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Thread: Car pulls right after new tires

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Quebec Canada
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    1,319
    My Cars
    92 735iL (12/1991)

    Car pulls right after new tires

    Hi all. I had new tires installed on the car last week, they are Continental DWS 06 (42/17 manufacture).

    Now when driving, I have to hold the steering wheel to the left, in order to go straight. Is that somehow related to the tires?

    The tire shop didn't touch the alignment of the car. They balanced the wheels correctly too.

    So is the crooked steering related to the new tires or is it just coincidence?

    Thanks.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Japan
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    54,613
    My Cars
    11/88 E32 750iL+98 E36M3
    Maybe the steering was aligned with old tires. I had once a pulling to one side, asked the boss of a BMW shop, an old experienced service man. He told me to add new tires and then check the alignment. Worked for me.
    When it pulls to one side, first check if the steering is alitgned on the steering box. Does not matter how the steering wheel is set, the important thing is that the steering box is at the zero mark when the wheels are straight. See workshop manual section 32, 32-00/5: position steering gear to straight ahead , marks on steering gear box case and steering shaft must be aligned. The loosen bolts of tie rods and adjust.
    I use for that adjustment since 10 years the Gunson Trakrite drive over wheel alignment gauge, bought it from U.K. http://www.gunson.co.uk/product/G4008
    Last edited by shogun; 08-12-2022 at 02:16 AM.
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Kuna, Idaho
    Posts
    736
    My Cars
    Too Many Cars (NOT!)
    I have a 2007 Mercedes Benz CL600 and when I purchased it, the lead tech at the dealer advised me that the pulling to the right on my car was due to what's known as "Radial Pull". I just had a 4 wheel alignment done at a BMW specialty alignment place and the two front tires were almost brand new.

    Apparently it's a real thing. I happen to have Michelin's which are known to do it, but it could also be happening on other brands.
    You could try (for a short time, in spite of them possible being directional), reversing the right and left front wheels and see if the pulling then transfers to the left. If it does, take the car back to where you purchased the tires and get them to replace the right front (after reversing them back). Not all tires do it and I don't know what causes it nor does the Mercedes tech who told me about it.
    Mike Drives:
    BMW's
    E24 - 635CSiA - (1) 1985 (US)
    E24 - 635CSi - (1) 1985 (EC)
    E31 - 850iA - (1) 1991 (Black)
    E31 - 850iA - (1) 1991 (Calypso Red)

    E32 - 740iA - (1) 1994
    E32 - 750iA - (1) 1990 (Not an "L") (EC German National)
    E32 - 735iL - (2) 1990
    E32 - 750iL - (1) 1990

    E38 - 740iLA - (2) (1) 1997 & (1) 1998
    E38 - 750iLA - (1) 1998
    E38 - 740iA - (1) 2000 "Short Sport"
    E39 - 528iA - (2) - 2000 & (1) 1997
    Also:
    2015 Ram 3500 Dually, Cumins 6.7, Std.Cab. Long box 4x4 (To haul all this junk when necessary)
    2014 Dodge Dart Rallye (Daily Driver)
    2007 Mercedes Benz CL600 (Brabus SV12S)
    Mercedes Benz SL's - (1) (2002) & (1) 1999 500 - (1) 1999 600
    1967 Buick Riviera (2)

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Quebec Canada
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    1,319
    My Cars
    92 735iL (12/1991)
    I crawled under the car today and this is the alignment mark on the steering box. This is with the wheels pointing straight.

    alignment.jpg

    I suspected that maybe when I worked on the steering column to fix the stuck telescoping function, I may have misaligned something.
    But I did not find anything damaged or out of alignment on the column. And anyway the issue only came after the tires were installed.

    Masbury what you mention is very interesting. I will swap the front left and right wheels and go for a drive. I'll update here.

    Thank you.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Japan
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    54,613
    My Cars
    11/88 E32 750iL+98 E36M3
    Some month ago one of my wrenching buddies had a similar problem. Always pulled to one side. Steering box rechecked, all find, checked with trakrite, was o.k.
    Then he remove the front wheels and rolled them on a flat ground, one was always tuning to one side, bad tire.
    Changed tires, all fine.
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Quebec Canada
    Posts
    1,319
    My Cars
    92 735iL (12/1991)
    I swapped the left and right front tires and the car still pulls to the right.

    The car might need an alignment. I will get it in the shop next week.

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