This weekend I picked up a 2005 s2k with 21k on it. At highway speeds, when I hit the gas, it pulls left. When I chop the throttle, it pulls back right. At cruising speed with my hands off the wheel, it tracks dead straight, no pulling at all. I just set the tire pressure to right around 32psi. I had an alignment done today. Neither solved the problem. Any guesses?

 

veh's under warranty?

 

Pretty sure. It was first titled on 8/3/08 and it's only got 21k on it so it'd be within the 3 years/36k miles warranty. I should also add that the tires got messed up because the alignment was off when I purchased the car. I'm just suprised that correcting the alignment and air pressure didn't do a thing to combat the problem...

 

Might want to take it in. i'm thinking about the differential.

 

It's sitting at the dealer as we speak, waiting to be looked at tomorrow. I just can't bring myself to terms that an '05 honda with 21k would have a messed up diff...but that's a used car for ya...

 

well....it happens.

 

Is it possible that improperly worn tires would cause the pulling? I'm just trying to figure this one out. Thanks!

 

My car also did the EXACT same thing when I had a leak in one of my rear tires. the difference in tire diameter from left to right screws with the LSD operation. Make sure one tire dosnt have a whole bunch more tread life than the other too.

The differential is still a possibility though

 

Normally, I'd bet my left nut that you have low air pressure in one of the rear tires. Just for thoroughness, double check the pressure in both rear tires.

As an alternative, if the rear tires have worn unevenly due to the poor alignment, they may be the reason. Replace them with known good wheels and see if the symptoms disappear. I bet you could ask a local S2000 owner to help you out on this. It won't matter if the wheels are from an AP1 or AP2 to check in a straight line, but if you mount wheels from an earlier car, be very careful in turns since they will make the 2005 S2000 more loose.

 

+1, happened to me. recheck, btw, i had brand new tires and didn't notice i picked up a 2 cent screw...