Classification:

Reference:

ST08-001h

Date:

NTB08-097h

June 21, 2018

DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT)
AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF CENTER
This bulletin has been amended. The publication date has been revised to include the latest models
and model years. No other changes have been made. Discard previous versions of this bulletin.

APPLIED VEHICLES:

All Nissan - except GT-R

SERVICE INFORMATION
If a customer reports their “vehicle pulls” or the “steering wheel is off-center,” use the
Diagnostic Flow Chart on page 4 and the other information in this bulletin to diagnose and
correct the issue.

Nissan Bulletins are intended for use by qualified technicians, not 'do-it-yourselfers'. Qualified technicians are
properly trained individuals who have the equipment, tools, safety instruction, and know-how to do a job
properly and safely. NOTE: If you believe that a described condition may apply to a particular vehicle, DO
NOT assume that it does. See your Nissan dealer to determine if this applies to your vehicle.
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General Information
Customers may report that their vehicle’s steering wheel is “off-center” because the
steering wheel spokes are tilted to the left or right when the vehicle continues straight
ahead on a straight flat road (see example in Figure 1).

Figure 1
If a vehicle’s steering wheel spokes are slightly off-center while driving straight, it may be
the normal result of road crown. Most roads in the United States are built with a “crown” to
help rain water drain from the road surface. The slope of the road crown varies from place
to place.
Vehicles have a natural tendency to drift to the low side of the crown. The greater the slope
of the crown, the faster the vehicle will drift in that direction.
Tires and vehicles are designed to counteract the effect of typical road crown, but may not
fully counteract the effect of a highly crowned road.
Some freeways slope to both the left and right from the center. When driving on a freeway
that slopes in both directions, a vehicle may exhibit a small amount of drift to the left when
driving in the left lane and a small amount of drift to the right when driving in the right lane.
This bulletin does not address road crown issues because they are not vehicle
related, although the customer may incorrectly perceive them to be.
APPLICABLE WARRANTY




Vehicle alignment is currently covered by the adjustment Warranty for 12
months/12,000 miles, whichever occurs first, from the vehicle’s in-service date.
Warranty application is limited to correction of a problem based upon a customer’s
specific complaint.
If an alignment adjustment to correct a vehicle pull or off-center condition is
performed, alignment data needs to be printed out and stored at the dealer.
NOTE: Nissan may request this stored alignment data to support Warranty Claim.
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NTB08-097h

Road Test
Determine if the vehicle has a pull or steering wheel off-center issue that requires repair.
IMPORTANT:


If the vehicle has any tire issues, such as:
 Tires that are different sizes (except when specified from the factory).
 Significant difference in the amount of wear between any of the tires.
 Any other tire irregularity or damage to any tire and/or wheel.
Replace the tire(s) or use known good tires from another vehicle for all road tests
and diagnostics in this bulletin.



Make sure the tire pressure in all of the vehicle’s tires are set to the correct pressure
specification when cold.

1. Install the following measuring tools on the vehicle:


Steering Wheel Offset Gauge



Road Crown Gauge
NOTE: See pages 13 and 14 for a description of these tools and an explanation of
their use.

2. Obtain a watch with a second hand (preferably a stopwatch) to use during the road test.
3. Take the vehicle for a road test and confirm the customers concern.


Select a flat road where the vehicle can be driven in a straight line at a preferred
speed of 60 mph.



During the road test make sure the vehicle is pointing straight. Don’t worry about
steering wheel position during the road test.
NOTE:
 If you adjusted the tire pressure or changed the tires before the road test, the
issue may have been resolved.
 If there are cross winds strong enough to affect the vehicle’s straight line
movement, then diagnosis cannot be performed.

4. Determine the vehicles issue – refer to the definitions of “Pull” on page 5 and Steering
Wheel “Off-center” on page 8.
5. When the road test is completed, remove the Road Crown Gauge, leave the Steering
Wheel Off-Set Gauge in place until the Service Procedure is complete.
6. Refer to the Flow Chart on page 4 for the next step.

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NTB08-097h

Diagnostic Flow Chart
Check tire condition and air pressure;
correct as necessary.
Review General Information (page 2), and perform Road Test (page 3)
Refer to definitions of “Pull” on page 5 and Steering Wheel “Off-center” on page 8.
Road Test results
Vehicle pulls
NOTE: If you have both a pull
and off-center condition,
repair the pull first.

Vehicle does not pull
and steering wheel is
not off- center.

Steering wheel is off-center more than
allowable (see page 8).
NOTE: Repair any pull conditions first.
Repair of a pull condition may resolve an
off-center condition.

Make sure the TPMS
is re- initialized (if
required).

See page 9

End
Procedure A and B alternative
If your dealer has a Hunter GSP9700,
perform the StraightTrack® procedure.
Refer to the GSP9700 instruction manual.
Is the vehicle pull completely corrected?
Perform Procedure A:
Determine if tire pull; swap
tires (page 5).
Is the vehicle pull corrected /
repaired?

No
Make sure the TPMS
is re- initialized (if
required).

Yes

End

No
Does the vehicle pull in the
same direction?

Perform Procedure C:
Check/adjust wheel alignment
(Page 7).

Yes

No
Perform Procedure B: Identify
and replace pulling tire
(page 6).
Is vehicle pull completely
corrected?

No

Make sure the TPMS is reinitialized (if required).

Yes

End
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NTB08-097h

Vehicle Pull or Drift
Description/Definition of a Vehicle “Pull” Condition
The vehicle consistently drifts to one side while driving at a constant speed on a straight,
flat road.


A vehicle is said to “pull” if it completes a lane change in less than 7 seconds (with
no steering correction from the driver) when driving at 60 MPH on a road with less
than 1.5 degrees road crown slope. All four wheels must pass into the other lane
during this time (7 seconds).

PROCEDURE A (Determine if a pull condition is caused by a tire)


Always torque wheel lug nuts using a torque wrench to the specified torque. Refer to
the appropriate Service Manual for torque specifications.



Make sure the tire pressure is set to the correct specification.



If the TPMS warning light comes ON, ignore it for now.

1. Swap the front tires side-to-side (Left to Right and Right to Left).
2. Swap the rear tires side-to-side (Left to Right and Right to Left).
3. Road test the vehicle.
4. Refer back to the Repair Flow Chart on page 4 for the next step.
Figure 2
For vehicles with “directional” tires (tires designed to rotate in only one direction):
a. Swap all four tires from a known good vehicle (known good tires).
b. Make sure to mark the tires to indicate their original side of the vehicle (left or
right).
c. Road test the vehicle.
d. If the pull goes away or is reduced, perform Procedure B on the next page to
determine which tire was causing the pull.
e. If the pull is the same, go to Procedure C on page 7.

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NTB08-097h

PROCEDURE B (Determine which tire is causing the pull)


Procedure B is done only if there is a tire pull issue.



The steps in Procedure B should identify which tire is causing the pull.



Make sure the tire pressure in all of the vehicle’s tires are set to the correct pressure
specification when cold.



Always torque wheel lug nuts using a torque wrench to the specified torque (refer to
the appropriate Service Manual for torque specifications).



If the TPMS warning light comes ON, ignore it for now.

1a. For vehicles equipped from the factory with tires that are different sizes between the
front and rear, or vehicles with “directional” tires:
A. Put all of the tires/wheels back to original positions. The vehicle should now pull the
same as it did on your first road test.
B. Install / swap only one tire with known good, and road test.
C. Repeat step B for each tire until the pull goes away or is reduced.
D. Replace the tire that reduced or eliminated the pull.
NOTE: Make sure directional tires are reinstalled on the same side of the vehicle
from which they were removed.
1b. For all other vehicles:
A. Rotate tires 2 and 4 on the passenger side
(see Figure 3) and road test.


Pull goes away or is reduced; replace
tire 2 (which is now on the rear).



Pull gets worse; replace tire 4 (which is
now on the front).



Front

Front

No change; put tires 2 and 4 back to
their original positions.

B. Rotate tires 1 and 3 on the driver side (see
Figure 3) and road test.


Pull goes away or is reduced; replace
tire 1 (which is now on the rear).



Pull gets worse; replace tire 3 (which is
now on the front).



No change; put tires 1 and 3 back to
their original positions.

Figure 3

NOTE: When replacing a tire, if there is significant tread wear it is good practice to
replace tires in sets (both front, both rear, or all 4).
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NTB08-097h

2. Procedure B should have been done only if there is a tire pull issue:


If an incident tire was identified and replaced, go to step 3.



If an incident tire was not identified, diagnostics were not done correctly. Go back to
the Flow Chart on page 4 and start over.

3. After replacing a tire, road test the vehicle.


You may have completely corrected the pull or you may have only reduced the pull.

4. Return to the Repair Flow Chart on page 4 for the next step.

PROCEDURE C (Check adjust wheel alignment)
1. Check the vehicles four-wheel alignment using accurate and properly calibrated
computerized alignment equipment.


A copy of the yearly alignment machine calibration certification must be held on file
in the Service Dept.



Reference the appropriate Service Manual for alignment specification.

2. If any of the alignment measurements are out of specification, inspect the suspension
and chassis for any damage. Repair the damaged components before continuing.
3. Adjust any front and/or rear adjustable alignment components that are out of
specification.


Always perform rear adjustment first.



Reference the appropriate Service Manual for information regarding the proper steps
to adjust the alignment.



Make sure the steering wheel is straight when adjusting the front wheel toe.
HINT: The Steering Wheel Offset Gauge (or masking tape) can be used to center
the steering wheel while standing outside of the car during the alignment process.

4. If necessary, use CONSULT-III plus (C-III plus) to adjust the Steering Angle Sensor.


Refer to the appropriate Electronic Service Manual (ESM) to determine if this
adjustment is necessary.

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NTB08-097h