Wheel alignment and Steering Question

[MeToo]

On my '76 Fleetwood, if you hold the steering wheel straight the car tracks straight and true, however as soon as you let go of the wheel, the wheel and the car veer left bigly. This is regardless of which lane or side of the road so its not a road camber thing. Its like the steering wheel's default is left so that when you drive in a straight line, the leftward pull puts more wear on the inside edge of the right tire.

This strikes as a wheel alignment issue, but a garage I have taken it to, says in order to fix it, I'd end up with the steering wheel turning further to the left than the right, that is to reach full lock, you would end up having to turn the wheel further to the left to reach lock than you would have to turn to the right to reach full lock. I'm a little hesitant to do such a thing.

I'm not sure how that can be the case or if there is another fix for the leftward pull/drift?
Is there any issue with the wheel going further in one direction than the other from a safety and handling standpoint?

[Glen]

If it is not an alignment problem, it might be a dragging brake on the left wheel.  It can be caused by a collapsed brake hose.  Use a temperature gun to see if the left wheel is hotter than the right. 
Otherwise take it to a different alignment shop.       

[Dave Shepherd]

The shop is full of S,  unless something was severely bent in the steering linkage, what they are saying is baloney.

[35-709]

100% agree with Dave Shepard --- that guy doesn't know what he is talking about.

[TJ Hopland]

I too say that shop isn't making sense.  I suspect all most alignment techs now nowdays is what the computer screen tells them, there is no actual theory or common sense involved.  I have seen them drive over the gauge things that hang on the wheels and bend them back and keep on doing alignments.     

A 76 would have come with radials so that should make it easier too.  Sometimes to get a bias era car into radial specs you do have to do some creative or somewhat extreme shimming.   

I agree that you want to make sure there isn't a brake or bearing issue.  As mentioned above that is easy to check with one of those IR temp gun things that are cheap these days. 

Have you rotated tires around to make sure its not a tire issue?   Tires can have a pull to them. 

Is the car sitting level and at the proper ride height?  How about with you in the car?   Put someone your size in the car and measure or have someone measure it with you in it.   You could try loading the car differently easiest way would be passengers.   Maybe get 2 people on the passenger side to offset your weight?   I have had cars that were 'weak' on the drivers side.  Guessing they spent a lot of time with a lot of weight on that side or maybe sitting on uneven ground or maybe a flat tire.  They would sit level with nothing in them but as soon as you put any load in them at all would really drop.  My quick fix for that problem was swap springs side to side.

[Cape Cod Fleetwood]

X4 on the shop being full of $hit.
Find a shop near you that does restorations, ask THEM who does their alignment work, go to them.
It 'does' sound like a brake issue on the left side... such things are hard to diagnose on forums.

\m/
Laurie

[MeToo]

Thanks for the replies.

[Classic]

If all else fails, give Lares Corp. a call.  https://www.larescorp.com/.  They remanufacture all kind of steering components.  Last i knew, Paul Lares had a 1940 Cadillac 62 sedan, as well as Cords and Packards, so he's one of "us".  His advice may be helpful.

Gene

[novetti]

Is the gear all stock? (suspension, tires, brakes etc) ?

It can be a myriad of things, start with the usual ones first.
-Play in any component
-Brakes dragging somewhat
-Swap the tires from one side to another
-Steering pump, hoses etc all in good order
-Inspect all items to see if there is any signs of components ''rubbing'' on each other

Then

-Confirm alignment numbers (Toe in / Camber / Caster)
-Confirm your steering tie rods are at the same length (sometimes while adjusting people shorten or lengthened one side too much)
-Confirm your steering wheel is installed correctly (not a different index spline than original)