Disco 4 pulls to left when not corrected

[jonrichkl]

Hi All,


I'm new on here but think I've scoured the forum enough to check my question's not been posted already. Apologies if not. Hope you can help.


I've got a 85k km 2011 D4 3.0l SDV6 which I've had for 16 months/25k km and am very pleased with. However, ever since I've had it, the steering wheel turns slightly and it pulls slightly to the left when driving. When held on-centre, the car tracks as it should.


The vehicle has been aligned several times by Trivett Land Rover, Alexandria, NSW (and has been put into 'tight tolerance mode' so the suspension isn't adjusting whilst aligning is being done) but there is never any improvement and Trivett are unable/unwilling to help.


The alignment 'might' actually be OK as when the steering wheel is held centered, the vehicle tracks straight and true however when released it pulls slightly to the left.


During the alignment, the tyres have been checked and rotated several times so I think the problem is independent of the tyres.


Tyre wear is even too (which sort of makes sense for a car that, when the steering wheel is held central, drives straight). The tyres are Michelin Latitude 255/50/20 and are all the same age. The rims are LR 20" upgrade.


I don't think the pull isn't caused by camber as it occurs even on neutral or off-camber roads too.


The car brakes in a straight line without further pulling.


The pull occurs almost every time the car is moving, but there do seem to be (rare) occasions when it doesn't happen.


I wondered if the problem could be brake related but I don't have excessive fuel consumption or uneven brake/tyre wear that would indicate this.


What are your thoughts? Is this a LR mystery gremlin?


Look forward to your responses and I'll be grateful for any ideas to fix it - its driving me mad!


Cheers all.


Jon

[Oztourer]

Maybe a tight wheel bearing or worn suspension bushes. Could also be in the front transfer case. Good luck finding the cause.

[RHS58]

Radial pull.
I reckon tyres.

Ron

[jonrichkl]

Radial pull.
I reckon tyres.

Ron
Hadn't even considered radial pull, Thanks for the idea. Would this consistently manifest itself even when the tyres have been rotated?

[Meken]

85k - lower control arm bushes - all aligns fine in ttm but once back to onroad self levelling it's getting a little loose.
Generally wheel alignment settings are designed to drift the car to the passenger side of the road - so if you do decide a nanna nap is in order you are more likely to drive off onto the shoulder than into oncoming traffic.

[RHS58]

Hadn't even considered radial pull, Thanks for the idea. Would this consistently manifest itself even when the tyres have been rotated?

Had this on the Prado.
3 out of 4 rotations pulled left, 4th perfect.

[ADMIRAL]

Do you have a recent wheel alignment data sheet ? The positive castor on the lh side should be about a 1/4 degree higher, to compensate for the camber of the road. The camber on each side should be pretty much the same. If it is different, it is preferable to have the rh side more positive. ( but there should not be a big difference regardless )
The rear toe can also influence the way the vehicle drives. It should be even both sides.
Tyres can be an influencing factor, but this normally something that arises when tyres are changed. ie. If you have recently changed the tyres or rotated them, and the vehicle now pulls one way or the other, ( and it didn't previously & the wheel alignment is technically correct ) try changing them around on the front end. If there is a pull to the left or right, and this reverses when they are swapped, you will have to look at changing the tyres, or putting them on the rear.
In my experience, most 3/4 Disco's ( and Rangies/Evoques ) even when setup with a technically correct alignment, will draw ever so slightly to the left. If your vehicle has always had the issue, despite tyre rotation, different tyres, and multiple wheel alignments, and you are satisfied they have been completing the alignments correctly, I would start looking at other factors.

I am not familiar with the internal workings of the steering rack used on the D3/4,but most power steer racks, have an internal torsion bar, and a power valve. If the torsion bar is bent ( normally takes an impact ) or the power valve is out of calibration, the vehicle steering can react as if dead centre is off centre. However, this is normally evident all the time. If you come to a stop, and let the steering go, and it shifts off centre by itself, I would investigate the rack. Sorry I don't know enough about the D3/4 rack to advise further.

[LandyAndy]

Do you have a recent wheel alignment data sheet ? The positive castor on the lh side should be about a 1/4 degree higher, to compensate for the camber of the road. The camber on each side should be pretty much the same. If it is different, it is preferable to have the rh side more positive. ( but there should not be a big difference regardless )
The rear toe can also influence the way the vehicle drives. It should be even both sides.
Tyres can be an influencing factor, but this normally something that arises when tyres are changed. ie. If you have recently changed the tyres or rotated them, and the vehicle now pulls one way or the other, ( and it didn't previously & the wheel alignment is technically correct ) try changing them around on the front end. If there is a pull to the left or right, and this reverses when they are swapped, you will have to look at changing the tyres, or putting them on the rear.
In my experience, most 3/4 Disco's ( and Rangies/Evoques ) even when setup with a technically correct alignment, will draw ever so slightly to the left. If your vehicle has always had the issue, despite tyre rotation, different tyres, and multiple wheel alignments, and you are satisfied they have been completing the alignments correctly, I would start looking at other factors.

I am not familiar with the internal workings of the steering rack used on the D3/4,but most power steer racks, have an internal torsion bar, and a power valve. If the torsion bar is bent ( normally takes an impact ) or the power valve is out of calibration, the vehicle steering can react as if dead centre is off centre. However, this is normally evident all the time. If you come to a stop, and let the steering go, and it shifts off centre by itself, I would investigate the rack. Sorry I don't know enough about the D3/4 rack to advise further.

You is relying on us grader steerers getting the camber correct on the road:wasntme::wasntme::wasntme::wasntme::wasntme:
Andrew

[letherm]

In my experience, most 3/4 Disco's ( and Rangies/Evoques ) even when setup with a technically correct alignment, will draw ever so slightly to the left.

Mine does that after the last wheel alignment I had done. There was no problem before that but I had clipped a gutter and split the nearside rear tyre so I thought I had better get an alignment done. It was done at the place the dealer uses after I had a service and when I mentioned it at the next service they suggested that it could require another alignment. It's not severe but I now notice a very slight pull to the left that wasn't there before the alignment. Tyre wear is normal so that's not a problem so I have left it for the moment.

Martin

[LRD414]

In my experience, most 3/4 Disco's ( and Rangies/Evoques ) even when setup with a technically correct alignment, will draw ever so slightly to the left.


Mine does that after the last wheel alignment I had done .... when I mentioned it at the next service they suggested that it could require another alignment. It's not severe but I now notice a very slight pull to the left that wasn't there before the alignment. Tyre wear is normal so that's not a problem so I have left it for the moment.
I'm in exactly the same boat Martin. The left pull is very slight such that I've been uncertain if I'm actually imagining it, given that most roads have camber to some extent.

My first alignment was a bit ordinary and I'm guessing the 2nd one was done properly (through the dealer).

Wouldn't the preferred direction of pull be to the right, against the road camber, ie towards the road crown?

Scott

[Disco-tastic]

I'm in exactly the same boat Martin. The left pull is very slight such that I've been uncertain if I'm actually imagining it, given that most roads have camber to some extent.

My first alignment was a bit ordinary and I'm guessing the 2nd one was done properly (through the dealer).

Wouldn't the preferred direction of pull be to the right, against the road camber, ie towards the road crown?

Scott

My understanding was that it was to the left to avoid oncoming traffic.

Cheers

Dan

[Meken]

My understanding was that it was to the left to avoid oncoming traffic.

Cheers

Dan


Yeah what I said

[jonrichkl]

Thanks for the thoughts everyone, lots to investigate.

[catch-22]

I've got the same thing but mine sounds slightly more severe. The pull to the left is stronger since my last dealer alignment. To track the car straight the wheel has to be pointing to the right.
It did once have a perfect alignment about 18 months ago but all have been poor since then.

Very annoying. I need to take it to somewhere who understands the geometry and point it straight even if it means faster tyre wear.

[catch-22]

OK, my car is fixed.

Taking it to someone who know these cars is essential.

Note that I've been to two dealers and a specialist LR professional who often gets recommended on this site, non of whom picked up that the caster was out by 180 degrees and the geometry was setup all wrong. They all tried to compensate for this basic oversight.

If you're in Sydney, take your Disco to Jim and Glen at Tyreright in Parramatta. Worth the drive.

My Disco tracks perfect now and they've won a customer for life.

[ADMIRAL]

Mine does that after the last wheel alignment I had done. There was no problem before that but I had clipped a gutter and split the nearside rear tyre so I thought I had better get an alignment done. It was done at the place the dealer uses after I had a service and when I mentioned it at the next service they suggested that it could require another alignment. It's not severe but I now notice a very slight pull to the left that wasn't there before the alignment. Tyre wear is normal so that's not a problem so I have left it for the moment.

Martin

Sorry for the lax response. Try a simple fix first. Swap the front tyres left to right. This may be the cause . However if your vehicle now goes right, you need to get those tyres off the front.

[Ian Abbott]

I can concur with Meken. Our D4 has often caused me to put her into the middle of the road (no oncoming traffic given) and let the wheel go and yes off to the L she goes. I've always queried front tyre pressures and when I check them yes a little down on passenger side, but not always. Front bushes done at 94 K. it's a heavy vehicle and the tyres a naturally wide. Keep those tyres rotated.
Generally wheel alignment settings are designed to drift the car to the passenger side of the road - so if you do decide a nanna nap is in order you are more likely to drive off onto the shoulder than into oncoming traffic.[/QUOTE]

[jonrichkl]

Fixed it.

After a further non fruitful tyre rotation I bit the bullet and replaced the tyres (4 for 3 at bob Jane on the Nitto Terra Grappler G2 until the end of March, very pleased with them) and problem disappeared.

Relieved!

[LandyAndy]

I can concur with Meken. Our D4 has often caused me to put her into the middle of the road (no oncoming traffic given) and let the wheel go and yes off to the L she goes. I've always queried front tyre pressures and when I check them yes a little down on passenger side, but not always. Front bushes done at 94 K. it's a heavy vehicle and the tyres a naturally wide. Keep those tyres rotated.
Generally wheel alignment settings are designed to drift the car to the passenger side of the road - so if you do decide a nanna nap is in order you are more likely to drive off onto the shoulder than into oncoming traffic.[/QUOTE]

As somebody who builds roads for a job,I can tell you the camber we put into the road will always make a vehicle want to self steer left.The more the camber the more the effect.For sealed roads we aim for a 3% camber,for hi volume high traffic unsealed roads with hi rainfall we aim for 5 to 6%,that will get you steering left;););););)
Andrew