Tracking Out?

[mitchgixer6]

Hi there,

Picked up our Mini One last week (Tuesday). Was driving it for a while today on the motorway, this is the first time I've really done this. My fiance has been hogging her new car! How dare she!

When driving in a straight line I realised that the steering wheel was sitting slightly down on the left side. Only by a small fraction, but enough to notice. After realising this I took both hands off the wheel to see if there was any pull, and sure enought the car would start to drift off to the left.

Any ideas on what could be causing this? I thought it might be the tracking, but not being very mechanically minded thought I would ask on here. It's going back to the dealers next week to have it looked at, but would like to have an idea of whatthe cause may be in case they try it on with me.

Incidentally, we have not kerbed the car or hit any big potholes as of yet.

[Root Ginger]

The MINI does have a tendancy to follow the camber of the road so a slight drift to the left (especially if you have 17"s or above) is not uncommon.

Try taking the car to a car park and experimenting to see if the car still has the pull or not.

[mitchgixer6]

Thought it could have been that, as I've experienced that on my bike before.

Only got 16'' on so don't know if that would make a difference. Going to be out of the country until Monday morning now when the car is going back to dealers, so we'll see what happens then.

Thanks for the reply.

[MarkW19]

Mine does this too, as do most peoples' MINIs, especially with 17's

[Root Ginger]

It's just less noticeable with the 16's that's all, but it's still there.

[Smurfn]

I've always thought cars were supposed to drift to the left (not pull to the left) so if you fell asleep etc you would drive off the road rather than have a headon collision

[Root Ginger]

It's just a happy coincidence and a matter of physics and road drainage. All roads are angled to the left (in countries that drive on the left) to allow water to drain off them. Nothing to do with making your car go to the left if you fall asleep.

However on motorways they drain to the left and right hand side. Meaning the car should track reasonably straight in the middle and to the right in the outside lane.

[Smurfn]

Quote: Originally Posted by Root Ginger

It's just a happy coincidence and a matter of physics and road drainage. All roads are angled to the left (in countries that drive on the left) to allow water to drain off them. Nothing to do with making your car go to the left if you fall asleep.

However on motorways they drain to the left and right hand side. Meaning the car should track reasonably straight in the middle and to the right in the outside lane.

That makes sense too

[ShadowFax]

Quote: Originally Posted by Smurfn

I've always thought cars were supposed to drift to the left (not pull to the left) so if you fell asleep etc you would drive off the road rather than have a headon collision

I guess then by your logic, in Canada, if we fell asleep we would have a head-on collision then

[Smurfn]

Quote: Originally Posted by ShadowFax

I guess then by your logic, in Canada, if we fell asleep we would have a head-on collision then

I sort of assumed it would be the other way for the people who drive on the wrong side of the road

[ShadowFax]

Quote: Originally Posted by Smurfn

I sort of assumed it would be the other way for the people who drive on the wrong side of the road

[roland2003]

Slow drift to the left on UK roads is correct due (as said) to drainage camber etc.
It is possible for the tracking to be perfect yet the steering wheel not upright in a straight line. If so you just toe one wheel in by the same amount as you toe the other out. In your case ,toe the left out and the right in,try about 'a third of a turn / 2 spanner flats' as a starting point. One of my pet hates is steering wheel not upright.
Regards Roland Gt Tuning