In the video, Scotty shared the most common cause for a dangerous problem drivers may face (Image: YouTube @scottykilmer)
One of the most popular mechanics has taken to , urging drivers to do one thing if they feel their car pulling to one side when they .
has been a for more than 55 years, posting videos to his YouTube channel in which he offers tips to help drivers .
In , Scotty states that drivers should pull over as soon as possible if their car pulls to one side when braking.
He said: “Today I’m going to tell you what it means when you hit your brakes and your car pulls to one side. Now, when your brakes pull to one side, it generally means there’s a problem on the side it is pulling towards.
“So, if it’s pulling to the right, jack it up and try spinning the wheel. If it’s sticking, that means your brake caliper is sticking on and needs to be fixed. And, when it’s jacked up, if it isn’t dragging, grab the wheel. If it clunks, it could be a worn tie rod – you’ll see it clunking back and forth.”
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Cars that pull to either side of the road when braking can be much harder to control in emergencies (Image: Getty)
Whilst many drivers may consider their car pulling to one side as an annoying quirk, it could actually put occupants and surrounding road users at risk, being harder to control in emergencies.
If the fault only occurs when the driver is applying the brake pedal, it is likely that a brake caliper is sticking – grabbing too hard to the wheel and causing the car to veer to a particular side.
Drivers using a car with a sticking brake caliper may also notice that the braking components on that wheel are particularly hot or, in extreme cases, even create a burning smell.
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The mechanic also urged drivers to check the tyres often to prevent their car pulling to the side (Image: Getty)
However, later in the video, Scotty also suggested that the problem could be caused by badly inflated tyres, urging drivers to check them regularly.
He added: “Realise that even a tyre that is very low on air will pull to a side when braking, so check the air pressures first!”
In addition to causing a vehicle to pull to a side, running a car on underinflated tyres can also worsen fuel economy and greatly increase the risk of a blowout occuring.
Finally, if a driver finds that their vehicle is pulling to one side when they are travelling at speed, it could be that their wheels are out of alignment.
This can be caused by a number of problems, including hitting uneven bumps in the road, such as large potholes, too quickly.
Drivers who think their wheels are misaligned should seek the attention of a mechanic as soon as possible, with those continuing to use their car risking uneven tyre wear.