Honda Civic EX 2001 pulls right while accelarating

Our 2001 Honda Civic EX started pulling to the right when accelarating.
Pull is minor but it is annoying and I am also concerned as this can be a
safety hazard.

I noticed this after
1)- a front end bodyshop work (for a minor front end damage due to rear
ending an SUV)
2)- having a new set of tires put at a tire dealer
3)- Getting state inspection and oil change done
all completed in the same day in that order ( a big mistake on my part! )

I did not notice the problem after any of the above services, though. but I
did not drive the car on the highway righr after so I would not notice it
anyways, until I did so a day or so later.

I am going to take the car for a front end check tomorrow but I was
wondering if this is something that can just happen (like a cut bushing) or
if it has anything to do with any of the above mentioned services. I am
wondering if anybdy out there had such a pull problem and would like to
share his/her experience.

Adsiz.

 

Take it back to the bodyshop and let your insurance company know that the job
wasn't completed successfully.

....Another reason I don't like the McPherson strut suspension. It doesn't take
much to throw it out of wack.

Pars

 

Take it back to the bodyshop and let your insurance company know that the job
wasn't completed successfully.

....Another reason I don't like the McPherson strut suspension. It doesn't take
much to throw it out of wack.

Pars

 

Dear Pars,
I did take it to the body shop yesterday. The service person tested the
car and observed the pull . He calls it "torque steer". He did not think
the accident and the repair would cause it or any alignment problem. They
indeed did not align the car afterwards for the same reason. They raised
the car and looked to see if there was a visible damage , they did not see
any. But he checked and reduced the air pressure in the tires (his meter
and mine differed, I was measuring 32, he measured 35, he says) The car
rides better now . But the problem is still there.

On the list of the things they did for the repair I don't see anything
related to steering or struts or power train so I am inclined to believe
him. I am planning to take the car for an alignment next weekend. Should
I not? You seem to think struts can get out of alignment easily. Why do you
think that?

Adsiz

 

Dear Pars,
I did take it to the body shop yesterday. The service person tested the
car and observed the pull . He calls it "torque steer". He did not think
the accident and the repair would cause it or any alignment problem. They
indeed did not align the car afterwards for the same reason. They raised
the car and looked to see if there was a visible damage , they did not see
any. But he checked and reduced the air pressure in the tires (his meter
and mine differed, I was measuring 32, he measured 35, he says) The car
rides better now . But the problem is still there.

On the list of the things they did for the repair I don't see anything
related to steering or struts or power train so I am inclined to believe
him. I am planning to take the car for an alignment next weekend. Should
I not? You seem to think struts can get out of alignment easily. Why do you
think that?

Adsiz

 

Torque steer is something every fwd vehicle has. I used to drive a GrandAm
and if I felt taking off a little faster than usual, you could definitely
feel the engine pulling the car to one side.

When you say accelaration, how much are we talking here? 1st/2nd just
taking off, or giving more gas when you are already going 65?

I'd say if you are on the perfectly level piece of highway going relatively
fast and you let go of the wheel, your car should remain going straight. If
it does, I don't think it would have alignment problems. If you take it to
a shop, they'd align it and charge you for it, but that would not mean your
car needed alignment in the first place.

Also when you get a car from a shop, I found that people tend to suddenly
pay a lot more attention to every minor thing than they really should. When
I drove my Trailblazer into a rock (long story), I had the whole thing
repaired to as-new condition and then noticed that there is about 1-inch
space between the bumber and the rest of the car. Took it back, told them
it wasn't there before. The guy looked at it, took the bumper off, then
checked the manual and decided that there was nothing wrong with the bumper
in the first place. Later on, I saw another trailblazer (I ordered one of
the first ones fresh off the line, so there was few of them at the time) and
it had exactly the same gap. Bottom line: before the accident I simply did
not pay attention to it, but afterwards I went through every inch of that
car to make sure repair was done and saw it.

-- Dennis

 

Torque steer is something every fwd vehicle has. I used to drive a GrandAm
and if I felt taking off a little faster than usual, you could definitely
feel the engine pulling the car to one side.

When you say accelaration, how much are we talking here? 1st/2nd just
taking off, or giving more gas when you are already going 65?

I'd say if you are on the perfectly level piece of highway going relatively
fast and you let go of the wheel, your car should remain going straight. If
it does, I don't think it would have alignment problems. If you take it to
a shop, they'd align it and charge you for it, but that would not mean your
car needed alignment in the first place.

Also when you get a car from a shop, I found that people tend to suddenly
pay a lot more attention to every minor thing than they really should. When
I drove my Trailblazer into a rock (long story), I had the whole thing
repaired to as-new condition and then noticed that there is about 1-inch
space between the bumber and the rest of the car. Took it back, told them
it wasn't there before. The guy looked at it, took the bumper off, then
checked the manual and decided that there was nothing wrong with the bumper
in the first place. Later on, I saw another trailblazer (I ordered one of
the first ones fresh off the line, so there was few of them at the time) and
it had exactly the same gap. Bottom line: before the accident I simply did
not pay attention to it, but afterwards I went through every inch of that
car to make sure repair was done and saw it.

-- Dennis

 

Unbalance tire pressure will certainly case torque steer...
Also, I would expect the cost of alignment to be absorbed as part of the
insurance job.

The Double Wishbone has structural and torsional strength that makes it a good
match for performance or AWD cars. In a crash situation, the added stress on the
suspension system can cause it to go out of alignment. Since the McPherson is
not as structurally robust, there's a greater chance for misalignment. From
personal experience, I've owned two front drives equipped McPherson strut, which
I've owned since new. A Chevy Nova (same as Corolla) and a Chevy Corsica.
Steering and alignment was a constant issue with these cars (mainly do to my
aggressive driving and some minor accidents). I currently have 150,000km on my
double wishbone Civic, without any need for an alignment.

Pars
98 Civic Hatch

 

Unbalance tire pressure will certainly case torque steer...
Also, I would expect the cost of alignment to be absorbed as part of the
insurance job.

The Double Wishbone has structural and torsional strength that makes it a good
match for performance or AWD cars. In a crash situation, the added stress on the
suspension system can cause it to go out of alignment. Since the McPherson is
not as structurally robust, there's a greater chance for misalignment. From
personal experience, I've owned two front drives equipped McPherson strut, which
I've owned since new. A Chevy Nova (same as Corolla) and a Chevy Corsica.
Steering and alignment was a constant issue with these cars (mainly do to my
aggressive driving and some minor accidents). I currently have 150,000km on my
double wishbone Civic, without any need for an alignment.

Pars
98 Civic Hatch

 

I don't recall any torque steer from the 2003 Civic. I took both the LX and the
SiR for a drive and can not recall any unusual feedback. However, I didn't drag
race them (which is when torque steer is most apparent), but I did redline them
while on the go.

Pars

 

I don't recall any torque steer from the 2003 Civic. I took both the LX and the
SiR for a drive and can not recall any unusual feedback. However, I didn't drag
race them (which is when torque steer is most apparent), but I did redline them
while on the go.

Pars

 

Dennis and Pars. Thank you both for your comments.

I own two other front wheel cars which are about the same milage with my
Civic 2001 and I don't have any such "torque steer" on them.

I think the car is terribly out out alignment and pushing the gas paddle,
and so accelarating one of the wheels where the torque is, adding to its
unstability on the road. Indeed, when I cruise in neutral, the car has a
tendency of drifting to the edge of the lane in 10 to 12 seconds.

The question is whether the car had this alignment problem before the
accident. Perhaps it did. I agree with Dennis that I might be more
sensitive to the things wrong on the car now after the repair. Although
this is a car that my wife used to drive before her accident I would have
noticed it, I think. But may be not.

Anyways, having a car drift our of the lane, at speeds like 50-60 mph, in
10 seconds is scarry. And everytime I hit the gas paddle I need to
compensate for it by steering to the left, however minor it may be and
whether I am at 1st gear or 5th.

Adsiz.

 

Dennis and Pars. Thank you both for your comments.

I own two other front wheel cars which are about the same milage with my
Civic 2001 and I don't have any such "torque steer" on them.

I think the car is terribly out out alignment and pushing the gas paddle,
and so accelarating one of the wheels where the torque is, adding to its
unstability on the road. Indeed, when I cruise in neutral, the car has a
tendency of drifting to the edge of the lane in 10 to 12 seconds.

The question is whether the car had this alignment problem before the
accident. Perhaps it did. I agree with Dennis that I might be more
sensitive to the things wrong on the car now after the repair. Although
this is a car that my wife used to drive before her accident I would have
noticed it, I think. But may be not.

Anyways, having a car drift our of the lane, at speeds like 50-60 mph, in
10 seconds is scarry. And everytime I hit the gas paddle I need to
compensate for it by steering to the left, however minor it may be and
whether I am at 1st gear or 5th.

Adsiz.

 

i had a dealer leave my tie rod (very) loose after a transmission
replacement.... it cause this exact same thing.... have ur front end
checked

 

i had a dealer leave my tie rod (very) loose after a transmission
replacement.... it cause this exact same thing.... have ur front end
checked

 

Assuming the alignment checks out, the most likely cause is the new tires.
Swap the front tires and see if it starts going to the left. If so, you've
got it. If they won't exchange the tire, just rotate it to the back and the
problem should go away.

 

Assuming the alignment checks out, the most likely cause is the new tires.
Swap the front tires and see if it starts going to the left. If so, you've
got it. If they won't exchange the tire, just rotate it to the back and the
problem should go away.

 

If I have read your post correctly, you got an alignment and then you put on
new front tires, is this correct? The new tires likely differ in tread
height and wear pattern such that they're now adversely affecting the
alignment. I have always done an alignment AFTER installing new tires, not
before. If everything else checks out with your front end, i.e., no loose
components as the other poster suggested, then this could be a factor in the
changes you're experiencing.

Eric

 

If I have read your post correctly, you got an alignment and then you put on
new front tires, is this correct? The new tires likely differ in tread
height and wear pattern such that they're now adversely affecting the
alignment. I have always done an alignment AFTER installing new tires, not
before. If everything else checks out with your front end, i.e., no loose
components as the other poster suggested, then this could be a factor in the
changes you're experiencing.

Eric

 

No, I have not done alignment before or after the new tires.
It is original alignment done either at the factory (or at the dealer,
whichever).
I will get the front end checked this weekend and alignment done.

Thank you all for your comments.
Adsiz