What causes my vehicle to pull to one direction only when I throttle at high speed?

Question

I have a 1988 Pathfinder. The vehicle coasts straight and true, and there are no signs of tire wear (10K+ miles on tires). The vehicle pulls to one side only when I throttle. I don't notice this when I am constantly on the throttle, but only when I alternate between coasting and accelerating. I have to compensate the steering wheel, and when going fast, this can really cause me to be swervy. I don't want to be pulled off the road for looking like I am driving drunk, or worse yet, skid off the road in snowy conditions. Is this an alignment problem?

Answer 1

Was there work recently done?

This could be any number of things :
1, check your wheel base by measuring from center to center, right front to right rear and left front to left rear they should be within 3/8 of an inch. this should help eleminate an axle coming loose or some bent suspension parts.
2, check that the tires are the same size and make and air pressure. maybe try rotating the tires.one side then the other, some tires roll easyer then others
3, if you have a good jack , lift the tires off the ground and try wobbling them top to bottom and side to side any play should be checked farther. ball joints , tie rods, bushings ...
4, check the lug nuts for tightness.
5, check the motor mounts and tranmission mounts for breakage or loose bolts.
6, look down the sides and see if something looks off or out of place. this could be caused by a bent frame or other bent suspension parts.

Answer 2

There is a Nissan bulletin on this problem.

The rear end is shifting do to worn bushings across the lateral link.

I ran into this problem when I worked as a supervisor for CarMax years ago... sent the Pathfinder to the dealer and that was the fix.

When yoiu accelerate, you are causing the thrust angle of the truck to shift that is why you have to compensate with your steering wheel.

Going around a curve, I was able to make a Pathfinder 'porpoise' to the point I had to bring the truck to a stop.

You still may have to deal with other worn chassis components, considering the Pathfinder's age, but I'm willing to bet that the rear link bushings are worn.

Answer 3

Well, you "know" wrong. Shifting without clutching will not damage the engine, heck, if you are an experienced driver and know the workings of a clutch, you can do it an not even damage the transmission, many people do. On the back of your engine is a flywheel, bolted to the flywheel is a pressure plate. Between the flywheel and the pressure plate is the clutch disk, it turn with the flywheel because it is smashed real tight between the flywheel and pressure plate. The input shaft for the transmission attaches to the clutch disk. When you press the clutch, the throw out bearing presses on the fingers of the pressure plate, causing it to pull away from the flywheel and let pressure off of the clutch disk. When this happens, the transmission is not being turned by the engine. You then slide the shifter into the next gear, and let off the clutch, thus allowing the engine to turn the transmission again. It is possible to shift without the clutch, but you must be able to know your transmission well enough to feel when the RPM of the engine is right to slide it into gear and not cause gear clash. In short, if YOU do this, it will grind gears in the transmission, and damage the transmission, not the engine.

Answer 4

It sounds like a tie-rod or ball joint is worn out. When you accelerate, it pulls the wheel forward slightly, changing the steering angle - which will cause it to swerve. When you're coasting or braking, rolling resistance keeps it in the rearward position, so you won't notice it then.

This needs to be fixed ASAP - I've seen ball joints come completely apart while driving - not a pretty picture at highway speeds! The good part is that it's not particularly difficult - but not real cheap either.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Check your rear leaf spring mounting areas... if your vehicle is rusty due to its age (dont know where in the US you live) the mounting areas are notorious for rusting out on those things. If it's rusty or weak on one side or the other it will allow the rear axle to move forward/back on one side causing your steering problem at high speeds. DEFINATELY get it checked out, if this is the case it is a serious safety hazard!! You dont want your axle coming un-done at hwy speeds, especially on a high center of gravity sport-utility like a Pathfinder... recipe for a rolling disaster.

Please get it checked out, good luck with your ride man.

Answer 6

It could be several things. A bad alignment, a tire with improper high speed balance, or a defective CV shaft(axle). A bad alignment will usually show unusual tire wear over time.

Answer 7

Check all joints and connections to the rear end, our Ford Aerostar did the same thing and it turned out to be one of the anti sway bars had come loose from the frame, and only moved on acceleration, badly.

Answer 8

It may be the front drive shafts. You dont have it in 4WD while driving on the highway or asphalt roads do you???
I dont think it would be an alignment problem if it drives straight in all other applications

Answer 9

to see if youhave an alignment problem get it up to highway speed on a straight road and let go of the wheel, if it starts to one side within 20 feet then you need to get them aligned. if it stays atraight for 1/10th of a mile then you have a problem other then alignment.

Answer 10

torque steer? LMFAO, front wheel drive moron! That only happens with front wheel drive cars

Motor mounts? LMFAO again!.... once again, only happens with front wheel drive!!! this is a rear wheel setup!


ANYWAYS, sounds like a inner or outer tie rod, possibly a ball joint. have someone go thru your front end, it should be pretty easy to spot. Oh, do this ASAP