Steering "prefers" to turn left?

[shift8]

So when I'm driving, the car will drive straight, but if say I hit a bump, or small pothole or something, the steering tends to want to pull to the left side. Additionally, if I'm not on a flat road, the car tends to want to drift to the left. This is only on a road that tilts towards the left side, (like the 410 highway which is setup to drain to the centre of the road instead of the outside).

The front end was just aligned in the last couple hundred kilometers by the dealer. Alignment was definitely off, and the cars definitely does not pull to the left like it was. However, as described above, it still has this preference to pull to the left when going over a bumpy section of road. Otherwise it drives straight as an arrow.

Any thoughts on this? My 2006 GT and 2010 GT never had this kind of issue, but maybe it's just the positioning of the half-axle or something different on the MS3? Maybe there is some bushing or control arm or something that needs to be adjusted or replaced?

Thoughts?

[Hyperion]

You just said that it pulls to the left, and you have an alignment issue. I don't get what the question is.

[pwdunmore]

You just said that it pulls to the left, and you have an alignment issue. I don't get what the question is.

+1

Get an alignment and report back lol

[shift8]

You just said that it pulls to the left, and you have an alignment issue. I don't get what the question is.

I'm saying, I just had an alignment done, and it no longer pulls to the left unless I go over a bumpy section. It's like turning left is loose, but turning right is not.

[shift8]

And I quote myself:


The front end was just aligned in the last couple hundred kilometers by the dealer.

[pwdunmore]

And I quote myself:

Not all alignments are equal, you have the alignment print off that shows all your specs?

[shift8]

Yes. I can say that the car does drive straight though. Like if I go on a flat road and drive, the car does not pull like when an alignment is out. When you drive over something like a bump though, instead of the steering wheel bouncing back and forth evenly, it bounces more left than it does right.

http://i.imgur.com/N0cN0Ub.jpg

[pwdunmore]

I think you are experiencing the tire pull or something else from the FWD axle.

If it's just rough road that it's pulling in certain directions its call tram-lining caused from the tire tread. If everything seems mechanically sound (no vibrations) and no clunking I wouldn't worry too much about it.

I'm more familiar with torque steer trying to ditch me lol...

[shift8]

Haha ya. I didn't think it was a big deal, but just seemed odd based on previously Mazda experience. There are no vibrations, odd noises etc.

Now the torque steer, I definitely notice that in the MS3 vs the MZR GT :)

I have summer tires (Potenza RE-11) so maybe some oddity in the extra traction on dry roads or something. I have no idea :)


I think you are experiencing the tire pull or something else from the FWD axle.

If it's just rough road that it's pulling in certain directions its call tram-lining caused from the tire tread. If everything seems mechanically sound (no vibrations) and no clunking I wouldn't worry too much about it.

I'm more familiar with torque steer trying to ditch me lol...

[pwdunmore]

Haha ya. I didn't think it was a big deal, but just seemed odd based on previously Mazda experience. There are no vibrations, odd noises etc.

Now the torque steer, I definitely notice that in the MS3 vs the MZR GT :)

I have summer tires (Potenza RE-11) so maybe some oddity in the extra traction on dry roads or something. I have no idea :)

Soft summer tires will do that, I get it all the time with all the road work they are doing on the 403/QEW near me. And that's with brand new tires/rims and alignment lol...

[shift8]

Soft summer tires will do that, I get it all the time with all the road work they are doing on the 403/QEW near me. And that's with brand new tires/rims and alignment lol...

OK cool, so I'll just chalk it up to "moar paow3rz n' moar sticky". Thanks :)

[Flagrum_3]

I'm saying, I just had an alignment done, and it no longer pulls to the left unless I go over a bumpy section. It's like turning left is loose, but turning right is not.

I get this all the time. After hitting a pothole or most any large bump, my steering seems go "vague", meaning it seems to loose where center is!....It is electronic steering afterall. Anyways I have found, if I experience the vagueness and make several left+ right movements of the steering wheel -( not enough to move out of your lane), it seems to remedy the issue. Go figure. Anyway can't hurt to give it a shot.

_3

[shift8]

Thanks for the tip. I'll give it a shot! Just wanted to see if this was a normal thing or if I should look into upgrading something :)

[sudz]

I dont have a speed or a new car with dsc or traction control... but does it do it if thats turned off? Just curious.

[pwdunmore]

I dont have a speed or a new car with dsc or traction control... but does it do it if thats turned off? Just curious.

Traction control only kicks on when the wheels spin (wet roads or when flooring it) and with speeds we also have a steering wheel angle sensor that limits power when turning.

[chao_zu55]

To add to the OP, my skyactive does the same, I've gone back to the dealer and they've done the allignment thing and apparently everything is within spec. they've tried switching the wheel around and its still doing the same.
The dealer has no idea what else can be wrong and i'm still driving the car that pulls towards the left.