Questions and Answers

Drifting Audi Q. Hi Vincent, Visited your auto repair section on About.com and it is really helpful and informative. I've also got a question for you. I just recently bought a new 2002 Audi A4. The specs are as follows: 4 cylinder Turbo charged engine 5 speed automatic with tiptronic, AWD Quattro, sport suspension Currently have 1600 miles on it Fuel Injection ABS,PS and AC Rack and pinion steering

My question is this, before I bought the car and while I was test driving it, I noticed the car was drifting to the right down the highway. I got a due bill to have it looked at. The dealership took a look at it and said that the tires where over inflated and brought them to spec.

However, I'm still experiencing a subtle amount of drift to the right sometimes while driving. For example, I will be cruising down the highway and I'll center the steering wheel and grip the wheel very lightly. I would think that on a straight line course, the car should hold it's course, but the car sometimes drifts to the right, other times it maintains a straight course. I do probably 80% highway driving and the rest in the city. I live in the SF Bay area (if that helps at all).

The dealership said that the alignment was fine and to spec and that it was the tire pressure that caused the car to drift before and they believe it is fixed. They think now any drift I am experiencing is probably due to road "crowning." They explained that roads will sometimes have a slight angle to aid in water drainage.

I know I may be nitpicking, I'm not fighting with the steering wheel, but I am curious as to what could be causing this. I mean it can't be torque steer or anything like that on an AWD car, right? Anyways, I don't necessarily experience this problem with acceleration...more like when I'm driving at a steady pace above 40mph.

For what it is worth, I drove my wife's 2001 A4 today and I noticed on the highway that her's sometimes does the same thing.

So what gives? Subtle alignment problem or is it simply the reality of the road surface, sensitive steering that's responding to ever so very slight inputs or something else?

Thanks in advance for your help!
Charles

A. Basically the dealer is giving you the straight scoop. Road crown, especially on interstates, will cause a car to drift right. Now you could give the car a ½° more positive caster on the right side to compensate for it somewhat. But then on a flat road you might get a drift to the left.

If you want, you can take the car to a frame shop and have the frame measured to make sure it is straight and true, but I'm almost sure that it will be. In a nutshell, what you're feeling is normal for any car.

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