FD pulls Right/Left under acceleration
 

Figured I would see if anyone else has had my same symptoms.

While driving my FD if I accelerate quick I feel it pull to the right. Then if I come off of the gas quick it darts(not to much) to the left. I’m thinking its not my alignment because I can manipulate it based on what my right foot is doing.

Has anyone had this problem, and if so know what might directly cause this?

Thanks
Derek

Are all four of your tires the same brand?

You may be right on the alignment being off from like curb checking, or running over things thats what it sounds like but your tires? What sizes are they?

Not having all of the same brand of tire can cause that problem. I know from experience.

pulling
 

been there done that whole deal last year. Get new tires first. Jack up each corner and check for play in the wheel. really pull on them hard in every direction. If things move it could be bushings. i would get an alignment also. It's almost always the tires. my brother had brand new cheapo tires on his Fd and it did the same thing just because the sidewalls of the tires were giving.
Oh yeah, does your rear diff make any terrible noises?
Good luck with it.
BTW I changed nearly every suspension part before finding the problem was in my tires (which looked damn near new?!?!)

sounds like a bad tierod end or upper/lower balljoint.

It can also be from having different wear on the rear tires. I had the same pulling symptoms after replacing one of the rear tires. There was only 10,000 miles difference between the new tire and the old one on the other side, yet it pulled strongly on acceleration, then veered back when I let off the gas.

I put another new tire on, giving both rear tires the same tread depth, and the problem was solved instantly. It seems the Torsen limited slip differential is very sensitive to a difference in tire circumference.

Well before we have the guy replacing tires and suspension parts, let's have him check the tire pressures.... :)

difference in directions tells me it's not pressures. It's most likely worn ball joint somewhere, under different loads change toe.

actually, Tyler is right. The way I know one rear tire is going down is exactly that, the car will go one way on accel and the other when u lift. Basically, your effective diameter is diff on the tires. You could also get that if you're tires are diff diameter because the model, wear, or sizes aren't the same. That's the 1st thing to check. Next of course would be rear suspension. Check your toe and also for play.

balljoints?...

Yep it can be as simple as this, especially if you haven't made any supension changes or put on new tires or wheels. Kiss

When I first got my FD, I upgraded the wheels right away and didnt worry about the stock ones. When I put my stock wheels back on, the car pulled really bad to the right under hard braking and felt a little unstable at speed. It was the crappy brand tires that were different front to rear.

Big difference by replacing all 4 tires.

Thanks Rynberg!

Well having read all these great suggestions I figured I would start with the simple and work my way up from there. Good thing I did that because after going around the car I found that my passenger side rear tire had only 8psi in it. Problem was it looked just like the other tires with air in it. I guess its harder to tell visually when a tire like this is low on air.

I had been thinking a bushing or something because I do have some clunk in the back end of the car when I back it up or hit bumps.

The tires I’m running are “Kumho Ecstra Supra” Front- 235/40zr 18, Rear 265/35zr 18. Car drives straight as an arrow now. :)

Ok I guess you can tell a little that it was low

Tire Low-http://www.derekhornak.com/rx7/images/tirelow.jpg

Tire Ok -http://www.derekhornak.com/rx7/images/tireok.jpg



-Derek

Glad it was simple and hope you learned a lesson to check your tire pressures regularly. :)

Had you not seen Mario Andretti's commercial.." Check your tires"...lol...

Glad it was a simple fix and not a big $$$$ fix.

yep! step one

I'd want to know why one was down to 8 psi. If it were mine, I would spray window cleaner on the valve stem to see if it's leaking. If not that then start checking the tread for any damage...

The clunking is most likely one or more of your pillow ball bushings.