DRIVERS ASK, TOM ANSWERS: TIRE

PROBLEMS SOLVED

Tom,

Q I own a 1994 Taurus. It has new front brakes, rotors, and tires. The car

pulls to the left quite significantly if I let go of the wheel. The tires seem to
be wearing normally (they’ve been on the car since November). I have been
told that it could be the CV joint in the front end. Is it possible that a CV joint
can make the car pull one way or another?

Ann—Albuquerque,    New Mexico

Ann,

A I would start by switching the front tires from side to side. If the pull

goes to the right when you switch the tires, you’ll know it’s a tire problem. If
the pull still goes to the left the vehicle will need at least some time on a lift
and perhaps an alignment machine. So many things can cause a vehicle to
pull, from the tires, to worn front-end parts, to a shifted drivetrain cradle. A
good shop should be able to identify the cause. Good luck.