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How do you fix car dog tracking?
I bought my car new seven years ago. Never been in a crash. I’ve driven it this long because it’s been so reliable for me, but recently it’s started having problems driving straight, which is concerning me. How do you fix car dog tracking?
Melanie Mergen · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
It’s always concerning when a reliable car suddenly develops an unexpected problem.
When your vehicle’s moving to the side as you’re trying to maintain a straight path, that’s known as “dog tracking.” Dog tracking often happens after a vehicle has been involved in a crash that has messed up its sense of alignment, but that’s not the only cause.
You can try to fix dog tracking by checking for the following:
- Improperly sized tires
- Over- or underinflated tires
- Misaligned tires
An important term when it comes to vehicle alignment is thrust angle. If a straight line were to pass through the middle of your car, your car’s axles should ideally be perpendicular to it. Any of the above tire issues could throw off your car’s thrust angle.
To find out how serious the problem is and what you should do to fix it, you should take your car to a certified alignment shop. There, an alignment technician can inspect your vehicle and determine whether a full alignment adjustment is necessary.
Note that a full-on frame straightening to fix your vehicle’s alignment could cost somewhere between $500 and $750.
Since you say your vehicle hasn’t been in a collision before, hopefully you’ll receive an answer and an easy fix.
As your car gets older, you may want to consider revisiting your insurance policy to make sure you’re still adequately covered. If you decide it needs an update,
Jerry
can show you quotes from up to 50 top insurers, like Travelers and Progressive, and help you switch policies. MORE: How to get an accurate car insurance quote
View full answer
- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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