If your car constantly drifts or pulls to the left or right while you drive, it is a sign that something may be wrong with your tires, alignment, brakes, steering, or suspension.
A slight pull can be easy to ignore at first, especially if the vehicle still feels mostly normal. However, pulling can lead to uneven tire wear, poor handling, reduced fuel efficiency, and potentially unsafe driving conditions if the underlying problem gets worse.
At Red Rock Auto Repair in Salt Lake City, we help drivers diagnose steering, suspension, brake, tire, and alignment-related concerns so they can get back on the road with confidence.
1. Your Wheel Alignment Is Off
Alignment services Salt Lake City
There are many reasons why your car may be pulling to one side but improper wheel alignment is one of the most common offenders.
Wheel alignment deals with the angles of your wheels relative to the road and to each other. If your wheels aren’t aligned properly your car or truck will drift naturally to the left or right.
- The car pulls to one side on a flat road
- The steering wheel sits off-center
- Tires wear unevenly
- The vehicle feels unstable at highway speeds
- You recently hit a pothole or curb
Alignment problems are very common in Salt Lake City because our roads are littered with potholes, damage from winter weather, construction, and just plain old rough pavement.
2. Improper Tire Pressure
Check your tire pressure before jumping to conclusions about needing an alignment.
Low air in one tire can cause uneven rolling resistance and make your car pull towards that tire. Think about it like this: If your front right tire is low, your car may try to pull to the right.
Inspect all four tires and compare the pressure of each tire to what your vehicle manufacturer recommends. (You can usually find these numbers on a sticker inside your driver’s door jamb.)
You should also visually inspect your tires for:
- Visible damage
- Uneven wear
- Bulges
- Cracks
- Embedded objects
Tire issues can sometimes present themselves as alignment or suspension problems.
3. Uneven or Damaged Tires
Even if your tires are properly inflated, they can create a pulling sensation.
Tires can become uneven from poor alignment, worn out suspension pieces, improper inflation, or infrequent rotation.
Pulling may also occur if you have one tire with a significantly different tread depth due to an internal flaw or manufacturing defect.
Symptoms that your problem may be caused by your tires:
- Pulling that started after replacing one or two tires
- Uneven tread wear
- Vibration at certain speeds
- Excessive road noise
- A vehicle that seems to wander on the highway
In some cases, rotating your tires or installing new ones may correct the problem. However, you should identify why the uneven tire wear happened originally.
4. A Sticking Brake Caliper
Your vehicle pulling to one side when braking could mean you have a brake issue.
Brake calipers push the brake pads against the rotors when you apply the brakes. A sticking caliper may cause uneven braking force on one side.
You may notice your vehicle pulling to one side while braking. However, if the brake is stuck partially on, your vehicle may pull while driving normally as well.
- A burning smell near one wheel
- Excessive heat from one wheel
- Reduced fuel economy
- Uneven brake pad wear
- Brake dust buildup on one wheel
- The vehicle pulling harder when braking
A sticking brake caliper can cause extreme heat. It’s best to get this problem looked at sooner rather than later.
5. Worn Steering or Suspension Components
Your steering and suspension systems work to keep your wheels aligned and evenly gripping the road.
When suspension or steering parts become loose or worn, the vehicle may pull to one side, wander, or drive strangely.
These areas can wear out or loosen over time:
- Tie rods
- Ball joints
- Control arms
- Control arm bushings
- Wheel bearings
- Struts
- Shocks
- Steering linkage
You may also notice clunking, popping, or knocking sounds when turning or driving over bumps.
Worn suspension components can also affect your alignment. Realigning the wheels may not be a permanent fix if there are worn suspension parts.
6. Road Crown and Road Conditions
Road conditions can actually cause your vehicle to pull to one side.
Road crown refers to the slight slope all roads have from the center of the road to the side. This allows rainwater to drain off the road.
Due to this slope, your vehicle may pull towards the right side of most roads, even if your alignment is perfect.
If your car pulls strongly to one side, pulls on different roads, or you find yourself constantly having to correct your steering, road crown should not be your only explanation.
Why Does My Car Pull Only When I Brake?
If your car drives straight when driving normally, but pulls when you apply the brake pedal, it may be time to inspect the brake system.
Check for:
- A sticking brake caliper
- Uneven brake pad wear
- Contaminated brake components
- Brake hose problems
- Uneven braking force between wheels
Pulling while braking can make it difficult to control your vehicle. It’s best to diagnose the issue before it becomes a bigger problem.
Why Does My Car Pull After Hitting a Pothole?
Potholes can cause many different parts of your vehicle to be damaged at the same time.
Hitting a pothole can:
- Knock the wheels out of alignment
- Bend a wheel
- Damage a tire
- Damage a suspension component
- Affect steering geometry
If your car starts pulling right after running over a pothole or curb, be sure to get the tires, wheels, alignment, and suspension checked.
Can Bad Shocks or Struts Cause a Car to Pull?
Yes! Faulty or worn shocks and struts can cause handling problems and instability.
Your shocks and struts dampen up and control your suspension movement and keep your tires on the road. Should your shocks/struts be worn or damaged out on one side of the vehicle, your car may feel like it isn’t safe to drive because it feels unstable when braking, turning, or driving over uneven pavement.
- Excessive bouncing
- Nose-diving under braking
- Uneven tire wear
- Poor cornering
- Clunking noises
- A loose or floating feeling while driving
These could be signs that your suspension should be inspected.
Is It Safe to Drive If Your Car Pulls to One Side?
Pulling to one side may not always be an emergency, but it shouldn’t be ignored.
You should take your vehicle to get checked if:
- The pull is getting stronger
- The steering feels loose
- The car pulls while braking
- You hear unusual noises
- One wheel feels unusually hot
- Your tires are wearing unevenly
- The steering wheel is significantly off-center
If at any point your vehicle suddenly feels hard to control, do not drive the vehicle until it can be checked.
Why You Should Fix a Pulling Problem Early
Wheel Alignment Service in Salt Lake City
Pulling to one side can cause further wear and tear on your vehicle. You do not want to wait because:
Misalignment will quickly ruin a set of tires.
A sticking brake caliper can cause damage to your brake pads and rotors.
Suspension parts that are worn can cause your car to handle poorly and make it hard to maintain proper alignment.
There could be several reasons your car pulls to one side. Either way, your tires, brakes, and suspension will benefit from having the issue resolved sooner rather than later.
Auto Repair and Suspension Service in Salt Lake City
If your vehicle is pulling to the left or right, Red Rock Auto Repair in Salt Lake City can help determine what is causing it.
It could be from alignment, tires, brakes, steering parts, or worn suspension. But with a thorough inspection we can figure out what the problem is and fix it with the right repair. Call Red Rock Auto Repair if your car pulls to one side, wanders, tires unevenly, or feels unstable. Schedule an inspection and get your car driving straight again.
If your car pulls to one side, give Red Rock Auto Repair in Salt Lake City a call today to schedule an inspection. We strive to keep Salt Lake City drivers safe with quality alignment & suspension services, honest communication, and dependable repairs. Call (801) 487-9900 or fill out our online form. We look forward to keeping your safe on the road!