So confused

[iluvspl]

Ok so i have my 05 4.4 sport and just had the new 87 wheels put on and the eibach front springs and rear air lowered at the dealer. They also did an alignment like suppose to have done after any suspension work. Ok heres where it gets tricky i drive the car home and it pulls to the right. I figure ok alignment is off so i go back the next week and they redo it and check it and get it perfect and even show me the specs and how they have it set. Drive home and still pulls to the right. Next i go to my tire guy and he said it could be radial pull, he says he sees it all the time and says put the right front tire on the left wheel and left front tire on the right wheel. Yes the toyo proxes are directional and that is all still ok. So i just had thisdone today and figured it was going to fix everything, even the dealer said that could be the problem. I pick up the car and drive home and yep still pulls to the right. What could be the problem? I mean i have to hold the steerng wheel turned left to even go straight. Does anyone have any possible idea what it could be?

[///Bruce]

Okay. Let's use a little logic here. First, we make some assumptions.
1. The brakes were not touched
2. The vehicle did not pull prior to any work being done
3. Rims are new
4. Tires are new
5. Tires are the correct size left to right (look carefully at this !!!)
5. Only "work" done to the X: alignment OF ALL 4 WHEELS
6. Front tires were swapped on the rims
7. No other work done
8. Nothing else touched on the X

Ans.: The alignment is wrong. I don't care what the dealer says. The alignment is off. Is it possible only the front tires were aligned and not the back?

Try a few things:
Make sure you received the correct tires. I have seen where the sizes were wrong from the supplier. Example: 235-40 and a 235-45.

Just for a few miles, flip-flop the two front tires. I know they're directional. But 10 miles won't hurt them going 'backwards'.

Next, have someone follow you down a straight road from behind to see if the X is "dog-walking" down the road. If you're not familiar with the term it's when the rear of the car is not following the track of the front of the car.

Good luck.

[Kewl X5]

It really sounds like an alignment issue. Of course, do the obvious, check tire air pressure at all 4 tires.

Originally Posted by iluvspl

Ok so i have my 05 4.4 sport and just had the new 87 wheels put on and the eibach front springs and rear air lowered at the dealer. They also did an alignment like suppose to have done after any suspension work. Ok heres where it gets tricky i drive the car home and it pulls to the right. I figure ok alignment is off so i go back the next week and they redo it and check it and get it perfect and even show me the specs and how they have it set. Drive home and still pulls to the right. Next i go to my tire guy and he said it could be radial pull, he says he sees it all the time and says put the right front tire on the left wheel and left front tire on the right wheel. Yes the toyo proxes are directional and that is all still ok. So i just had thisdone today and figured it was going to fix everything, even the dealer said that could be the problem. I pick up the car and drive home and yep still pulls to the right. What could be the problem? I mean i have to hold the steerng wheel turned left to even go straight. Does anyone have any possible idea what it could be?

[Roc3b]

It is the tires...

[X5Dawg]

I feel ya man. I have a 2001 F150 Supercrew that does the exact same thing - happened right after I lowered it.

I had three different shops check the alignment and it still pulls to the right - the last shop specializes in lowered vehicles and still did not fix the pulling. Replaced tires during this time and it still pulls. I am also running unidirectional tires on my truck.

I can say over time the pulling has decreased (either that or I am getting used to it).

If you find a fix, PLEASE let me/ us know what it was.

[iluvspl]

To answer your questions yes they are brand new replica #87 wheels and brand new toyo proxes staggered all with the right sizes. The car did not pull when i got the front springs put on but when i took the car to bmw to drop the rear via DIS and do alignment that is when i started noticing the pull. Nothing else was touch and yes it was a 4 wheel alignment. I just cant see BMW doing a bad alignment 2 times in a row. I have a feeling im going to just live with it. I mean its nothing major but i worry about tire wear.

[MrLabGuy]

Have the dealer exchange the rims and tires from another vehicle for a test drive. That will eliminate the tires from this equation.

[motordavid]

J: if it did not pull after your new set of wheels & tires, it
has to be the "drop" and/or aling. or combo effect.

Jes'guessing from the back row.

You may get "used" to it, but I don't think it's good.

I have one of those fine Honda CR-V pos with the PullToTheRight
syndrome, which umptyseven trips to stlrs and front end guys
have not been able to rectify: it's a workout to drive it
long distance and the sumbitch eats front tires.

I'd keep looking, if it were me.
GL,md

[ifly]

You may haf to unpimp your ride!

[///Bruce]

Don't "just live with it"! Don't do that! I won't respect you in the morning.

Seriously, if it drove straight after the tires and rims were put on and only started to pull, or drift, after it was lowered and aligned....

This eliminates tires and rims and a brake caliper possibly binding. So we're left with springs and an alignment. Personally, I don't ever remember a case where springs, themselves, causes a vehicle to drift left or right. And, I've done a few swapouts over the years.

Some history: I use a shop here in Houston to do all of my alignment work. The reasons are many, but as it relates to this case, I noticed that BMW has a tendency to only get the vehicle within spec rather than get it right.

What I mean by that is if the (as an example only) the camber calls for +1 to -1, my mechanic will get it to 0 where a BMW mechanic will see it sitting at -1 and go "it's within spec" and be done with it.

Find a copy of Roundel (BMWCCA magazine) or go online. They list BMW certified shops throughout the US. My shop is on that list. Find one in your area and take it to them. You may wind up paying ~$120 for another alignment, but it might be worth it to you if after it's done, the X tracks straight for you.

If you need help finding a good shop in your area, ask on this board or one of the others.... and then come back.
Good luck