jerryray

My 2011 RX 450 H drives straight, does not pull upon breaking.
However on a straight road with my hands off the wheel moderate acceleration will pull the car to the right lane.
Dealer said I needed an alignment, I okayed the job they said it fixed the problem.
When I got the car back I test drove it and still have the same problem.
Called the dealer back they said oh "all the hybrids do that."
Any suggestions how to handle this I like my dealer and they always resolve my issues but this is not right.
My wife has the ES 300 H and has is a hybrid and does not do this.
tia.

Clutchless

You may have tire pull (conicity) and should first try rotating your tires left to right and see if it continues.

http://www.agcoauto.com/content/news/p2_articleid/181

RX in NC

Before rotating your tires, check your tire pressures when cold.

salimshah

Other than inflation and tires, the suspension must be checked throughly for worn components, Next the alignment shop must give you before and after alignment numbers. I go to speed shop for alignment, where the tech is savvy and knows how to tweak the numbers to get me what I desire. I have lowered GS and spec [un-lowered] numbers can not be obtained, but being master in the trade, he has set them to very desireable values.

One of the reasons I do not like FWD [or even AWD with emphasis on front for power] is the Torque steer. Under hard acceleration they tend not to go straight. There are many like me and some refuse to own FWD vehicles.

Salim

jerryray

I need to contact my Lexus dealer that did the work and ask him if I can go back and rotate the two tires..
Some assuming anybody else with a RX 450 does not have this problem?

jerryray

I thought we had to do front to back.
You're saying swap front right in front left?

Droid13

As long as your tires are not directional, they can be swapped side to side if you like (directional tires would need to be flipped/remounted on the rim to swap). Most tire rotation patterns have front tires moving to the back because they typically wear out much faster on the front for most vehicles, hence the reason for tire rotations. But if you're just trying to solve a different problem other than tire wear, you can go left to right.

jerryray

Thanks for all the suggestions after we rotated the front tires to the back and put the back on the front.
The car no longer pulls under heavy acceleration.
I'm so disappointed in my Lexus dealership but didn't find this problem but managed to charge me for a wheel alignment..
And I may have needed it but it didn't feel that way call in straight breaking was good tires where even.
So I thank you guys for all help.

WHLex4

I dislike that they are always ready to charge for work, and when what they do does not fix the problem they say "oh, they all do that" - which is not true (if they all do that then why did you suggest a repair?). We should instruct the dealer as follows: I will let you do the work that you suggest will fix the problem, but if it does not fix the problem you will return my money. Diagnosis should be made correctly, not a process of throwing parts or services with the hope that it fixes the problem - if they won't get paid if they are wrong, they will more carefully suggest solutions. ok, back to the real world ...

ukrkoz

You have what is called "torque steer". it is related to transverse engine location in engine bay and one side - passenger - axle shaft being way longer than the driver sid eone. Hence, axle shaft torques, twists under acceleration, until torque actually reaches the hub. That delays passenger side rotations ever so little. At the same time, driver side wheel spins ever so faster than the pass one. Hence, driver side "rushes" ahead, causing R hand vehicle shift.
cars with symmetrical all wheel drive or rear wheel drive ones don't really have this as torque applied to their wheels is same for both sides.