Turns out the right front shock came apart into two separate
pieces when they jacked up the car.
They screwed rod back into the shock and reassembled it,
then completed the alignment. The car drives OK now but I haven't
done any hard cornering or slalom type driving yet so I can't
tell whether it's still as darty as it was. It certainly feels
better and the the pull to the left is now gone. It tracks nice
and straight.
These are Carrera coilover shocks. Are they supposed to unscrew
like that, meaning the piston is an internal piece that the rod
threads into? In that case one could unscrew and replace the rod
without losing the gas and/or oil inside and the shock would be
OK. Or does the rod perform double duty as the piston, in which
the shock would lose its dampening if the rod comes completely
unscrewed?
In other words, should I be replacing or rebuilding this shock?
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net
> > [mailto:owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Michael
> > R. Clements
> > Sent: Monday, April 15, 2002 15:54
> > To: Autocross
> > Subject: RE: mystery: car pulls to the left ?!
> >
> >
> > So far, some ideas but nothing seems to fit exactly.
> >
> > Tire problem: tire is somehow damaged and when it heats up it
> > reduces the problem.
> > -- possible, but all tires look OK on visual inspection with
> > equal pressures and no leaks.
> >
> > Brake problem: caliper is rubbing.
> > -- possible, but brakes work fine and applying the brakes
> > does not affect the problem.
> >
> > Differential problem: LSD has a problem (is a Ford 8.8" clutch based
> > LSD)
> > -- possible, but diff feels fine, doesn't make noise or
> > vibrate, and accelerating or decelerating does not affect
> the problem.
> >
> > Thanks for the ideas. I agree that a bad tire seems most
> > likely but I can't find anything obviously wrong with any of
> > the tires. It's a mystery, nothing seems to explain it. I
> > hope the problem will disappear when I replace the tires, or
> > that Custom Alignment will find something wrong when they
> > look at it on Friday. . .
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net
> > > [mailto:owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Michael R.
> > > Clements
> > > Sent: Monday, April 15, 2002 12:24
> > > To: Autocross
> > > Subject: mystery: car pulls to the left ?!
> > >
> > >
> > > Hi all, seeking alignment advice.
> > >
> > > Car pulls to the left when driving. Has never done this
> before, was
> > > fine in the morning, parked for about 3 hours, was doing
> it when I
> > > started it up and drove away. Was not hit by anything, nor was it
> > > tampered with.
> > >
> > > The pull happens only when cold. After about 5 miles of
> driving, the
> > > left pull is greatly reduced as to be barely detectable
> -- but still
> > > there.
> > >
> > > Tires are OK and pressures even all the way around -- no flats or
> > > slow leaks.
> > >
> > > Nothing obviously loose or awry in alignment, but who
> knows for sure
> > > ?? If it were alignment, why would it go away after a few miles?
> > >
> > > No vibrations or shakes; car is smooth at all speeds.
> > >
> > > Maybe power steering pump? But fluid levels are OK, no leaks, and
> > > steering seems to be working perfectly well.
> > >
> > > Have an appt. with Custom Alignment on Friday to get the street
> > > tires put back on and to check out the alignment.
> > >
> > > Any ideas?
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > >
> > > Michael R. Clements
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