Just picked up my '02 EX a couple weeks ago. My wife noticed a pull to the right and I have also. It's not a radical pull, but it's most certainly there. I have not done the 6 second lane change test so I don't know if it's technically "out of spec", but I find any pull annoying.
Has anybody else found this to be the case with their 2002?
It is a known problem referenced in the Honda TSB 00-067 from October 2000. If your Ody fails the 6 sec. test then they have to adjust the whole subframe allignment which is something the dealer would rather avoid if they can convince you it's not a problem.
Just do a search for 067 on the forums and there is a link to the TSB in PDF format.
Scott
[This message has been edited by ExFordOwner (edited 12-19-2001).]
The standard subframe shift by itself wasn't good enough; they had to order the thinner bolts (specified in the factory service manual) to give it a skosh more room to move, in order to solve my problem.
Although, my drift was to the left. Nonetheless, it was the exact same problem.
I will pick mine up today as the sub-frame shift is just being finished. The dealer said it moved 3/10ths of a degree. He felt it was fixed when he test drove it. If I don't like it when I pick it up in an hour or so, I'll mention the smaller bolts that adam1991 had to use on his.
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by ExFordOwner: Just do a search for 067 on the forums and there is a link to the TSB in PDF format.</font>
Yes, mine (an 2002 LX) has this problem. Went to the dealer who aligned the steering wheel and did the subframe shift, but it was not enough to correct the problem. They said they would call Honda's technical line for help but I haven't been back since. Leaving the car at the dealership for more than a day is more annoying than the problem itself.
In my case, the dealer tried to argue that it was "normal", but showing him the TSB shut him up for good.
By the way, I picked mine up today after the sub-frame shift. They were able to add .2 degrees to the left side and remove .1 degrees on the right (caster I believe), and the van drives like it should now!! Hooray!!
They also isolated the buzz like vibration in the steering wheel at highway speeds. They rebalanced the rear wheels (both were out about 20 grams or 2/3 oz)
I checked mine out on the way to work this morning and it doesn't do a full lane change in less than 6 seconds, but it does have a slight but consistent pull to the right. Did any of you have a pull that put you in another lane in 6 seconds or less. According to the TSB, my van is in spec, but I really don't like having any pull. Any pull means your car is trying to go in a direction other than the one it is pointed in resulting in faster and possibly uneven tire wear.
I'm just wondering if the dealer will give me a hard time about fixing it since it's technically "in spec".
The roads where I live all have a big crown on them. (Even the interstates). When I was on the interstate before the repair was made, my van would be fine in the left lane, but once I was in the right lane, it would dive to the shoulder in less than 6 seconds. It would also pull hard to the right from a stop sign (like torque steer), but this was excessive, kinda liek the torque steer problems of the first front wheel drive cars when you put your foot on the floor.
The cradle or sub-frame shift cured both of my problems. I can go down the interstate or start out from a stop sign without having a death grip on the wheel..