[H20Town]

The one thing that has always irritated me since day one with my T&C is that it has a very noticeable pull to the right. I would say I have to hold the steering wheel a good 5 degrees or more off "level" to keep it straight. I usually bring it up with the dealer when I get any service done...they have looked at the tires (which look fine..even wear), and I went with the service manager while he took it for a test drive, and of course on the road he chose, it drove straight.

I have a feeling it is just the tires (which have a very wide tread 235/60/16) combined with the crown in the road, and the heavy steering of the van, which makes it that much more noticeable. I use snow tires (Bridgestone Blizzak WS60) in the winter...same size as stock. The pull is still there, but I would say about half as bad as with the Kumho's. Tires are rotated every spring.

So I guess my questions are:

1. Does anyone with 16" Kumho's have the same problem?
2. Do you know of anything that could be done to fix or lessen the problem?
3. I'll probably be getting new tires in a few years...do you think switching to 17" tires would help.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[RIP]

The typical steps in an alignment problem are first rotating the tires front to back and if that doesn't work getting a 4 wheel alignment done. Tire size makes no difference.

 

[1994 Sport]

The tried and true test to see if its a tire pull vs alignment issue is swapping the front tires side to side. If the van pulls in the same direction, its the vans alignment. If the pull switches sides it's the tires.
Since it has done it since new, has the dealer ever checked the alignment? What is the cross caster and camber #'s?

 

[H20Town]

Since it has done it since new, has the dealer ever checked the alignment?

Dealer has never checked alignment. When I first brought it up the van only had around 750 miles on it, and he said: 1. It might be from being strapped down on the car carrier...the shock/struts need to "loosen" up. and 2. Chrysler doesn't like to check alignment until at least 2,500 miles on a new car....van now has almost 17k on it. All the other times they just look at the tire wear, and say it's okay. I will say I haven't been too pushy with the issue.

I'm taking it in this Thursday to most likely get new rotors...vibration when braking since around 16k. I do have the extended "warranty" from Chrysler for that...will be $100 for the rotors.

I'll be sure to make a bigger deal about the pull....Warranty is up in March.

 

[friendlyr]

I also had an off-center wheel and a slight pull when new...dealer performed an alignment at 500 miles...printout from align machine showed it was off from factory specs...has been perfect since....loosen up? hmmmmm.....

 

[H20Town]

Took it in to the dealer today for rotors, and alignment check. They finally agreed it drifted to the right...of course it was all fixed on my dime at $75.37. As for the rotors, both front AND rear had to be replaced....$100 for the front, $220 for the rear....pads were "sanded".

 

[friendlyr]

Wow...ive never even heard of sanding brake pads.....

 

[1994 Sport]

Fairly common practice to sand the old pads down so they can seat better to the new rotor surface, especially if the pads were grooved from a rusty rotor.
I put a piece of sand paper on a flat surface and run the pad over it in figure eights until it's flat again.

 

[friendlyr]

my only option would be new pads....and would find it almost unacceptable for a service center to perform this....