Car Drifts to The Right After Alignment (Causes and Fixes)

Jos Fallon
Car Drifts to The Right After Alignment

You recently got your car aligned, but during the first drive, you notice that your car drifts to the right. You get concerned and frustrated since you’re unaware of the reasons behind it. What do you think might be responsible for the problem?

The main reasons a car drifts after alignment include incorrect tire pressure, uneven tire wear, tire conicity, and malfunctioning suspension components. The course of action to fix the problem is identifying the source, which starts with checking out the tire surface and pressure.

There’s much more to that, which we will explore in this article. We will also provide actionable steps to help you identify and fix the problem.

5 Possible Causes of Car Drifting to the Right After Alignment

Several factors can cause a car to drift to the right after an alignment. Let’s explore the most common ones:

1. Uneven Tire Pressure

Uneven tire pressure between the left and right tires can cause your car to drift. If one tire has lower pressure than the other, it can create an imbalance in the vehicle’s handling, causing it to pull to one side.

Modern cars have a tire monitoring system, TPMS, which instantly alerts if the tire pressure isn’t even in all tires.

2. Tire Wear

Uneven tire wear can also cause your car to drift. If the tread on one tire is significantly more worn than on the other, it can create an imbalance that affects the vehicle’s handling. This usually happens when the car tires aren’t rotated regularly.

vehicle wheels vehiclefreedom

3. Tire Conicity

Tire Conicity is a manufacturing defect in which tire treads and layers aren’t aligned perfectly during tire-making. As a result, the tire’s shape isn’t perfect, and you may experience drifting issues.

If you’ve recently replaced your tires, and the car is drifting, tire conicity is likely the cause.

4. Brake Issues

Sticking brake calipers or uneven brake pad wear can cause your car to drift to one side. If a brake caliper is not releasing properly, it can create a constant drag on one wheel, pulling the vehicle in that direction. In that case, the car will pull on one side right after you apply brakes.

5. Suspension Problems

Worn or damaged suspension components can also contribute to your car drifting to the right. Issues with ball joints, bushings, or control arms can affect your vehicle’s alignment and handling. These issues can often be difficult to suspect and would require a thorough inspection to identify the exact component

How to Fix a Car Drifting to the Right After Alignment? [5 Possible Solutions]

Now that you know the possible causes, it’s time to reveal the actionable steps you need to take to eliminate this problem.

car tire

1. Inspect and Adjust Tire Pressure

First, check the tire pressure on all four tires and adjust them according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. You can find the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle on the driver’s side door jamb or in your owner’s manual.

2. Rotate and Balance Tires

If uneven tire wear is causing your car to drift, consider getting your tires rotated. Rotating your tires can help even tire wear while balancing ensures that the tires’ weight is evenly distributed. This can help correct the drifting issue and extend the lifespan of your tires.

3. Check and Repair Brake Issues

Inspect your brake calipers, pads, and rotors for any signs of uneven wear or sticking. This task may not be a feasible for you to check. So, have a professional mechanic repair or replace any problematic components.

4. Inspect and Repair Suspension Components

If none of the above fixes worked, then the suspension components are likely at fault. So, have your vehicle thoroughly inspected by a mechanic. Ask him to repair or replace worn or damaged parts to restore proper alignment and handling.

5. Try Driving on a Different Road

In some rare instances, the car may drift due to road conditions. Roads are usually designed with a slight slope or crown for water drainage. If your car only drifts to the right on specific roads, the road’s crown may be causing the issue. In this case, there may not be a problem with your vehicle that needs fixing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Finally, we have some answers to people’s frequently asked questions about car drifts.

What is steering wandering?

In some cases, when your vehicle alignment isn’t proper, you may witness it becomes very difficult to keep the steering in a straight line. The steering wobbles left or right. This is known as steering wandering.

Why does my car pull to the right even after alignment?

Bad alignment is one of the reasons why a car may pull right. So, if the wheels are aligned, the drifting is likely due to uneven tread wear, improper tire inflation, tire tonicity, and suspension or brake issues.

If the car pulls to the right when it hits the bump, the problem is with the suspension. And when the wobbling is right after you apply the brakes, one of the braking components likely needs replacement.

Final Words

A car drifting to the right after alignment can be frustrating.

Still, by understanding the possible causes and implementing the suggested fixes, you can address the issue and get your vehicle back on track.

Regular vehicle maintenance, including a tire rotation, proper tire inflation, and timely inspection and repair of brakes and suspension components, can help prevent drifting issues and ensure a safe and smooth driving experience.

How useful was this post?

Click on a trophy to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!

Help us improve it for you and others.

Tell us how we can improve this post? Any and all details appreciated.

Total
0
Shares
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts