New BFGs pulling the Prado to the left?

[Titfish Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Titfish]

As the title suggests I got new BFG AT on today and the car is now pulling to the left. I did have a wheel alignment at the time they were fitted. When I took the Prado back they immediately swapped the front tyres side to side thinking that it would fix the problem. Alas it didn't. I now have to go back for them to have another go which they are more than happy to do. I'm just wondering have others had this problem?

Cheers
Ken

[smakb Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close smakb]

I can't see how the tyres would do this. If the tyre was that far out it should show up when they try and ballance it.

[Guest Close Guest]

The alignment is out or they used alignment values for the wrong car.

[smakb Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close smakb]

You have a 120 Prado. They probably used the settings for the 150 Prado

[gxl_d4d Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close gxl_d4d]

They'll pull until the sharp edge of the front wheels rounds off a little. If you drive in town it should only take 2000km. Cornering and turning in town will round the edges quicker than highway driving.

[Davros Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Davros]

They'll pull until the sharp edge of the front wheels rounds off a little. If you drive in town it should only take 2000km. Cornering and turning in town will round the edges quicker than highway driving.

I had the same tyres fitted to mine a while ago with a wheel allign done at the same time.
Mine tracked perfectly from day one.

[iantz Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close iantz]

Titfish - I have had a similar problem with my ATs since they were fitted in October last year. The car was pulling left - and a lot more so than when I had the grandtreks on. I took it back for a second alignment. No difference after this, still a noticeable pull left. I noticed that the roads that seemed to have a lot of camber would exacerbate this, although it did it on more 'flat' roads too. I can say that since fitting new suspension in March the problem disappeared, instantly that is. I realised it as soon as I left AMTS place after we fitted the new gear. Doesn't make a lot of sense. I was going to suggest that it is because they are far grippier - in my opinion - that grandtreks, so they want to follow the camber more. But, given my problem was resolved with a lift, I have no advice on how to fix the problem. It seems stupid that a lift would fix it in my opinion, but I'm not complaining...

[Guest Close Guest]

Must be because we used the sledge hammer on the steering knuckles.

[dermie75 Member Find all posts View Profile Close dermie75]

Must be because we used the sledge hammer on the steering knuckles.

Right tool for the right job hey AMTS? haha.

[Black Diamond Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Black Diamond]

It can and does happen with new tyres occasionally, but if they have been swapped side to side and that has not fixed it, then the Camber/Caster is not set correctly. The Adjustments for them can be mungrels at times and most wheel aligners wont be bothered to finish the job correctly, i suspect this is whats happened. Did they give you an alignment report and what are the values?

[Titfish Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Titfish]

Firstly, Thanks to everybody for their input. I might add that my old tyres were the original Grandtreks and that the car has not had any damage to it since new. Black Diamond I did get an alignment report but I'm not sure what figures would be significant. If I take a punt (all front readings) then left and right castor were untouched L +2Deg 49min. R +2deg 44min.
KPI 10 deg L +11deg 34min. R 12deg 06min.
Camber Initial L -0deg 08min. R -0deg 07min. Final L-0deg 09min. R-0deg 07min.
Individual toe initial reading L -0.1mm. R -0.4mm Final reading L+0.1mm. R+0.1m
Total toe Initial -0.4mm Final +0.2mm
Setback Initial +0deg 01min final +0deg 02min
Included angle 10deg L +11deg 26min R +12deg 01min

I hope this means something to somebody. I've got no idea.
Thaks again to all
Ken

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

is your local pub on the left hand side of the road ? mine pulls hard right every time i go near my local booza . just depends on which direction your travelling .

[Black Diamond Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Black Diamond]

The caster is where the problem is. It should always be leading on the Pass side between 1-1.5 deg to compensate for the crown of the road.

[Titfish Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Titfish]

All fixed and yes it was a castor problem as Black Diamong suggested. Thanks again for the help.
Ken

[aaronburdekin Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close aaronburdekin]

Maybe the pull to the left was there before the new BFG's were put on but the older tyres had worn enough for it not to be so aggressive as it is now. Id have a look at your suspension components etc for any damage. Maybe a bumped gutter or a rut whilst 4wd'n may have done some sort of slight damage, and now that you have nice new wide tyres, the problem stands out more... Good luck!