Brakes and steering
Car pulls to one side: causes and what to do
If the car pulls to one side on a straight road, the usual causes are uneven tire pressures or misaligned wheels. If it only pulls when braking, it points to the brakes of one wheel; if it comes with knocks, to the suspension.
See a garage soonBrakes and steering
Reviewed by Daniel Morales, founder of Reprorace SL, on
Is it serious? Can I keep driving?
Carefully, and only as far as the garage. Check the pressures as soon as possible and get to a garage soon. If it pulls hard when braking, there is a knock in the steering or a wheel is very hot, drive as little as possible: a brake or a suspension part may be damaged.
A careful, general answer: only someone who inspects the car can say whether it is safe to drive. When in doubt, stop somewhere safe and call for assistance.
Most likely causes
- Uneven pressure: a tire lower than the one on the other side pulls towards its side.
- Wheel alignment: after hitting a curb or a pothole, or with worn steering parts.
- Sticking brake: a caliper that does not release brakes one wheel and heats it.
- Suspension or tires: worn bushings or a tire with an internal defect.
- Road camber: a slight drift on cambered roads is normal.
Listed from more to less common in general; on your car they may be different. A fault-code reading and a check at the garage confirm which one it is.
To understand it better: How often should you run diagnostics on your car? Can I diagnose my car myself?
Car system: Steering and suspension
What you can check yourself
Measure the pressures cold and set them to the manufacturer's values.
Look at the front tire wear: more on one edge than the other points to alignment.
Check whether it only pulls when braking or also when driving without braking.
After a drive without much braking, compare from a distance whether one wheel gives off more heat, without touching it.
Safe checks only: with the engine off and cold whenever you look under the hood, without taking anything apart and without touching hot or moving parts.
Related fault codes
This symptom is usually mechanical and does not always store a generic fault code. Even so, reading the faults of every control unit helps to rule out other problems and to reach the garage with data.
How the ECO-LITE helps diagnose it
Plugged into the OBD socket, the ECO-LITE reads the fault codes of the control units that answer, with the freeze-frame data captured when the fault happened, and shows live data on your phone or computer. With your permission, your garage can see them remotely before you bring the car in.
What to look at here: this symptom is mechanical; reading the brake or steering control unit rules out other faults, and some cars show the steering angle.
Frequently asked questions
How often should the alignment be checked?
When you change tires or steering parts and after a hard knock. Sooner if wear is uneven or the steering wheel is not straight.
Can it be a tire even with the right pressure?
Yes: a tire with an internal defect can pull. Swapping the front wheels over helps the garage check it.
Is it dangerous?
A slight drift on a straight road is not immediate, but it wears tires and tires you. A strong pull when braking is: have it checked as soon as possible.
Keep reading
- Steering and suspension: how they work and what fails
- Tire pressure warning light on: what to do
- Vibration when braking: why the steering wheel or pedal shakes
- Heavy steering or steering warning light on: what to do
- Car symptoms: what they mean and what to do
- Check engine light on: what to do
- How to read and clear your car's fault codes
- OBD fault codes: what each one means