Test driven car pulls to right.

friedfrog · Sep 6th, 2010, 09:06

Hello,
Test drove a 99 plate V70 D yesterday. The car has 106k miles, 12 main dealer stamps in the service book, Hpi clear, very clean and "straight" looking. When I drove it it started well travelled thru all gears well and braked in a straight line, however when driving it it pulled slighty to the left, it seemed (although this just might be me) to corner more easily to the left than to the right. I have a S70 so have a comparrison to go on.
The rear tyres on the V70 were nearly new (pirelli p6000's) and the front tyres, also pirrelli's had about 3-4mm of tread on them and were evenly worn. I didn't check tyre pressures but looking at them niether seemed to be deflated in any way.
Does anyone have any ideas as to what could be wrong?

Cheers,
Anthony.

V70Driver · Sep 6th, 2010, 10:23

Could well be tyre pressure, camber of road or anything to do with linkages to either side, that is to say repairs to linkages should be completed on both sides not just one.
As the seller is selling the car and had a known problem with linkage on one side any potential purchaser may notice, the seller repaired one side.

Only my suggestions, could be something worse or nothing at all.
Good luck

V70Driver

Matthews 855 T5 · Sep 6th, 2010, 11:06

Sounds like tracking/alignment. Could be worn control arms but you'd feel that when braking.

See if the seller will get the car aligned at his cost and provide you a receipt.

Matt

RollingThunder · Sep 6th, 2010, 12:43

Yep, tracking or tyre pressures. A cheap fix if its just pressures!

friedfrog · Sep 6th, 2010, 13:55

My first instinct was maybe the tracking, as I say tho, the front tyres were evenly worn. I would have thought the tracking would cause uneven wear either on the outside or inside edge of the tyre. As for tyre pressures, although I only visually checked them (and all seemed inflated well) I had a slow puncture on my S70 some time ago and after origionally discovering that one of my front tyres only had around 12 pounds of pressure in it I was struck at the time at how the car didn't show any signs of drifting or loss of handling at normal speeds.
The chap who is selling the car is about 80yrs old and hasn't driven for 4 months now so I can't really imagine him trying to mix and match tyres to try and disguise something.... although you never can really tell how honest/dishonest a seller might be.
The car is going for a very good price which is what makes me wary of the drifting/pulling issue.
I very much doubt any driveshaft troubles as the car still pulls/drifts when freewheeling out of gear.
I don't know wether to just take the plunge and buy it in the hope that the problem is fairly minor.

Cheers.

rtz62 · Sep 6th, 2010, 18:00

Forget which make / model he was talking about but 'Honest John' in the Motoring section of the Telegraph on Saturday suggested that certain makes would benefit from a quick drive onto the continent, as driving on the 'wrong side' appeared to cure the problem.

Probably a bit extreme and expensive...

I would suggest Pro-Align in Peterborough; I took mu Audi ur quattro there, they do a PROPER 4wheel alignment and can ascertain exactly what the problem is.

Chris_Rogers · Sep 6th, 2010, 19:55

If the seller will allow, check the tyre pressures adjust if necessary.

If this is OK try swapping the front tyres over.

Sep 6th, 2010, 09:06	#1
friedfrog Global Warmer Last Online: May 1st, 2016 16:58 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Malton	Test driven car pulls to right. Hello, Test drove a 99 plate V70 D yesterday. The car has 106k miles, 12 main dealer stamps in the service book, Hpi clear, very clean and "straight" looking. When I drove it it started well travelled thru all gears well and braked in a straight line, however when driving it it pulled slighty to the left, it seemed (although this just might be me) to corner more easily to the left than to the right. I have a S70 so have a comparrison to go on. The rear tyres on the V70 were nearly new (pirelli p6000's) and the front tyres, also pirrelli's had about 3-4mm of tread on them and were evenly worn. I didn't check tyre pressures but looking at them niether seemed to be deflated in any way. Does anyone have any ideas as to what could be wrong? Cheers, Anthony. __________________ So what if it only does 18 mpg, I'm a parent, not a conservationist!! Atheism; A not for prophet organisation.

Sep 6th, 2010, 11:06	#3
Matthews 855 T5 Master Member Last Online: Apr 16th, 2024 13:36 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: York	Sounds like tracking/alignment. Could be worn control arms but you'd feel that when braking. See if the seller will get the car aligned at his cost and provide you a receipt. Matt __________________ Get that kettle on!

Sep 6th, 2010, 12:43	#4
RollingThunder Grumpy Old Git Last Online: Apr 19th, 2024 09:16 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Yorkshire View Photos By: RollingThunder	Yep, tracking or tyre pressures. A cheap fix if its just pressures! __________________ S40 2.4i '07 Japanese import '96 850R - https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=312484 Ex Danish Embassy '96 940 GLE LPT - https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=326071

Sep 6th, 2010, 13:55	#5
friedfrog Global Warmer Last Online: May 1st, 2016 16:58 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Malton	My first instinct was maybe the tracking, as I say tho, the front tyres were evenly worn. I would have thought the tracking would cause uneven wear either on the outside or inside edge of the tyre. As for tyre pressures, although I only visually checked them (and all seemed inflated well) I had a slow puncture on my S70 some time ago and after origionally discovering that one of my front tyres only had around 12 pounds of pressure in it I was struck at the time at how the car didn't show any signs of drifting or loss of handling at normal speeds. The chap who is selling the car is about 80yrs old and hasn't driven for 4 months now so I can't really imagine him trying to mix and match tyres to try and disguise something.... although you never can really tell how honest/dishonest a seller might be. The car is going for a very good price which is what makes me wary of the drifting/pulling issue. I very much doubt any driveshaft troubles as the car still pulls/drifts when freewheeling out of gear. I don't know wether to just take the plunge and buy it in the hope that the problem is fairly minor. Cheers. __________________ So what if it only does 18 mpg, I'm a parent, not a conservationist!! Atheism; A not for prophet organisation.

Sep 6th, 2010, 10:23	#2
V70Driver Premier Member Last Online: Aug 21st, 2021 17:42 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Old Ghamin, Doha,	Could well be tyre pressure, camber of road or anything to do with linkages to either side, that is to say repairs to linkages should be completed on both sides not just one. As the seller is selling the car and had a known problem with linkage on one side any potential purchaser may notice, the seller repaired one side. Only my suggestions, could be something worse or nothing at all. Good luck V70Driver

Sep 6th, 2010, 18:00	#6
rtz62 Junior Member Last Online: May 7th, 2011 14:06 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Gods Own Country. Apparantly. View Photos By: rtz62	Forget which make / model he was talking about but 'Honest John' in the Motoring section of the Telegraph on Saturday suggested that certain makes would benefit from a quick drive onto the continent, as driving on the 'wrong side' appeared to cure the problem. Probably a bit extreme and expensive... I would suggest Pro-Align in Peterborough; I took mu Audi ur quattro there, they do a PROPER 4wheel alignment and can ascertain exactly what the problem is.

Sep 6th, 2010, 19:55	#7
Chris_Rogers VOC Member Last Online: Apr 10th, 2017 16:55 Join Date: Jan 1970 Location: South Kent Coast	If the seller will allow, check the tyre pressures adjust if necessary. If this is OK try swapping the front tyres over.

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