ThaiCobra

so if i am driving on a flat road, and i let go of the wheel, the car drifts to the right, and after about 400/500 yards I would be off the road if I don't grab the wheel and correct.

Is this an alignment issue? tire balancing issue?

Is this even worth worrying about/bringing to a shop? I've heard from a few people that no matter what you do, a car will always drift a little to the right or left...that it's a losing battle

candymanjl

is the road perfectly flat? most roads are crowned to the outsides to keep water from building up on the road when it rains. that crown will usually be enough to have the car pull to the outside a little. that could be it and also check you tire pressures.

ThaiCobra

tire pressure even in all 4 tires.

Charlie321

Alignment.

5SPD07GT

my thoughts exactly.

pascal

Try to drive on the left side of the road and see if the car pulls to the left, lol.

A good test is a mall parking lot at night...
It's most likely flat and you should have enough room to do it, so you can see if the car really pulls.
On most roads, you have to expect a slight right pull for reasons already stated by candymanjl though.

Art161

I agree. I think the best way to do this is to take your hands off the steering wheel. Let's assume the car pulls to the right. Then turn around and go on the same path, but in the opposite direction. It the car still pulls to the right, you have eliminated the road surface as a cause of the pulling.

illini4

The most likely causes of pulling to one side are alignment (caster) or a bad tire. You can determine if it's a tire by criss-crossing the front tires and driving to see if the pull is now in the opposite direction. If tires aren't the problem, have an alignment done. Most modern cars don't have caster adjustment, but kits or work-arounds are usually available.