Lead/pull is the deviation of the vehicle from a straight path on a level road with no pressure on the steering wheel. Lead is usually caused by the following conditions:
| • | Poor tire construction |
| • | Uneven brake assemblies |
| • | Improper tire and wheel alignment In the front tires (rear tires will not cause lead) |
Tire construction can be a cause of lead in a vehicle. An example of this is placement of the belt. Off center belts on radial tires can cause the tire to develop a side force while rolling straight down the road, and the tire will tend to roll like a cone.
Use the lead/pull correction table in order to verify that improper tire and wheel alignment is not mistaken for tire lead.
Step | Action | Value(s) | Yes | No | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Inspect and repair/replace tire/wheel assemblies for:
Is action complete? | -- | Go to Step 2 | -- | ||||||||||
2 | Inspect and repair front and rear suspensions for:
Is action complete? | -- | Go to Step 3 | -- | ||||||||||
3 | Inspect and repair power steering gear and pump for:
Is action complete? | -- | Go to Step 4 | -- | ||||||||||
4 |
| -- | Go to Step 5 | System OK | ||||||||||
5 | Does the vehicle lead/pull in the opposite direction? | -- | Go to Step 6 | Go to Wheel Alignment Measurement in Wheel Alignment | ||||||||||
6 |
Does vehicle still lead/pull? | -- | Go to Go to Step 7 | Go to Step 8 | ||||||||||
7 |
Does vehicle still lead/pull? | -- | Go to Wheel Alignment Measurement in Wheel Alignment | Go to Step 9 | ||||||||||
8 | Replace left rear tire. Is repair complete? | -- | System OK | -- | ||||||||||
9 | Replace right rear tire. Is repair complete? | -- | System OK | -- |
