2002 Lexus ES300, 197k miles. Automatic Transmission. FWD.
I’ve had an issue with my car pulling to the left since Nov 2022 after I replaced my struts (coils, shocks). I used the strut assemblies from AutoZone. I also replaced the sway bar links. It started pulling left after that and I took it to get an alignment which didn’t help it much. I still have all the paperwork of the alignment done back then. Fast forward almost a year I’m still driving it and just learning to live with it. In summer 2023, I noticed noises from the sway bars. I went and got my warranty replacement for the strut assembly, sway bar links. Then I had a shop replace those parts with the replacements. They recommended I replace the passenger inner and outer tie rod. And the outer tie rod for driver side. Also they didn’t brakes. Car still pulled left when driving. Flash forward a few more months, I had another mechanic replace both control arms, both ball joints, the driver side inner tie rod, serpentine belt. Weirdly enough the driver side control arm was in better shape than the passenger side. I have had 2 alignments since, with the paperwork showing each measure in the green. I got my tires rotated yesterday and that didn’t help. Calipers aren’t stuck, wheel bearings aren’t making noise. What else could be causing it?
Big O tires just isn’t aligning cars correctly
I'd say the chances of that are high. Find a privately owned shop.
Agreed. Funniest part was the first time I came in, they said they needed to replace control arms first or else they couldn’t do a proper alignment. They quoted $2000 for 2 control arms + labor. I thought that was hilarious I told him I wasn’t gonna pay more than $600 total for that job with parts included. I literally bought the car 3 years ago for $3000, so I found that price hilarious. I proceeded to do exactly what I said I would. Had my mechanic do it for $175 labor + 200 on parts I think, including ball joints. Hilarious. Will follow up with results of private alignment shop
What else could be causing it?
It's rare, but occasionally a bad tire will cause a 'radial pull'. The tire will show no external sign of being defective except for it will cause the car to pull to one side. This isn't something that's commonplace, I just happen to currently have that exact issue with my car.
In your car started pulling after you installed new parts from AutoZone then that installation or event obviously caused the pull, that's where I would focus my attention. Was this cause/effect mentioned to the to mechanic(s) prior to the alignment(s)?
That makes sense but usually changing the entire strut assembly and sway bars will cause alignment to be off. Even after I told the guy that and he aligned it, it still pulled. That was Nov2022. Summer 2023 I had a mechanic redo all that work +tie rods. Still pulled. I did the tire rotation yesterday, and had them move front driver side (what my car pulls toward) to rear passenger side (diagonal switch). Still doing it so I’m not sure
Do note that I was answering your specific question, "What else could be causing it?' Swapping your left side tires with your right side tires will reveal a tire issue. Visually the tire will look fine but the steel belts in it aren't properly aligned. I do not think this is causing your pull because the rotation would have had at least a small effect on the pull.
Yeah I don’t think so either. I’m stumped at this point. Rack and pinion maybe?
One mechanic told me it was seeping a little but didn’t need to get replaced yet. True yeah and it hasn’t. Yeah hope so! Maybe old Scotty has to help us out on this one
Scotty almost never answers questions that have already been "answered," unfortunately. You might hold out for a possible video. If Scotty finds it interesting, he may do a video about it. Good luck.
there's always live shows. twice per week.
But I wouldn't get my hopes up. I don't think this is the type of problem that can be solved over the internet.
True, I forgot about those. I've not been having car issues lately. I asked a question in one of his live streams back in 2019 I think it was. He didn't answer a live question I had about ringing the bell. He did a video a couple months later, and he said my name, and that bell is in Maine, in a maritime museum. I gotta admit, I blushed a bit, I didn't expect him to read it. Haha. Definitely goes to show that he reads almost every question after the live stream is over.
Ah shoot ok. What should I do then? I remembered he answered one of my questions a long time ago probably 2021 on here. Guess I could try a live stream
What should I do then?
I think you just need a better mechanic. One who is actually going to test drive the car, and see the problem through to the end.
I had the guy who did my brakes, right inner tie rod, both outer tie rods, and installed both of the warrantied strut assemblies and sway bar links at the end of last summer. He test drove it and the whole 9 yards, he said to get it aligned but I ended up moving away right after that. Then the rest has followed which I wrote in the initial
Only thing I could think of is Big O tires just isn’t aligning cars correctly. But I’ve got paperwork to shows Im within spec. I looked on some Lexus forums that said sometimes even if it’s in spec it’s going to be a certain degree in relation to the other side
I’m stumped at this point. Rack and pinion maybe?
It's possible. A left side lazy caliper would do it but seems like that would have shown up as a brake issue by now..
I'm stumped too. Perhaps another member will help us out and opine?
One mechanic told me it was seeping a little but didn’t need to get replaced yet. True yeah and it hasn’t. Yeah hope so! Maybe old Scotty has to help us out on this one
Hey I got it re aligned somewhere else and it seems things are within spec I’m not sure what else it could be. Any thoughts?