Hey, all,

I've had a 2010 HHR since late 2015. I picked it up right with only 15K miles on it. It had some minor damage to the lower front cowl, which the dealership fixed as per the sale, and it had a pull to the left, which I assumed an alignment would fix. 7-1/2 years and at least a dozen alignments later, it's still pulls to the left. Alignment readouts show it's in spec, but it's obviously not. It also pulls to the left when I accelerate away from a stop. Since the body damage was on the right side, at the bottom edge, I am thinking the car was curbed or hit a rock or whatever, and knocked something out, but, so far, nobody's been able to root it out. The constant pressure on the wheel to make it drive straight and the cost of tires is getting really old. It's been a great small cargo vehicle for my small machining business, as well as my daily driver, but I'm preparing to upgrade to a 2500 as a tow vehicle for the family, and I really need to get this fixed so I can sell it. Thoughts?

Thanks. Brad.

 

Guys,

After reading a couple of older threads on the subject, a few more points of context:

I have had numerous tire changes. It eats the outer edge of the right front tire. It ain't the tires.

I recently had both lower control arms replaced, as they had worn bushings. Problem got worse, if anything.

It pulls to the left constantly, at any speed, under acceleration, coasting or braking. It actually pulls the steering wheel to the left when taking off from a stop. Always to the left.

Thanks. Brad.

 

Wheel hub?

 

RJ,

Kinda doubt it. That was one of the first things that got replaced. Didn’t improve anything.

have also since replaced both front struts. Still nothing.

One other point of context…. It seems fairly darty on the highway. Meaning, when you start to swerve, it will all of a sudden dart to that side, much more than one would expect. If you’ve got some road to work with, you can slowly start to turn the wheel, and, at some point, it lurches that way, as if you’ve jerked the wheel that way.

Thanks. Brad.

 

Front toe is possibly wrong, or caster is out or camber from the curb damage.
bent inner tie rod

 

This was done today. A local suspension specialty shop is telling me there’s no way the tow out on the right rear is the culprit. Not near enough out of spec. Not the same shop that did the alignment reading.

Thanks. Brad.

 

I think maybe the rear torsion beam is damaged and the rr tire is steering the left. Or maybe the hub is installed improperly. I'm not sure I trust that alignment report.

 

I don't know much about alignment and it's affects on steering. But I wonder about the rear toe. Left side is near one extreme, right side is out of spec to the other extreme. So they're both pointing the same way, to the right or to the left. I would think that could potentially cause what you're experiencing.

 

RJ,

I would agree. It does make sense, and at least two shops have told me as such. But a third, which I was referred to by the more reputable of the first two, tells me it’s wasted time down an empty rabbit hole. I have an appt with them in the morning and we are going to discuss it. They are going to drive the car. I’m still think mom something up front is not right, whether the rear being out of sorts has anything to do with it or not. He mentioned “torque pull”, because it pulls the steering wheel pulls left when I take off from a stop. He mentioned something about motor/transaxle mounts. 🤷‍♀️

Thanks. Brad.

 

Oh, yes. Before I put the TTR Mounts in my SS, it was hang on to the steering wheel if I got Into the throttle. The new Mounts did help quite a bit. But torque steer was never a problem under light to moderate throttle.

You can check the condition of the engine mount by looking in the passenger side front wheel well. If the mounting bolt for the belt tensioner is properly visible in the access hole, you should be good. If the bolt is sitting low in the access hole, you need a new mount.