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Bad alignment possibly?

Discussion in 'Stop, Drop & Roll' started by MacktasticSlick, Dec 27, 2009.

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    MacktasticSlick TRD whore with 36,000 posts, bitch

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    Bad alignment possibly?

    My friend has hit a curb on many occasions, and so has his mom, with his car. Granted, it's not a Corolla, or even a Toyota, it's a 91 Ford Tempo. Anyway, to drive straight, he has to hold the wheel slightly to the left, and if he lets go, it veers pretty bad to the right. Something tells me this may be more than just alignment issues, because I thought that when your alignment is off, you can still hold the wheel straight and the car will go straight. But the steering wheel as I mentioned needs to be held at a fairly decent angle. Now he wants to know of this is an easy fix (read as inexpensive) considering he only paid 1200 dollars for the car. Does this sound like a simple alignment would fix it, or could this be a suspension related thing?
    MacktasticSlick, Dec 27, 2009
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    Hummer Well-Known Member

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    my car does the same thing, the steering wheel is off balance and i have to hold it slightly to the right for it to drive straight, and if i let go of the steering wheel it will drive straight but the steering wheel will still be off balance, its all about the tires and alignment, an alignment shop can fix it pretty cheap.
    Hummer, Dec 27, 2009
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    MacktasticSlick TRD whore with 36,000 posts, bitch

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    Quick reply FTW

    I told him it is most likely just alignment (I was hoping lol) and they're like what 70 bucks? He was worried it would be some mechanical issue that might get worse over time. Anyway he said if it's just that he doesn't care too much about holding the wheel sideways for a while until he gets a new car next year. Apparently a Tempo ain't a chick magnet for a 20 year old guy. Who knew?
    MacktasticSlick, Dec 27, 2009
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    bennyboi9 Well-Known Member

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    allignment down the road from me would go for about 45 bucks, so he should be sweet. Sounds pretty dangerous to me though, especially if he is driving at high speeds. tell him to get it done asap.
    bennyboi9, Dec 27, 2009
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    Unique102 Well-Known Member

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    After I did my suspension, my allignment was off pretty bad. I would have to hold the wheel to the left to go straight and when I would let go, it would stray to the right. But an allignment corrected that problem. However with the recent snow storm that we just got, I smacked a curb pretty good and threw out my allignment again so another trip to the allignment shop is on order when I return from vacation. Anyway, the problem your friend is having would probably be corrected with an allignment. Good luck.
    Unique102, Dec 27, 2009
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    MacktasticSlick TRD whore with 36,000 posts, bitch

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    ok thanks guys for the replies, I'll let him know.
    MacktasticSlick, Dec 27, 2009
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    ChicagoCruise Well-Known Member

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    hey bro,

    I had the same problem and it wasn't the alignment. Look at his rims and search for the slightest bend in the outer ring. My front right tire went up a curb to avoid a dumbass kid running across the street. I started having a small vibration as well as holding the steering wheel to the left while driving straight. I thought i threw out my alignment, but when I put my summer rims on the car all was fixed.

    Also, the dent on the rim was barely noticeable. It was like a very very small abnormality in the curvature of the steel's otter most ring.

    Make sure to check for that first. Same thing happened to a firend of mine who hit a pothole.
    ChicagoCruise, Dec 27, 2009
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    KrypticKarma ~2001 Corrizm~

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    Just take the car in for an alignment. Technically you have yo check ALL front end parts of the car before you can do an alignment. If there are any loose tierod ends or ball joints or anything bent out of proportion, they will tell you before you can align it.
    KrypticKarma, Dec 27, 2009
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    MacktasticSlick TRD whore with 36,000 posts, bitch

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    Ok I'll tell him thanks. Although he said it doesn't vibrate or anything, it just doesn't drive straight.
    MacktasticSlick, Dec 28, 2009
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    ChicagoCruise Well-Known Member

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    my vibration would only be felt at 60 mph. Just throwing out my experience.
    ChicagoCruise, Dec 28, 2009
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    MacktasticSlick TRD whore with 36,000 posts, bitch

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    Hmm... Well he lives a mile from work, and he doesn't like freeways, so he doesn't drive it above like 50 mph LOL
    MacktasticSlick, Dec 28, 2009
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    KrypticKarma ~2001 Corrizm~

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    I wouldnt take a tempo above 50 idk if it would hold up. lol or im just a biased bastard on those cars haha
    KrypticKarma, Dec 28, 2009
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    MacktasticSlick TRD whore with 36,000 posts, bitch

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    LOL haha My grandpa had one back in the day, but he was old so he never drove above 55 :)
    MacktasticSlick, Dec 28, 2009
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    GSE21tuner Formerly rollatuner110. Representing AZLexus.club

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    If an alignment doesn't fix it, it could be a bent control arm.
    GSE21tuner, Dec 28, 2009
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