2002 OBW Pulls to Left

[Jonathan Goodish]

I have a 2002 Legacy OBW that pulls to the left.

Tires are properly inflated with fairly even tread wear, but they're
also nearly new.

The car has always had a slight pull to the left since new, but never as
badly as it has been recently.

I suspected the alignment, so I had the dealer perform a 4 wheel
alignment. Before the dealer did the alignment, the mechanic drove the
car and described the pulling as "almost dangerous." The car would
travel straight down the highway and then, all of sudden, veer off to
the left on its own, even into the crown of the road.

After the alignment, the result was better, but a slight pulling is
still present. The dealer is stumped, because they have checked
everything that they know to check. They are going to escalate to
Subaru, but in the meantime, does anyone have any ideas?



Thanks,
JKG

 

[Edward Hayes]

I would expect to find the rack bushings or some other suspension part
has loosed up.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

I have a 2002 Legacy OBW that pulls to the left.

Tires are properly inflated with fairly even tread wear, but they're
also nearly new.

The car has always had a slight pull to the left since new, but never as
badly as it has been recently.

I suspected the alignment, so I had the dealer perform a 4 wheel
alignment. Before the dealer did the alignment, the mechanic drove the
car and described the pulling as "almost dangerous." The car would
travel straight down the highway and then, all of sudden, veer off to
the left on its own, even into the crown of the road.

After the alignment, the result was better, but a slight pulling is
still present. The dealer is stumped, because they have checked
everything that they know to check. They are going to escalate to
Subaru, but in the meantime, does anyone have any ideas?



Thanks,
JKG

Are you SURE its better? When they did the alignment - did they say it
was out of spec? What's the service history like? any wrecks or odd
ocurrences? Towing? Does matter what type of road you're on? have they
checked fluid levels including the front differential?

Carl

 

[Jonathan Goodish]

Are you SURE its better? When they did the alignment - did they say it
was out of spec? What's the service history like? any wrecks or odd
ocurrences? Towing? Does matter what type of road you're on? have they
checked fluid levels including the front differential?

It seems better. The mechanic drove the car before the alignment and
thought it would be way off. It was out of spec, but it wasn't far out
of spec. The mechanic and I both agree that it seems better after the
alignment, but it still isn't right.

The car was purchased new, has never been towed, and has never been
wrecked.

Roads have been asphalt and concrete, including highways.

Front diff. fluid level is fine. However, I did suspect that there was
a diff. problem also, because I thought that the pulling was slightly
worse under acceleration, but I'm not sure that I can make a
determination about the diff. involvement from that observation alone.


JKG

 

[Michael Pardee]

I have a 2002 Legacy OBW that pulls to the left.

Tires are properly inflated with fairly even tread wear, but they're
also nearly new.

The car has always had a slight pull to the left since new, but never as
badly as it has been recently.

I suspected the alignment, so I had the dealer perform a 4 wheel
alignment. Before the dealer did the alignment, the mechanic drove the
car and described the pulling as "almost dangerous." The car would
travel straight down the highway and then, all of sudden, veer off to
the left on its own, even into the crown of the road.

After the alignment, the result was better, but a slight pulling is
still present. The dealer is stumped, because they have checked
everything that they know to check. They are going to escalate to
Subaru, but in the meantime, does anyone have any ideas?



Thanks,
JKG

I had a Volvo that pulled radically to one side. It turned out the front
tire on the other side was separating in a way that sort of tilted the tread
on nearly half the circumference. Of course a rotation will eliminate the
tires as a cause, but I'd think it would have been obvious when the wear was
checked.

Mike

 

[Sheldon]

Does the car pull worse under load? When you let off the gas? When you are
braking? Does it get better when you do any of these things?

 

[Edward Hayes]

Try rotating tires side to side. You may have a bad belt.

 

[Jonathan Goodish]

Can't do it, the tires are directional.


JKG

Try rotating tires side to side. You may have a bad belt.

 

[AS]

The sudden pull, does it happen under acceleration? coasting?

If your car pulls all of the sudden, it could be a rack and pinion
problem. The r&p has a hidraulic valve which controls the flow of the
hydraulic pressure to the desired side of the hydraulic assist cylinder,
part of the rack and pinion.

Tire problems normally pull gradually, and at higher speeds the pull is
more noticeable.

Alignment has been done already, but was it a reliable shop? Toe-out in
the front end could result in steering demanding continuos corrections
and the car would feel loose; any road bumps would change the course.
Off-specs caster would cause a permanent pull.

Good luck.