T-SB-0063-20

June 23, 2020

Vehicle Pull, Steering Wheel Off Center, and Alignment
Best Practices
Service
Category

Suspension

Section

Alignment/Handling Diagnoses

Market USA

Applicability
YEAR(S)

MODEL(S)

2002 - 2021

4Rrunner, 4Runner, 86,
Avalon, Avalon HV, Avanza,
C-HR, Camry, Camry HV,
Celica, Corolla, Corolla BRProd, Corolla Hatchback,
Corolla HV, Echo, FJ
Cruiser, Hiace, Highlander,
Highlander HV, Hilux, iA, iM,
Land Cruiser, Matrix, Mirai,
Mirai (Canada), MR2
Spyder, Prius, Prius C, Prius
PHV, Prius Prime, Prius V,
RAV4, RAV4 EV, RAV4 HV,
RAV4 Prime, Sequoia,
Sienna, Solara, Supra,
Tacoma, Tundra, Venza,
Yaris, Yaris HB MEX-Prod,
Yaris R, Yaris SD MEXProd, Yaris THAI-Prod

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

SUPERSESSION NOTICE
The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. ST005-01, SU001-08,
and T-SB-0391-08.
The aforementioned bulletins are obsolete, and any printed versions should be discarded.
Be sure to review the entire content of this service bulletin before proceeding.

Introduction

This Service Bulletin provides best practice procedures for vehicle pulling complaint, diagnosis,
and repair for 2002 – 2021 model year Toyota vehicles.
This information supplements Repair Manual procedures when the symptoms are:


Vehicle Pulling: The vehicle moves to the right or left when the driver holds the steering
wheel while driving straight ahead without exerting steering effort.



Steering Wheel Off Center: The vehicle travels straight, but the steering wheel is not
pointed straight ahead. The vehicle is not pulling.

© 2020 Toyota Motor Sales, USA

Page 1 of 23

T-SB-0063-20

June 23, 2020

Page 2 of 23

Vehicle Pull, Steering Wheel Off Center, and Alignment Best Practices
Introduction (continued)

Before repairing a vehicle pulling to one side, it is necessary to clearly identify the cause of the
pulling condition. Frequently, pulling to one side is diagnosed as a wheel alignment concern.
However, the actual cause may be related to the lateral force generated by the tires, vehicle
damage, road crown or worn components. Performing a wheel alignment when tire force is the
cause could result in the wheel alignment being set at a value outside of specifications. This
could then cause other problems such as uneven tire wear, etc.
A customer may notice a pull to the left when in the left lanes of travel and notice a pull to the
right or no pull when traveling in the right lanes of travel on the very same section of roadway.
This road crown effect is environmental and cannot be corrected with suspension adjustments or
any other wheel or tire modification discussed in this bulletin.
NOTE
Before proceeding with these practices, a vehicle should be thoroughly inspected for damaged or worn
components and collision damage. Inspect the tires, wheels, suspension and steering components, as
well as the body/frame because these may affect the vehicle handling.

Warranty Information
OP CODE

DESCRIPTION

TIME

OFP

T1

T2

N/A

Not Applicable to Warranty

–

–

–

–

© 2020 Toyota Motor Sales, USA

T-SB-0063-20

June 23, 2020

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Vehicle Pull, Steering Wheel Off Center, and Alignment Best Practices
Contents

Wheel Alignment and Tire Characteristics .................................................................................... 4
Road Crown ................................................................................................................................. 7
Repair Procedure Flow Chart ....................................................................................................... 8
Road Test ..................................................................................................................................... 9
Repair Procedure ......................................................................................................................... 9
Troubleshooting ........................................................................................................................ 9
Vehicle Pulling Caused by Tire Conicity .................................................................................. 12
Vehicle Pulling Caused by Wheel Alignment ........................................................................... 14
Steering Wheel Off Center Adjustment ................................................................................... 18

© 2020 Toyota Motor Sales, USA

T-SB-0063-20

June 23, 2020

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Vehicle Pull, Steering Wheel Off Center, and Alignment Best Practices
Wheel Alignment and Tire Characteristics
Relationship Between Wheel Alignment and Vehicle Pulling to One Side

When the cross camber or caster of the front wheel alignment is large, it can cause vehicle pulling.
WHEEL ALIGNMENT

DIRECTION OF VEHICLE PULL

Camber

Vehicle Pulls in Direction of Wheel with Large Camber Value (See Figure 1)

Caster

Vehicle Pulls in Direction of Wheel with Small Caster Value (See Figure 2)

Figure 1. Camber

1

1

Straight-ahead Driving

2

z
2

Direction of Pull

© 2020 Toyota Motor Sales, USA

z

T-SB-0063-20

June 23, 2020

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Vehicle Pull, Steering Wheel Off Center, and Alignment Best Practices
Wheel Alignment and Tire Characteristics (continued)
Relationship Between Wheel Alignment and Vehicle Pulling to One Side (continued)
Figure 2. Caster
1

z
5

5

z

4

z
7
7

z

z
3

2

z

z

8

6

z

8

z

z

6

z

z

1

Front

5

Driving Force

2

Caster Trail (Small)

6

Reactive Force

3

Caster Trail (Large)

7

Steering Axis

Direction of Pull

8

Center of Tire (Road Contact Area)

4

If the cross camber or caster is within the specified range (30’ or less), noticeable vehicle pulling
will not occur due to side-to-side differences in camber or caster.

© 2020 Toyota Motor Sales, USA

T-SB-0063-20

June 23, 2020

Page 6 of 23

Vehicle Pull, Steering Wheel Off Center, and Alignment Best Practices
Wheel Alignment and Tire Characteristics (continued)
Relationship Between Tire Characteristics and Vehicle Pulling to One Side (continued)

When radial tires are rotating, they have the characteristic of generating force in the lateral
direction between the tire and the road surface. This lateral force is comprised of two factors:

Ply steer, which changes direction according to the rotation direction of the tires.

Conicity, which is generated in a fixed direction regardless of the tire rotation direction.
If these lateral forces are too strong, vehicle pulling will occur.
Ply Steer:
Lateral force due to ply steer is produced by the construction of the belts inside the tire tread.
With radial tires, the wire of the belt is slanted as shown in the illustration below. Thus, it is in the
lateral direction that tire tread easily changes shape (stretches), and lateral force is generated
between the tire and the road surface in the lateral direction.
Figure 3. Ply Steer

1

3

2

z

z

z
4

5

z

1

Easily Stretched Direction

2

Rotation Direction

3

Wire

z

4

Belt

5

Ply Steer (Direction of Force Generation
Varies According to Tire Rotation)

NOTE
Lateral force from ply steer prevents vehicle drift caused by road crown, so in many cases lateral
force to the left is provided to compensate for road crown to the right.

© 2020 Toyota Motor Sales, USA

T-SB-0063-20

June 23, 2020

Page 7 of 23

Vehicle Pull, Steering Wheel Off Center, and Alignment Best Practices
Wheel Alignment and Tire Characteristics (continued)
Relationship Between Tire Characteristics and Vehicle Pulling to One Side (continued)
Figure 4.

Conicity:
Conicity is lateral force resulting from uneven
formation of the left and right sides of the tire.
The direction the lateral force is exerted
depends on the hardness of the side walls and
the difference in height between the left/right
sides of the tire. The greatest effect on vehicle
pulling is most often the lateral force caused
by tire conicity.

1

z

2

z

NOTE
When vehicle pulling is due to conicity, the
amount of drift can be reduced, and the direction
of drift can be changed by changing the location
of the tire or reversing the tire when installing it
on the wheel.

1

Hard Part

2

Conicity (Direction is Fixed Regardless of
Direction of Tire Rotation)

Road Crown

Road crown refers to the 1 – 2% slope built into most roadways for water drainage. It is most
commonly toward the right side but may go toward either side, depending on the road design.
When operated on crowned roads, many cars that travel straight on a level road (0% road
crown) will experience a significant pull, commonly to the right, when operated on
crowned roads.
Interstate and other multi-lane highways also have road crown. They may be crowned to drain
water toward the center divider to the left, as well as toward the shoulder to the right. A customer
may notice a pull to the left when in the left lanes of travel and a pull to the right or no pull when
traveling in the right lanes of travel on the same section of roadway. This road crown effect is
environmental and cannot be corrected with suspension adjustments or any other wheel or tire
modification discussed in this bulletin. Road crown and its effects should be explained to
the customer.

© 2020 Toyota Motor Sales, USA

T-SB-0063-20

June 23, 2020

Page 8 of 23

Vehicle Pull, Steering Wheel Off Center, and Alignment Best Practices
Repair Procedure Flow Chart
Figure 5.

*See the Road Test section on the following page.

© 2020 Toyota Motor Sales, USA

T-SB-0063-20

June 23, 2020

Page 9 of 23

Vehicle Pull, Steering Wheel Off Center, and Alignment Best Practices
Road Test

Select a flat road (See the Road Crown section) where the vehicle can be driven in a straight line
for 109 yards (100 m) at a constant speed of 35 mph (56 km/h), about 6.5 seconds. Please
confirm safety and set the steering wheel to its straight position. Drive the vehicle in a straight
line for 109 yards (100 m) at a constant speed of 35 mph (56 km/h) without exerting steering
effort on the steering wheel. This road test may also be performed at a constant speed of 62 mph
(100 km/h), about 3.5 seconds, if road conditions, speed limits, and availability permit. (Before
road testing, turn off driving support systems, if equipped, such as Lane Keep Assist and Lane
Tracing Assist.)


Steering wheel off center: The vehicle goes straight (e.g., drifts less than 5 feet [1.5 m])
during the road test, but the steering wheel has some angle. The vehicle is not pulling.



Vehicle pulls to one side: The vehicle deviates laterally more than 5 feet (1.5 m) during
the road test.
If the vehicle deviates laterally 5 feet (1.5 m) or less, it is within Toyota specifications.

