fstfwd

iTrader: (1)

I have been noticing lately that when I'm on the highway and on the throttle... the car will pull to the left a bit, so I have to turn the wheel to hold the car straight. When I take my foot off the gas, if corrects itself... and i have to make sure I straighten my wheel out, or I will drift into the right lane. It's not severe in eithercase, but noticeable enough that I have to adjust for it as I drive.

First thought, alignment... might need to be done. But, why does the car drive reasonable straight if I don't have my foot on the gas. What is unique about being on throttle that makes it pull left a bit. Wheel bearing? Tire pressure? (I did check all 4 wheels, made sure fronts were same, and rears were same). A friend suggested it might be some tie rods, or something in the suspenon that is lose enough so on throttle, the torque forces the wheel caster out of alignment, causing drift.

Trying to figure out some next steps here. Mazda's runing a special on 4 wh. alignments this month. Wondering if I should take it to a friends shop first and get all the bolts torqued down first.

POS7

Try alignment, not that expensive. It is far more work to examine the other crap you mentioned, so hopefully its just your alignment......... Also, these cars also have a tendency to follow bumps and dips in the road.

turbojeff

iTrader: (30)

Likely a bad bushing(s).

Usual suspects are toe control links and lower control arm bushings.

slyez

I see this is kind of an old thread but when the car pulls only on acceleration the culprit is often just very different tire pressures in the rear tires. The LSD tries to even out the rolling speed, different due to differnet rolling diameters, of the two wheels and pulls the car to one side because of a different amount of torque being applied the each wheel. If that isn't it it is probably alignment.

DamonB

slyez post is the first thing to check. If that checks out then check into worn rear suspension bushings. If one of the rear tires is low the car will turn toward the low tire when under throttle.

satoacs

alignment or tire presssure! i havent read, but thats it
sometimes very differet tire pressures will make the car turn on accel.

edit: looks like i didnt need to post

DVSseven

Also Try Getting Under The Car And Looking At Your Suspension....

danwrx

My car does the exact thing except to the right. Or did, until the engine was removed. Will have to check those things when it's running again and let yall know.
Dan