Car pulls to the right after tire rotation and balancing

ANSWER : Hello. On your 2002 Mercedes Benz SLK320, all of the tires have to have the same tread design an the same amount of tread. Any variations will cause the computer to not read the sensors correctly which will cause these issues. You need to purchase two more tires that are the same as the new ones, and install the tires to replace the other two tires. If you want to have this looked at before replacing the tires, a local expert from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to diagnose your car’s pulling issue.

ANSWER : Hello. Thanks for writing in about your Infiniti EX35. A pull to the right is not normal. If the alignment is in specification, then the frame needs to be checked as it may not be straight. If it is, then the alignment needs to be adjusted to compensate for the pull. This can usually be done with aftermarket alignment parts. Most dealerships do not use these so you may need to go to an independent repair shop to have this done. If you would like to have your suspension checked, a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to help diagnose your pulling issue.

ANSWER : Hello – your RAV4 uses torsion bars instead of springs to suspend the weight of the vehicle. Each wheel/tire carries a different amount of vehicle weight. An alignment adjusts torsion spring force to support each corner of the vehicle to a certain height – called ride height. Think of this as the distance between the ground and a point on the undercarriage that will be the same side-to-side. It will be same for both front tires, and both rear tires, although the front and rear ride height may be different. This may result in different "tire hang when suspended" distance as you have noticed. Test this by driving the vehicle onto an absolutely flat piece of pavement, then measure the distance between the ground and a front frame or sub-frame point that is common on both the right and left sides. If the distances are equal, the vehicle was aligned properly, regardless of how the tire hangs when the vehicle is suspended.

ANSWER : There was probably at least some damage to your tie rods. These are the connections between the steering rack and the wheel. If one is bent or fatigued, it could even be dangerous to drive the car. There are some other components that may also have suffered including the control arms and the struts. At the very least you need to have the alignment set. Alignments are available at tire stores as well as the dealerships for a wide range of prices, but this can be a real case of you-get-what-you-pay-for. The alignment at the dealership or at a BMW specialty shop will be more expensive, but also more complete than a tire store.I recommend you have the front end inspected by a Technician from your mechanic before you get that alignment. you can usually count on the alignment technician to inform you of what pieces are damaged and need to be replaced before completing the alignment, but then you have to do the repairs on their terms and not yours.

ANSWER : 205/55R17 may be too tall for your vehicle. A couple of good sources to check size compatibility for your vehicle would be tirerack.com or maybe discounttire.com. Sites like Tire Rack specialize in winter tire packages and is a good source for fitment options. I have personally used Bridgestone and Dunlop snow tires and would recommend either. However, it is highly recommended that winter tires be mounted at all 4 corners. Having different tires with different capabilities not only makes the vehicle unstable, it will effect systems like the anti-lock brakes and traction control. Winter tires perform much better than summer or all-season tires do in ice and snow conditions. Having two tires with good winter traction and two with poor traction will have the anti-lock brake system working overtime. Also, sticking with a smaller tire for winter use is advisable. For ice and snow driving, you want the opposite for summer driving. Wide, low profile tires improve warm, dry weather driving. Tall, narrow, tires provide better control on snow and ice. Consider keeping your stock 16 inch wheels for winter use with winter tires mounted on them and maybe a nice set of 17 inch wheels and tires for summer use. I’ve done that with nearly every vehicle I’ve owned whether front, rear, or all-wheel drive.

ANSWER : Hi there. The noise is coming from the lug nuts. Check all of the lug nuts and make sure that they are tight. If the lug nuts are tight, then look at the center of the wheel and make sure that it is aligning up with the hub on the axle. Make sure that the wheel is not out of round causing the wheel to move a little causing the sound. If you need further assistance with your front tires, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

ANSWER : When you mention a "floating" feeling, the first thing that pops into my mind is that the tire pressure may be low. A low tire makes the car wander as though it doesn’t really know where you’re pointing it. As for the shaking, it may be something you can solve by having the tires balanced, or it may be that the tires are not round and true. Buying used tires is always a roll of the dice. Sometimes you save some money, but other times you have to deal with problems that you did not expect. If you are not sure what to look for when inspecting your tires, YourMechanic can send a technician to your home to inspect your tires.

ANSWER : The vehicle transmission did not get back to the park position due to the shift cable came off of the transmission shift linkage. You will need to have a mechanic like one from YourMechanic come to you and check the shift cable connection at the transmission to see if the shift cable bushing broke and let the cable end disengage from the shift linkage. The shift cable may need replaced if the cable end bushing is not available. I recommend a mechanic check the shift cable and replace cable or repair cable end as parts allow.