Ugh!!! - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

blinkwatt · 08-24-2006, 06:38 PM

I took the car in for an alignment today....It still pulled to the right just as bad,after the shop said they aligned it. I drove three blocks then turned right around to let them know they didn't fix it. The shop manager hoped in my car and drove it for a mile or so. He guessed that it was a bad tire,which made sense.(I had a flat and put a new tire on front passenger around 600 miles ago when I started to really notice my alignment was off). He turned around went back to the shop and switched the fronts(I thought you aren't supposed to do this?). Now it seemed better,not perfect. It still seems to pull sometimes,to both the right or left. I was told to call Tirerack and get a new replacement tire at their cost. I called and Tirerack has already shipped a tire and it should be here Monday or Tuesday next week. Anyone had an issue like this before? I don't have any vibration or shimmies,just not aligned like it should be. Any input would be appreciated. I', possibly thinking that when I have the new tire installed I should have the other front rebalanced as well.

MNBoxster · 08-24-2006, 07:07 PM

Hi,

Virtually anytime the Car won't track straight on a good flat road it's an alignment issue. But, that can be caused by many things from incorrect alignment, worn bushings, bent suspension member, worn tires, bad tie rods, etc.

In your case, I suspect replacing only 1 tire on that axle is a significant part of the problem. Also, the tire could be out-of-spec (even though new) compounding the issue. What's the difference in mileage or tread depth between both front tires? Even a little and the car essentially leans a little to one side - it doesn't take much.

You should not swap a uni-directional tire for two reasons. First, the tire is designed to channel water away from the car in the wet. Switching it to the other side causes the tire to throw the water under the car and under the other tire instead of away from it. Also, the tire will run hotter as well.

Have the Tires Road Balanced, meaning a Hunter 97XX machine and be sure to use an alignment specialist, not Firestone, Tires Plus, or the like. This is one area where paying more usually means getting more. Keep us posted...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

blinkwatt · 08-24-2006, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNBoxster

What's the difference in mileage or tread depth between both front tires? Even a little and the car essentially leans a little to one side - it doesn't take much.

Have the Tires Road Balanced, meaning a Hunter 97XX machine and be sure to use an alignment specialist, not Firestone, Tires Plus, or the like. This is one area where paying more usually means getting more. Keep us posted...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

The tread difference is about 1.2ish-1.5ishmm,I think the difference is about 2500-3000 mileage difference. Good thinking about the tread depth.

Oh well I guess all I can do at this point is wait for the new tire,rebalance both the front left and right,put both wheels and tires back on how they belong. I don't care what the shop is going to tell me I'm going to have them put the wheels/tires on the right direction.

How do I know that the tires are headed in the right direction since they are unidirectional?
Thanks for the input!