Car Pulls to One Side in Hillsboro, KS
The short answer
A car that pulls to one side usually has a low tire, an alignment that has been knocked out, or a brake that is not letting go, and all three are fixable.
You notice it on a long straight stretch of I-135, when you realize your arms have been holding the wheel slightly turned since McPherson just to stay in your lane. On a straight, flat road with your hands loose on the wheel, your vehicle should keep going straight. If yours does not, bring it in, or we will come and get it.
Call or text (620) 416-0008. Describe the noise. We'll do the rest.
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Text us which onesHow we fix a car that pulls to one side
We check the cheap causes before the expensive ones. Tire pressure comes first, then the tires themselves, and only then the alignment, brakes and suspension. Plenty of pulls end right there, with four tires set to the right pressure.
We check the parts before we set the alignment. If a worn tie rod or ball joint is letting the wheel move, we tell you, because an alignment on loose parts will not hold for long.
We align it on Hunter equipment and show you the numbers. The wheels get set to the maker's specification, and you see the before and after readings instead of taking our word for it.
Then we drive it again. You approve any repair before we start, and when we are done we road-test it to make sure it tracks straight and the steering wheel sits level.
Why Hillsboro brings a car that pulls to one side to Moxie
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Hunter alignment equipment
Accurate alignment for every make, including the fleet vans and pickups that work the roads around Hillsboro.
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An ASE-certified technician
Our technician is ASE certified in engine repair, automatic transmissions and drivetrains, and Moxie pays for ASE testing for the whole team.
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Warranty good at over 17,000 shops
Repairs carry the NAPA nationwide warranty for 24 months or 24,000 miles.
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We pick your vehicle up
Pickup and delivery is available within 40 miles of the shop, which covers McPherson and Newton.
Call or text (620) 416-0008. Describe the noise. We'll do the rest.
Pulling car myths we hear at the counter
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Sounds like yours? Tell us what it is doing and we will tell you straight.
Can I keep driving?
A mild, steady drift is fine to drive to the shop, but a sudden or strong pull is not.
Most pulling comes from tire pressure or alignment, and a gentle drift will not stop you getting to us. It does wear your tires faster and makes you work harder on long drives, so book it in soon. A pull that appeared suddenly, gets much stronger when you brake, or comes with a smell or a noise can be a brake or suspension problem, and that needs attention right away.
Stop driving and call us if
- The vehicle jerks hard to one side when you brake
- You smell burning near one wheel, or one wheel is much hotter than the others after a drive
- You hear clunking over bumps or feel looseness in the steering
- A tire keeps losing air or looks visibly low
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What knocks a car off straight around here
- Uneven tire pressure, with one tire lower than the one across from it, often after a cold snap
- Wheel alignment knocked out by potholes, curbs and washboard gravel roads
- A tire with an internal defect that makes it roll slightly to one side
- A sticking brake caliper, the clamp that squeezes the brake pads, which keeps dragging on one wheel after a wet, salty winter
- A worn steering or suspension part, such as a tie rod or ball joint
- Road crown, the slight slope built into roads for drainage, which can make a small drift feel bigger
How we diagnose a car that pulls to one side in Hillsboro
- We check and set all four tire pressures first, because it is the simplest cause and it is surprisingly common.
- We road-test the vehicle on a straight, flat road, and again while braking, to see exactly when and how it pulls.
- We inspect the tires for uneven wear and swap them side to side if we suspect a tire is the cause.
- We check the brakes for a caliper that is sticking or a wheel that is running hot.
- We measure the alignment on our Hunter equipment and check the steering and suspension for worn parts.
A car that pulls to one side across five Kansas counties
We look after drivers across Marion County, Harvey County, McPherson County, Chase County and Lyon County, with free pickup and delivery within 40 road miles of 611 Orchard Dr, Hillsboro.
Questions about a car that pulls to one side
Is it normal for a car to drift a little on country roads?
A small drift toward the edge of the road can be normal, because roads are built with a slight slope so rain runs off. The test is a flat parking lot. If the car still drifts there, or you find yourself holding the wheel turned just to go straight, it is worth having us check. Text us and we can usually fit you in quickly.
Why does my car only pull when I brake?
A pull that only happens when braking usually points to the brakes rather than the alignment. One side is gripping harder than the other, often because a caliper is sticking or a brake hose has gone soft inside. That is a safety issue, so bring it in soon, or let us come and get it if you would rather not drive it.
I just bought new tires and now it pulls. What happened?
New tires sometimes reveal an alignment problem the old, worn tires were hiding, and occasionally a new tire has a small internal defect that makes it roll to one side. We can check both. Swapping the front tires side to side is often enough to tell which one it is, and it takes only a few minutes.