Author Topic: Car won't go straight.  (Read 479 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Sparkrite

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Joined: Dec 2019
  • Location: London UK
  • Posts: 282
Car won't go straight.
« on: Monday,May 26, 2025, 12:27:31 AM »
My tcs has just been on a 200 mile trip mostly of motorway driving at about 65mph. I was constantly correcting the steering in very tiny increments. Typically on a straight/slightly off straight road,the car would start to veer off,I would correct it but shortly after I would need to re correct. My federal car is all standard, good tyres and no obvious play in the steering rack or steering joints. The only thing I can think of was I over inflated the tyres.

Offline Clifton

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Mar 2013
  • Location: Arizona
  • Posts: 805
Re: Car won't go straight.
« Reply #1 on: Monday,May 26, 2025, 01:28:51 AM »
I'm not a fan of the spring used to preload the tension on the rack. It's not a front heavy Spitfire and IMO too much. Things that will make a car not track straight, this is on the front. Uneven camber. Un even caster. Both not adjustable on a stock car. Excessive toe in or toe out will cause a darty feel but not usually a wandering from center. I have seen a new tire cause a pull, it was swapped left to right to verify. A low tire would cause drag, like really low.

Offline Pfreen

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Joined: Apr 2016
  • Location: Orlando, Florida
  • Posts: 734
Re: Car won't go straight.
« Reply #2 on: Monday,May 26, 2025, 03:45:40 AM »
I would have the alignment checked.  My TCS was way out, especially the rear toe.

Offline Dreamer

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Joined: Jun 2024
  • Location: K0K2C0 Frankford Ontario
  • Posts: 71
Re: Car won't go straight.
« Reply #3 on: Monday,May 26, 2025, 07:39:06 AM »
When you say you may have over inflated the tires, how much are we talking? As stated the TCS is very light in the front and over inflated front tires will cause the tire treads to become more rounded giving a smaller contact patch. Also the width of the tire and the cars relatively narrow track may cause the car to “seek” the worn area of the road. So you go from the left tires running in the left track and the right side tires being on a higher portion. Then the right side tires will drop down into the right side tire track.
FYI you should maintain an 8 to 10 lb.’s difference front to back.
Living life on the edge. Less crowded, better view!

Offline 4129R

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: May 2014
  • Location: Norfolk, United Kingdom, not far from Hethel the home of Lotus.
  • Posts: 2,810
Re: Car won't go straight.
« Reply #4 on: Monday,May 26, 2025, 09:20:53 AM »
What front tyres are fitted, and at what psi are they inflated?

Offline Sparkrite

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Joined: Dec 2019
  • Location: London UK
  • Posts: 282
Re: Car won't go straight.
« Reply #5 on: Monday,May 26, 2025, 11:48:20 AM »
If I recall they are Nankang 175/185. Can't recall the pressures though.

Offline Fotog

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Joined: Feb 2019
  • Location: Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, USA
  • Posts: 415
  • 72 Twin Cam
Re: Car won't go straight.
« Reply #6 on: Monday,May 26, 2025, 03:23:03 PM »
Seems like you should set the tire pressure to spec and try it out.  Step one, no?

Offline Sparkrite

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Joined: Dec 2019
  • Location: London UK
  • Posts: 282
Re: Car won't go straight.
« Reply #7 on: Tuesday,May 27, 2025, 12:37:06 AM »
Of course I will do this. But in over 40 years of driving different cars with all manner or tyres/pressures  I've never experienced this.

Offline jbcollier

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Nov 2013
  • Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
  • Posts: 6,075
Re: Car won't go straight.
« Reply #8 on: Wednesday,May 28, 2025, 03:07:28 PM »
+1, check your alignment.  If the front included angle is out, then you have bent uprights.

Offline Clifton

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Mar 2013
  • Location: Arizona
  • Posts: 805
Re: Car won't go straight.
« Reply #9 on: Wednesday,May 28, 2025, 03:11:06 PM »
Of course I will do this. But in over 40 years of driving different cars with all manner or tyres/pressures  I've never experienced this.

Checking pressure is number one but that wasn't done. A very low tire will cause drag.

Offline EuropaTC

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Jun 2012
  • Location: Lincolnshire, UK
  • Posts: 3,195
    • LotusLand
Re: Car won't go straight.
« Reply #10 on: Wednesday,May 28, 2025, 11:05:59 PM »
Of course I will do this. But in over 40 years of driving different cars with all manner or tyres/pressures  I've never experienced this.

Checking pressure is number one but that wasn't done. A very low tire will cause drag.

^^ I agree with this. I have wider tyres than standard and wrong tyre pressures or differential pressure across the axle is noticeable even to me, more so than with heavier (normal) cars.

Plus it's a very easy & quick box to tick before going on to the alignment checks.