developed in the past two weeks or so.
In those past two weeks, I lowered the front suspension. In the process of getting it right, I had some instances where the tyres scraped on the arches. Has my messing with the suspension caused one/both of these issues? I've now put the front suspension very high, and both issues remain.
Thanks for the help.
The Mini has pulled to the right under braking for about a month. Everything - suspension/steering wise - seemed okay, so I just put it down to the tracking being out which I intended to get done anyway.
In the past week, however, it's started violently pulling to the right all the time.
If I let go of the wheel on a straight road, it will drift a little to the right and then suddenly turn a lot - to the extent that it will direct itself if I want to turn right onto a side road.
I've measured the distance between the front and back wheels on both sides, and it's the same (I'm on my own so couldn't get a completely accurate reading, but it was as close to the same as makes no difference).
I checked the tyre pressures and although the fronts were low, both were the same. (I got them pumped back up to 28psi.)
I switched the front tyres over, and it still pulled to the right.
Both wheel bearings seem fine: there's no noise or movement in either wheel.
The front tie bars are straight.
The driver's side track rod end rubber dust cover is cracked, which I hadn't noticed before (so it's probably only cracked in the last month), but I can't see that causing this.
As far as I can tell, neither of the brakes are catching (both wheels seemed to spin at the same speed when I had it in the air, although it was nothing like scientific).
It feels incredibly twitchy on a straight road, and will understeer a little at first if I try to turn left gradually.
So what on earth is causing it?
As an aside, I've also discovered today that the nearside wheel scrapes on the back of the wing (i.e. the outside of the passenger footwell) at full left lock. Again, why's it doing that? It's another thing that's developed in the past two weeks or so.
In those past two weeks, I lowered the front suspension. In the process of getting it right, I had some instances where the tyres scraped on the arches. Has my messing with the suspension caused one/both of these issues? I've now put the front suspension very high, and both issues remain.
Thanks for the help.
Edited by TVR Sagaris on Monday 29th November 12:02
Edited by TVR Sagaris on Monday 29th November 12:05
Edited by TVR Sagaris on Monday 29th November 12:16
Is it not a safety feature that the brakes are on two circuits - f/o/s + r/n/s is one circuit, f/n/s + r/o/s the second, in case one fails?
Both circuits should work together when the brake pedal is pushed. I think their operation can be adjusted to work together if they are not doing so. Could be wrong tho.
Both circuits should work together when the brake pedal is pushed. I think their operation can be adjusted to work together if they are not doing so. Could be wrong tho.
pacman1 said:
Is it not a safety feature that the brakes are on two circuits - f/o/s + r/n/s is one circuit, f/n/s + r/o/s the second, in case one fails?
Both circuits should work together when the brake pedal is pushed. I think their operation can be adjusted to work together if they are not doing so. Could be wrong tho.
That wouldn't explain it doing it all the time, though, would it? Both circuits should work together when the brake pedal is pushed. I think their operation can be adjusted to work together if they are not doing so. Could be wrong tho.
By all the time, I mean: under acceleration; at constant throttle; at no throttle; under braking.
GTRMikie said:
It sounds like the caster angle is wrong on one of the front wheels. Are the tie rod bushes in good nick? I would get the steering geometry checked out, not just the tracking. Raising and lowering the car changes the camber which will affect the caster.
+1 from me too.And ideally you want the front to be lower than the back, or both the same.
What wheels are you running? Standard or bigger/wider?
I would check out the tie rod and bottom arm bushes. Sounds like something is moving when on the move ie under load. When you measured the wheelbase it wasn't under load.
(A better check is the diagonal distance BTW, but its a lot of work !...generally for competition cars tho).
(A better check is the diagonal distance BTW, but its a lot of work !...generally for competition cars tho).
TVR Sagaris said:
By all the time, I mean: under acceleration; at constant throttle; at no throttle; under braking.
Does that include when coasting in neutral ? If so that rules out interference from drive shafts, diff, engine mounts, etc.I had new track rod ends, got the front suspension at about the right height and then the tracking done which fixed the issue. It no longer pulls to the right but still doesn't feel perfect - although it probably never has while I've owned it.
There are a few other jobs that still need doing, so I'm hoping to have it as close to perfect as is possible pretty soon.
There are a few other jobs that still need doing, so I'm hoping to have it as close to perfect as is possible pretty soon.
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