Car pulls to one side
First separate a constant pull from one that happens only under braking or acceleration. A steady pull on a flat road is tyre pressure, tyre conicity or alignment (camber and caster split); a pull only when braking is a dragging or weak caliper on one side; a pull that changes direction between acceleration and lift-off is torque steer from worn suspension bushes or unequal driveshafts. Swapping the front tyres side to side is the fastest way to prove or rule out a tyre problem: if the pull reverses, it is the tyre.
Urgency
Visit a workshop soon
Possible causes, most likely first
- Unequal tyre pressures or a tyre with conicity
Car drifts toward the side with the lower pressure or the conical tyre. Set all pressures to the door-sticker value, then swap the front tyres side to side: if the pull reverses, replace or move the faulty tyre to the rear. - Wheel alignment out of specification
Constant pull in one direction with the steering wheel off-centre when driving straight, often with one-sided tyre wear on the inner or outer shoulder. A four-wheel alignment check will show camber or caster differing by more than about 0.5 degrees side to side. - Dragging brake caliper on one side
Pull that increases after a few stops and a hot wheel on the side the car pulls toward. Check caliper piston movement and slide pins; measure wheel temperatures after a drive. - Weak or seized caliper on the opposite side
Pull only under braking toward the side with the working brake; the slow side shows a rusty disc and little pad wear. Inspect for a collapsed flexible brake hose or a corroded piston that does not apply. - Worn control arm bushings or ball joints
Pull that changes under acceleration and braking, vague steering and knocking over bumps. Check for play with a pry bar on the bushings and watch for the arm shifting when the brakes are applied on a lift. - Damaged or collapsed strut, spring or subframe mount
Noticeable difference in ride height side to side and a pull after an accident or heavy pothole hit. Measure ride height at all four wheel arches and check the subframe bolts and mounts for shift marks. - Memory steer from a binding strut top mount or steering joint
Steering stays slightly turned after a corner rather than self-centring, so the car wanders in the direction of the last turn. Lift the car and turn the wheel lock to lock, feeling for notchiness; a bound strut bearing or steering shaft joint is the usual cause.
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What you can check yourself
- Set all tyre pressures to the recommended values and test drive on a flat, straight road with no crown.
- Note whether the pull is constant, only under braking, or only under acceleration.
- After a drive, compare the temperature of the front wheels by holding a hand near each rim.
- Look at the front tyres for uneven shoulder wear and at the steering wheel position when driving straight.