steering wander

[tonyjets]

Hello Guys, My 04 xlr 25000 miles has a slight steering wander Ie it will try to follow lines in the road and some times a slight pull from left to right and right to left on light braking. Just bought it and as far as i know(carfax) it has never been in an accident....tire pressure is about the same in front ie left 28 right 30 psi... has original run flats,could it be tie rods this early? Also in a parking garage recently heard squealing on full right turn..any help? Thanks

 

[ChicagoDave]

Hello Guys, My 04 xlr 25000 miles has a slight steering wander Ie it will try to follow lines in the road and some times a slight pull from left to right and right to left on light braking. Just bought it and as far as i know(carfax) it has never been in an accident....tire pressure is about the same in front ie left 28 right 30 psi... has original run flats,could it be tie rods this early? Also in a parking garage recently heard squealing on full right turn..any help? Thanks

Could be a sticking caliper - that old of a car, with such low mileage, things could be "sticking". These cars love to be driven... mine has over 184K on it (its a 2005).

 

[cubby558]

Had the same issue with th '04 I once owned years ago. I suspect it is time for new tires.

Hello Guys, My 04 xlr 25000 miles has a slight steering wander Ie it will try to follow lines in the road and some times a slight pull from left to right and right to left on light braking. Just bought it and as far as i know(carfax) it has never been in an accident....tire pressure is about the same in front ie left 28 right 30 psi... has original run flats,could it be tie rods this early? Also in a parking garage recently heard squealing on full right turn..any help? Thanks

 

[fcarga]

Believe it or not but 2#'s difference in pressure can/will cause tracking. Also, as cubby558 said, it's
probably time to get rid of those - no longer as soft -tires and have the alignment checked.

 

[hawkeye372]

Believe it or not but 2#'s difference in pressure can/will cause tracking. Also, as cubby558 said, it's
probably time to get rid of those - no longer as soft -tires and have the alignment checked.

Don't the tire companies recommend changing tires ( buying new ones) every 3-5 yrs? I thought i heard or read that somewhere?

 

[Phrede]

IMHO I would set the pressures. Then my next suspicion is alignment. In particular the toe in.

The tire companies would love to sell you tires based on time. I'm not buying 3-5 year claim. How fast a tire will deteriorate depends on a lot of different factors.

 

[fcarga]

I also tend to disagree with the 3-5 year replacement thing, but this is a used car and probably the original tires
which makes them 8-9 years old. For peace of mind, I would replace them if they are the original tires.

 

[Phrede]

I also tend to disagree with the 3-5 year replacement thing, but this is a used car and probably the original tires
which makes them 8-9 years old. For peace of mind, I would replace them if they are the original tires.

True, checking the date code on the tires will remove any doubt as to how old they are. They may be even be older.

 

[monepit]

True, checking the date code on the tires will remove any doubt as to how old they are. They may even be older.

My escalade followed the road bad when I bought it. I replaced the tires and it drives like a Cadillac now. Money well spent.