90 Legacy awd auto. At freeway speeds or anything about 45 it seems I get a weird pulling. About every 3 seconds the car will pull left and then straighten out. It repeats like clockwork. I notice it the most when accelerating or climbing a hill. Not sure if it could be the tires or an alignment issue. Any ideas?

 

Thanks,

Jeremy

Could be a tempermental CV joint. If it starts to bind alittle, it may pull to that side... then when it free's up it would be like nothing had happend. Would also explain the high speed and acceleration only part.

 

-Brian

90 Legacy awd auto. At freeway speeds or anything about 45 it seems I get a weird pulling. About every 3 seconds the car will pull left and then straighten out. It repeats like clockwork. I notice it the most when accelerating or climbing a hill. Not sure if it could be the tires or an alignment issue. Any ideas?

 

Thanks,

Jeremy

 

get it checked out asap. This can be a ball joint/bushing/tie rod end nearing the end of its life (actually sounds like its past it). i had this in an 88GL and about 70 miles later the tie rod end popped (thank god i was aproaching a toll booth when it happened). I doubt its a cv joint as they get better as you go faster, and are much more noticble at low speeds and on turns.

 

nipper

get it checked out asap. This can be a ball joint/bushing/tie rod end nearing the end of its life (actually sounds like its past it). i had this in an 88GL and about 70 miles later the tie rod end popped (thank god i was aproaching a toll booth when it happened). I doubt its a cv joint as they get better as you go faster, and are much more noticble at low speeds and on turns.

 

nipper

Oh really? Hum... I better dive under there and look. Would it be the ball joint on the drivers side then?

Every CV ive had fail, shows signs of failure at high speeds.

 

Except for the clicking noises... but vibration and pulling usually occurs at freeway speeds rather than 0-35mph.

 

-Brian

Does it drift over and you have to correct it back or can you feel a tug in the wheel when it happens?

 

(I'm not sure even why I'm asking other than loose/worn out steering parts might allow drifting. A pump or rack problem , or AWD/front diff problem might cause a 'pulling' in the steering wheel more)

 

 

Carl

Every CV ive had fail, shows signs of failure at high speeds.

 

Except for the clicking noises... but vibration and pulling usually occurs at freeway speeds rather than 0-35mph.

 

-Brian

 

now ive had the opposit, they all made a fuss at low speed, weither way whatever it is about to go south on you.

 

Jack the car up, and wiggle the tire at the 3,9 oclock posiyion and look at the tie rod. Next do it at the 12,6 position and look at the ball joint, you also need to pry up on the tire with a pipe ubder the tire and inspcect the ball joint Fibally turn the wheel left or right and rotate it by hand, watch the axle and feel for any resistance to turn. Check both sides.

your mileage and age it can be any one of them.

 

Which leads to an interesting observation, its not too often somone says they need ball joints...

 

 

nipper