94 pulls to right on acceleration...HELP! Please and Thank You

steve1147 · 05-13-2008, 12:20 PM

Hello!
My '94 Probe, 4-cyl. manual tranny has for the last year pulled slightly to the right upon acceleration, and return to straight upon deceleration, I was told it was the transmission mount.
I just had an episode where I had to force the right front into a curb at high speed to avoid an accident, blowing the tire out, but at least I missed hitting the BMW!
I had both front tires replaced with brand new and new brakes, the mechanic said everything seems un-bent and tight, which I verified. I even changed the bad (it was broken) tranny mount. BUT now it pulls to the right so bad upon acceleration and returns to the left upon letting up the throttle it's scarey on dry pavement and deadly in the rain. I can brake torque it and the motor does twist about 3/4" up and down due to worn? motor mounts, could this be the cause? It seems to just raise front to back, not a twisting motion of the engine, so I don't see how this could cause my problem.
Thanks in advance for any ideas!
Steve W, Missouri

steve1147 · 05-13-2008, 12:28 PM

The struts/cv joints/sway bar bushings are all less than two years old.

jr78 · 05-13-2008, 05:10 PM

Did this start after the accident?
You might try crossing the front tires (left to rightt) to see if it changes anything

fireball0012 · 05-13-2008, 10:28 PM

sound like a torque pull check the transmission mount make sure it is still tight. also sound like the motor mounts could be bad, replace them if they are.

steve1147 · 05-14-2008, 04:59 PM

I just changed the broken tranny mount, the motor mounts ARE loose, the motor twists about one inch on torque, but how could straight twisting of the motor/tranny cause steering torque unless it's twisting sideways?
Also, it has had this issue for a while, but got much worse after the accident.
Thanks, Steve W.

jedi_redneck · 05-19-2008, 11:23 AM

hmm, my probe has always done that as well, I just never payed attention to it.
yes it used to pull to the right but I gaveit an alignment and it seemed to straighten it out. now it barely goes to the right but I think it couldve been my fault... due to my impatience. You could check for worn motor mounts that could be the problem but its not too bad for me.

phantom_smack · 05-19-2008, 12:21 PM

when the motor picks up it pulls up on the suspesion changing the steering geometery if I remembere correctly

steve1147 · 05-20-2008, 04:19 PM

Nope, new motor mount/transmission mount didn't help. It just all of a sudden "drifts" very suddenly. Almost impossible to drive in wet weather, one thing I have noticed, it seems to only get BAD after about 10-15 minutes of driving. After that point, you can be driving along the interstate and all of a sudden the car takes-off into the left lane, very scarey.

Melhavok · 06-14-2008, 09:36 PM

I recently had the same (opposite side) problem that turned out to be the wheel bearings (probably just one) but changed both just to be safe. A slipping wheel bearing will lose torque from that side. (was not pulling to the left, but was rather failing to pull to the right momentarily.) Wheel bearings were just under $100 for both. and fairly simple to install,... once you get that d4mn wheel hub off. THEN... It must be re-aligned after wheels are re-installed.

steve1147 · 07-07-2008, 03:15 PM

Finally, I figured it out.
Front (upper) control arm bushing on driver's side, had a slight 1/4" movement in it under certain conditions, when it was "floating". When the left front tire started pulling, it allowed the control arm (a-frame) to move to the right slightly.
THANK, DONE DEAL FINALLY, STEVE W.