GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only
Makes 🢒 Chevrolet 🢒 1999 🢒 Metro 🢒 Suspension 🢒 Tires and Wheels 🢒 Radial Tire Lead/Pull Correction

Lead/pull is the deviation of the vehicle from a straight path on a level road with no pressure on the steering wheel. Lead is usually caused by the following conditions:

    • Off center belt
    • Uneven brake assemblies
    • Improper tire and wheel alignment in the front tires (rear tires will not cause lead)

Tire construction can be a cause of lead in a vehicle. An example of this is placement of the belt. Off center belts on radial tires can cause the tire to develop a side force while rolling straight down the road, and the tire will tend to roll like a cone.

Use the lead/pull correction table in order to verify that improper tire and wheel alignment is not mistaken for tire lead.

Lead/Pull Correction Table

Step

Action

Value(s)

Yes

No

1
  1. Inspect the tire and wheel assemblies for the following conditions:
    2. • Correct tire pressure
    • Excessive or uneven tire wear
    • Correct tire size
    • Excessive radial or lateral wheel runout
    • Out of balance
  2. Repair or replace the tire and wheel assemblies as necessary.
  3. Road test the vehicle

Does the vehicle still lead/pull?

--

Go to Step 2

System OK

2
  1. Inspect the front and rear suspensions for the following conditions:
    2. • Damage
    • Excessive wear.
    • Loose components
    • Excessive wheel bearing play
  2. Repair or replace suspension components as necessary.
  3. Road test the vehicle

Does the vehicle still lead/pull?

--

Go to Step 3

System OK

3
  1. Inspect the power steering gear and the power steering pump for the following conditions:
    2. • Damage
    • Excessive wear.
    • Loose components
  2. Repair or replace the power steering gear or the power steering pump as necessary.
  3. Road test the vehicle

Does the vehicle still lead/pull?

--

Go to Step 4

System OK

4
  1. Cross-switch front tire/wheel assemblies.
  2. Road test vehicle.

Does the vehicle still lead/pull?

--

Go to Step 5

System OK

5

Does the vehicle lead/pull in the opposite direction?

--

Go to Step 6

Go to Step 10

6
  1. Cross-switch left front tire/wheel assembly with left rear tire/wheel assembly.
  2. Road test the vehicle.

Does vehicle still lead/pull?

--

Go to Step 7

Go to Step 8

7
  1. Cross-switch right front tire/wheel assembly with right rear tire/wheel assembly.
  2. Road test the vehicle.

Does vehicle still lead/pull?

--

Go to Step 10

Go to Step 9

8

Replace left rear tire.

Is repair complete?

--

System OK

--

9

Replace right rear tire.

Is repair complete?

--

System OK

--

10
  1. Measure the wheel alignment. Refer to Wheel Alignment Measurement in Wheel Alignment.
  2. Adjust the wheel alignment as necessary.

Is repair complete?

--

System OK

--