Pulling to the right problem...

[Triple Pickle]

Update: got off my lazy butt before daylight and swapped sides with the front tires. It did seem to help a little but the symptoms persist. I again drove at interstate speeds and immediately checked the temperatures of the front wheels by laying my hand on them. Both were cool to the touch.
The only thing I could detect the slightest play in is the idler arm. I might do a closer inspection on it after work.

 

[rags]

had put a pair of 3/4 worn used tires on the rear of Mrs. volvo wagon. didn't notice 'till i put them on that they were directional tires. both were for the right side. thought nothing of it. pulled to the right.

 

[Triple Pickle]

Ok. I’ve got it fixed!!!
I’ll try to make this short. It’s a cautionary tale of buying someone else’s problems.
When I got the car it didn’t run, the motor mounts had both broken and the engine had fell down. It had a cobbled up dual exhaust and the right down pipe had gotten tangled up in the idler arm. It had actually sheared the pipe off of the manifold. (They must have driven it that way)
I fixed the mounts, got it running and replaced the exhaust.
Never suspecting the idler arm itself was bent!!!!
It had everything at odd angles. The wobbly wheel my buddy seen on the right front? I chalk that up to the caster fighting with the tie rods for control.
I replaced it with a good used one I had and that fixed it 100%.
Once again, I want to thank everyone who chimed in to help me through this.
I appreciate and respect your input more than I can put in words.
Thank you.

 

[bluefury361]

Well ain't that a pisser....... Glad you figured it out.

 

[rkrochen]

Ok. I’ve got it fixed!!!
I’ll try to make this short. It’s a cautionary tale of buying someone else’s problems.
When I got the car it didn’t run, the motor mounts had both broken and the engine had fell down. It had a cobbled up dual exhaust and the right down pipe had gotten tangled up in the idler arm. It had actually sheared the pipe off of the manifold. (They must have driven it that way)
I fixed the mounts, got it running and replaced the exhaust.
Never suspecting the idler arm itself was bent!!!!
It had everything at odd angles. The wobbly wheel my buddy seen on the right front? I chalk that up to the caster fighting with the tie rods for control.
I replaced it with a good used one I had and that fixed it 100%.
Once again, I want to thank everyone who chimed in to help me through this.
I appreciate and respect your input more than I can put in words.
Thank you.

Glad you figured it out. It’s always tough figuring out problems like this but if you preserve you will get through it.

 

[MarPar]

 

[Triple Pickle]

Yeah,,(sniff) I pretty much knew what it was all along....

 

[MarPar]

 

[Triple Pickle]

Straight as an arrow....

 

[rkrochen]

Awesome. Enjoy the ride.

 

[rkrochen]

Wishing I could get out already but the weather here sucks. Looks good for next week though. Maybe do the winterpeg swap meet Sunday.

 

[old_phart]

I’m looking for some input from any suspension experts we have here.
Here’s the issue: I recently started driving my ‘72 Polara. It didn’t run good enough to drive when I first bought it so I had to deal with those issues first,,now that I’ve got it on the road, it pulls to the right. Not real hard but , bad enough that if you let go of the wheel you’ll be in the ditch pretty quick.
The brakes don’t seem to be dragging or getting hot but, when I apply the brakes the car corrects itself and when take my hand off of the wheel it doesn’t pull one way or the other. As soon as the brakes are released it goes back to pulling to the right.
Ive checked the front end parts and they all seem to be tight enough not to cause this issue but, I wouldn’t rule out “stacked tolerances” causing it.
Also, a string and tape measure check in the alignment didn’t reveal any questionable information.
I haven’t done a close inspection on the rear axle. I kinda suspect that the centering pin might be moving in the hardware that holds the axle to the springs. It’s the rubber insulated torsion air ride stuff common on our cars. Seems like I’ve experienced this issue before, but I can’t remember for sure.
Anyway any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[old_phart]

Don't over look the obvious, a slight pull either direction is probably an alignment issue. Take it to a reputable alignment shop and have the CASTER specifically checked (a normal part of an alignment)...this can't be done with tape measure and string.

 

[Triple Pickle]

Don't over look the obvious, a slight pull either direction is probably an alignment issue. Take it to a reputable alignment shop and have the CASTER specifically checked (a normal part of an alignment)...this can't be done with tape measure and string.

Can’t be done with the alignment shops around here either!

 

[66Fury383]

Sorry to clutter this solved thread, but what do you guys mean when you say the car is "dog walking"? Not familiar with this term!

 

[Triple Pickle]

Sorry to clutter this solved thread, but what do you guys mean when you say the car is "dog walking"? Not familiar with this term!

When the front and rear axles are so out of parallel, the car appears to be drifting while going straight. Occasionally you will see a dog walk like that.

 

[66Fury383]

When the front and rear axles are so out of parallel, the car appears to be drifting while going straight. Occasionally you will see a dog walk like that.

Thanks!

 

[savoy64]

had a broken rear main leaf spring once----it pulled about an inch apart but didnt clear the spring bolts so it didnt totally pull apart-------another car couldnt get aligned because one rear leaf spring had layed down flat------sometimes a problem at the rear can feel like it is on the front.....

 

[livininharrow]

When the front and rear axles are so out of parallel, the car appears to be drifting while going straight. Occasionally you will see a dog walk like that.

I met this girl once.

 

[Triple Pickle]

I met this girl once.

Did they call her “Step And A Half?”