Slight right pull under acceleration

[MiamiBlue]

I have a RHD (if it matters) and notice a slight pull to the right with medium to high acceleration. It's quite minor and I didn't realise at first, but subconsciously I think I've been adding a touch of left wheel steer to counteract with some heavy right foot. When coming off the accelerator it stops and goes back straight to how it was.

Is this a characteristic? (Little torque steer) Or do I need to investigate further? It's not causing any issues as it's so minor, just don't want to have an underlying problem.

 

[Six Speed Stephen]

Sounds like you just need an alignment

 

[scv]

Higher unequal air pressures side to side could result in this.?....easy, and free!, to rule out........

 

[Rainier]

I have a new US I4 (LHD)
On more sudden acceleration I notice a momentary slight pull in the steering to the left as the weight transfers.
Dealer said this is likely not an alignment issue and is just the result of having high torque.
I am not so sure.

Is this a case of "they all do that" or an alignment check being needed?

 

[MiamiBlue]

This is a good description of what I'm experiencing. It's just brief when you suddenly apply a lot of power, continued acceleration and it tracks straight. I'm noticing it less now, I think subconsciously I apply a small amount of opposite steering when I boot it.

 

[Rainier]

I'll get an alignment check at 1000 miles when the initial service is done;
It's a minor issue, though I think it should not be happening.
Interested to hear if other I4 owners experience a slight steering pull to one side on acceleration bursts.

 

[MiamiBlue]

Never solved this. All four tyres pressure set correctly. Had a full geo. Resulted in some minor adjustments, but didn't change the slight steering change under hard acceleration. The person doing the geo tested the car afterwards and couldn't feel it. He suggested the front lifting (car squatting) under hard acceleration was making me think it was steering, but was an illusion.
Online research suggests it could be an issue with tyres (I still have the factory fit Goodyears with plenty of life) or there's a loose or worn suspension component that has some play that's being moved under different loading. (Should be unlikely on a low mileage new car).

Not sure what to do. Maybe go to a more specialised Geo place that can check it all over rather than just do an adjustment.

 

[Rapture]

When I was breaking in my car, I would take it on the highway and do some pretty decent pulls to load the engine and then let it reduce speed in gear to help the pistons seat, etc. On acceleration, I would feel an odd sensation of the car trying to veer. I think now it may be a characteristic of the LSD. Not 100% sure though.

 

[AndyV6fe]

Hi MIami Blue,
Ive got an early emira v6 manual, 4000 mile (bought used) touring suspension, that pulls right on acceleration most noticeable 60 to 70mph in 5th and 6th. Ive had it in oakmere and had a 4 wheel alignment but still the same, did you pursue this with a dealer? Ive only got a few weeks of warrnaty left so want to see of any other cars had it fixed

 

[Dean76]

I have exactly this as well. When I floor it Sports or Track mode, car feels like it's pulling to the left a bit then when I let off it tracks totally straight. Very subtle but repeatable every time. Air pressure is identical left to right. As far as I know, alignment is good. Not sure

 

[MiamiBlue]

I never solved this. It's pretty minor and the descriptions above match my experience (but my wife that also drives the car can't detect it -though her hard acceleration is different to mine). Someone told me the car is super sensitive to tyres and even tolerances between the same model of tyre can make a difference. The test is to swap the tyres from one side to the other and see if it makes a difference. I haven't tried this.

 

[AndyV6fe]

I have exactly this as well. When I floor it Sports or Track mode, car feels like it's pulling to the left a bit then when I let off it tracks totally straight. Very subtle but repeatable every time. Air pressure is identical left to right. As far as I know, alignment is good. Not sure

I've just booked mine back in, i think either rear suspension setting (if adjustable dampers) or different lsd setting. Hoping its much simpler, im gonna try different tyre pressures on the rear to see if it changes it right to left and so on. After speaking to the delaer today I'm going to check rear tyre wear across the tread as they suggest the alignment being out before might have un-evenly worn the tyres so now its straight i won't see a change until tyres are changed. I think its something more than that as I've had cars with different treads side to side before and drove perfectly straight

 

[MiamiBlue]

I've just booked mine back in, i think either rear suspension setting (if adjustable dampers) or different lsd setting. Hoping its much simpler, im gonna try different tyre pressures on the rear to see if it changes it right to left and so on. After speaking to the delaer today I'm going to check rear tyre wear across the tread as they suggest the alignment being out before might have un-evenly worn the tyres so now its straight i won't see a change until tyres are changed. I think its something more than that as I've had cars with different treads side to side before and drove perfectly straight

Let me know if you ever work it out!

 

[docron]

my pull to the right was a slight toe misalignment. once alignment dialed back in, no further pull under acceleration.

 

[Ft.S]

Never solved this. All four tyres pressure set correctly. Had a full geo. Resulted in some minor adjustments, but didn't change the slight steering change under hard acceleration. The person doing the geo tested the car afterwards and couldn't feel it. He suggested the front lifting (car squatting) under hard acceleration was making me think it was steering, but was an illusion.
Online research suggests it could be an issue with tyres (I still have the factory fit Goodyears with plenty of life) or there's a loose or worn suspension component that has some play that's being moved under different loading. (Should be unlikely on a low mileage new car).

Not sure what to do. Maybe go to a more specialised Geo place that can check it all over rather than just do an adjustment.

There are several things to consider, and it is really tough to chase. I am certainly sympathetic to your situation as I am also experiencing the issue in some similar form.

Firstly, not all tech really know the specific process to align double-wishbone suspension. Secondly, not everyone calibrates that alignment machines frequently enough. Thirdly, the control arm bushings play significant role on how the settings 'feel' to the driver. Having a bad bushing or a worn one is tough to identify visually. Finally, a control arm being out of spec, even just 1 mm, can throw off the dynamic alignment.

So, I am being patient, and go through all the possible areas that effect the driving feel and hope we will get to the bottom of this. I am just lucky that my dealer has been very cooperative thus far.

Good luck!

 

[geoffbland]

For what it is worth, I had to go to three alignment shops before I got the alignment set up correctly on my Emira. It is certainly a fiddly car to set the alignment on yet the Emira seems very sensitive to alignment - if it is not right you do feel it. The car was way out from the factory and the first two alignments got it close but still not right.

In the end I took mine to RMS (Rapid Mechanical Services) in Romford and I spent a full 4 hours with them dialling the the suspension 100% spot on. Note that there is a limit to the camber you can set with the stock suspension, having it set correct by the user manual settings had the camber right at the limit of what is possible.

On the drive home after that the car felt much more planted on the road.

 

[Orchardbike]

For what it is worth, I had to go to three alignment shops before I got the alignment set up correctly on my Emira. It is certainly a fiddly car to set the alignment on yet the Emira seems very sensitive to alignment - if it is not right you do feel it. The car was way out from the factory and the first two alignments got it close but still not right.

In the end I took mine to RMS (Rapid Mechanical Services) in Romford and I spent a full 4 hours with them dialling the the suspension 100% spot on. Note that there is a limit to the camber you can set with the stock suspension, having it set correct by the user manual settings had the camber right at the limit of what is possible.

On the drive home after that the car felt much more planted on the road.

Hi Geoff, what was the cost of this at RMS?

 

[geoffbland]

Hi Geoff, what was the cost of this at RMS?

I promised not to tell as they gave me a special price up front but it took a lot longer than we expected.

That said, they are far cheaper than a dealership - I think their hourly rate is £55 - but please ring to check. Tell them I recommended you to them. They are real Lotus specialists and kind of perfectionists, they do a lot of work on classic Lotus but recently have had quite a few Emiras in. Make sure you know what settings you want - they are listed in the Service Manual but differ between V6/I4, Sport/Touring and if you have Sport Cup 2s.

I wrote more about this here --> https://www.emiraforum.com/threads/shout-out-to-rms-rapid-mechanical-services-romford-uk.7085/

 

[AndyV6fe]

Let me know if you ever work it out!

The dealer with my car has been great, they have tried alignment, tried swapping rear shocks, swapped the wheels with another car (same goodyear tyres), checked all the bushes and reported back to lotus, everything is as it should be so lotus suggest changing rear tyre brand but not sure which to try. There was a guy on one of the forums that said tyres sorted it for him so need to find him and see what he fitted. In the mean while I might have to do a track day to burn some rubber before new ones.

 

[bshads]

For all those with issues, note there are different alignment specs per tire, and from factory, though my suspension was in tolerance it wasn't spot on. Tiny changes on this car makes a large difference in handling. Have your alignments checked.