RRS pulls sharply right...what's THAT about???

[GregMilner]

Came back from a Gibb River trip, all going well. Had the off-road wheels swapped for the city wheels and tyres, and suddenly the car surges sharply to the right under acceleration from start.
What th...?
Take it back to Barbagallo Tyres, where they put it on the hoist and check the wheel alignment...all perfect.

The technician takes it for a test drive. Comes back and asks his boss to take it for a test drive. Mmmmm....still taking off to the right.

Service department next. More tsk tsking, scratching of chins. Dunno mate. You had the steering rack etc replaced under warranty a few months ago didn't you? Yep. After complaining about steering wheel vibration under brakes at freeway speeds. (only took 5 months to get the parts.)

So today I noticed the steering wheel vibration is back too.

The vehicle's booked in for diagnostics on Thursday. Could all this have something to do with the frequently-appearing warning that only normal suspension height is available? Have the lower ball joints somehow worn unevenly on the Gibb?

Any clues much appreciated. I don't want some kind of snow job from them. Hell, the car's only done 18,000km.

[Graeme]

Diagnostics should help find a start if there's really a fault. The suspension system reacts to any ABS-reported fault but usually seems to drop to a "safe" lower height rather than stay at normal height.

Has a significant wheel balance weight gone astray in the change-over? Are the tyre pressures OK?

[DiscoWeb]

If you are sure it is not alignment and balance could it be something in the drive train.

You sure they fitted the same size tyres ? just joking but have been sillier things that have happened.

George

[ADMIRAL]

A process of elimination I suspect. Greg you have said it appeared when you changed the tyres/rims over. Are you saying it doesn't do the same thing with the offroad tyres & rims fitted ? If not, that would be my starting point. ( tyres ) Doesn't explain why it would only occur only under acceleration though. Bias issues with tyres are usually constant.

If the hard right issue is there with all tyres, have the rh cv checked, and I would guess the LR boys will look pretty carefully at the traction control/abs systems.

[GregMilner]

Mmmmm....well it certainly wasn't apparent with the off road tyres/wheels. And it was running perfectly when the road wheels were removed and stored in the garage three months ago.
Thanks guys, I'll put the ball joint and traction control system suggestions to them when I see them tomorrow.
There is definitely a 'wrong' feeling to the car at the moment.

[Mike_S]

Is it just under acceleration or is it under braking as well ?

Pulling to the right under braking could indicate a stuck / sticking left hand front brake caliper that's all.

[GregMilner]

No it's just under acceleration Mike.

[gghaggis]

Lower control arm bushes?

Cheers,

Gordon

[GregMilner]

Yes, that was my question to the service people when I dropped the car off this morning....

[GregMilner]

Oh dear. This is not good news.
I have heard nothing from the LR service people since I dropped the car to them yesterday morning.
So this afternoon I put a call in. "Er, have you fixed my car?"

Pause.

"Ahhhh...actually...not quite."

This is not a good sign. This is not the response I was hoping for. Turns out they've been working on the thing most of yesterday and all of today. Diagnosis? There isn't one.
In fact, they have not a clue why the bloody thing is pulling hard right under acceleration.
So I eventually get to talk to Cyril, the mechanic. Seems it's beyond him. He thinks it might be something he calls 'torque stick', whatever that is. That's the best he can come up with. So what are you doing about it Cyril, I ask.
He says he sent a 'please help' message (via their internal technical gizmo) to LRA this morning. No response yet.

So as it stands, I have a $125,000 car that's virtually unserviceable, and absolutely no idea if I'll get it back, when I'll get it back, or in what condition I'll get it back.

This is my first Land Rover. Before this happened I was happily telling everybody I'd probably stay with them for the rest of my life. Brilliant cars.

Except when they're not. Is this typical of Land Rover service/reliability for these new models?