"Steve W." wrote in message ...
Snuffy "Hub Cap" McKinney wrote:
"Steve W." wrote in message
...
Snuffy "Hub Cap" McKinney wrote:
"Snuffy "Hub Cap" McKinney"
wrote in message
...
Pulling to the right hard. Tire pressure OK. Lugs all tight.
Nothing obviously loose underneath. Bushings look good. Any
ideas what to check before I head to the mechanic?
I took it to 2 general mechanics I have used. First one is not
set up for alignment but put it up and looked it over. The only
think he saw was a possible leaking left ball joint. Took to
another general mechanic - also not set up for alignment. (I
thought both of them were...) He said nothing looked obviously
wrong, brakes not binding, recommended an alignment.

Went to the tire place I use, did an alignment and this is the
before and after.... Before alignment (all 3 should be the same
photo) http://i59.tinypic.com/rcmp84.gif
http://tinypic.com/r/rcmp84/8 http://oi59.tinypic.com/rcmp84.jpg

After alignment (all 4 should be the same)
http://i59.tinypic.com/r762wy.gif http://tinypic.com/r/r762wy/8
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=r762wy&s=8#.VXpXSFJikk4
http://oi59.tinypic.com/r762wy.jpg

When I drove out, the car pulled just as much to the right as
when I drove in. Turned around. Mechanic said the front right
tire was were worn on the outside and was causing it to be
pulled. Also had lubed it and said specifically that the ball
joints and bushings were all fine.

I do need 2 new tires, but surprised that the pulling happened
suddenly due to a worn tire....

So my question is..... is the report in these photos show it is
was way out of alignment or just a little -- enough to cause the
wear?

Thanks, felllers.

If it started suddenly I would suspect a damaged tire, either from
hitting a pothole or similar causing a belt failure in the tire.
That could cause a pull.

As for the numbers. The caster angles should match on that vehicle.
When they don't it can cause a pull. 1/2 a degree difference is
enough to cause issues and you have over that. With more on the
right side.


-- Steve W.

Thanks Steve. Looking at the caster, before alignment it was 3.0
left and 3.7 right. After alignment it was 2.9 left and 3.6 right.
Does that mean alignment needs to be done again?

The right front tow was -.15 before alignment and +0.03 after. That
makes sense to me because the front right tire was worn quite a bit
on the outside.

The rear toe before align was -.13 left and -.07 right. After align
was -.24 left and +0.17 right. Is that also something to have
corrected?



Specs I have for the Aerostar

Front Toe Total - Min. 0 Max. .12
Front Toe L & R - Min. 0 Max. .06
Camber L & R - Min. -.5 Max .5
Caster L & R - Min. 3.8 Max 5.8

Rear shows 0 on all numbers.

--
Steve W.

Thanks Steve. Good specs - tighter than Ford or the tire dealer. Here's what I got from the Ford dealer. Looks like tire dealer needs to adjust the toe closer to mid-range

Toe Total - Min. -.2 Max. +.32
Toe: 0.06 plus/minus 0.26
Camber: +0.25 plus/minus 0.5
Caster: +4 plus/minus 2