Why is My Car Pulling to One Side?

If your car feels like it has a mind of its own and keeps drifting left or right when you're trying to go straight, something’s off. Whether your car pulls to the right or you're noticing your car pulling to the left, it’s usually a sign that something isn’t quite right with the alignment, tires, or brakes. It’s not just annoying, it can wear out your tires faster and put extra stress on your suspension. Let’s break down what might be causing it and what you can do about it.

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How to Tell If It's an Alignment or Tire Issue

One of the most common reasons for a car pulling to the left or right is a wheel alignment problem. If your wheels aren’t properly aligned, they don’t point in the same direction. That throws off your steering and can make your vehicle drift to one side. This can happen gradually from everyday driving or suddenly after hitting a curb or a nasty pothole.

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Tire issues can be just as much to blame. Uneven air pressure, uneven tread wear, or mismatched tire types can throw your car off balance. Start by checking the pressure in all four tires and inspecting the tread. If one tire looks more worn than the others or is underinflated, that could explain why your car pulls to the right or left.

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How Brakes Can Throw Off Your Steering

Brakes don’t usually come to mind first, but they can definitely cause steering issues. If a brake caliper is sticking or if one side of your brakes is grabbing more than the other, your car may pull especially when braking. This kind of problem can be caused by rust, dirt, or worn-out parts.

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If the pulling only happens when you hit the brakes, you might have uneven braking pressure. This can make your car pulling to the left or right feel even more dramatic and is something that should be checked out right away.

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What to Do Before It Gets Worse

If your car pulls to the right or left, don’t just adjust your steering and hope for the best. Driving like that can wear out your tires unevenly, lower your fuel economy, and lead to bigger problems with your suspension or braking system.

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The smart move is to bring your car in for an inspection. At your local GreatWater 360 Auto Care shop, our teammates can check your alignment, tires, brakes, and suspension to figure out exactly what’s going on and fix it before it gets worse.

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If your car pulling to the left or right is making driving less enjoyable, let us take a look. Schedule an appointment online or give us a call. We’ll help you get back to driving straight and smooth.