Car pulls left under braking

Curt C. · #1 (**permalink**) 07-26-2003, 04:13 PM

I swapped brand new rotors (Wilwood dynalite II's), new pads, brake hoses and even the hard lines on the right side. Still pulls left. Brakes have been bled several times although that should not cause pulling to one side. I do not believe it is a suspension piece, because the left rotor will actually lock up (before the right one) under hard braking. What gives? Warped rotor? I am not feeling any shimmy in the wheel. However, there is a little slop in the steering that could be absorbing it. Any thoughts?

RICK LAKE · #2 (**permalink**) 07-28-2003, 06:59 AM

Curt C The alignment is good? car goes straight without holding the wheel? You have bleed the system a couple of times? Are the brake hoses rubber or braided steel lines? Try this first, If you can, swap 1 piece at a time and test, do the brake pads first, any change? try the rotors next, make sure you tight the bearings to spec. IF nothing fixes it they sell a tester that goes between the pads to check pressure to make sure they are the same. You could have a pinched line in the piping? Start with the basics first. You may want to add your wieght to the passenger side and see if the problem is still happening, I am not trying to be smart, just balance the car out. Stay in touch Rick Lake

trularin · #3 (**permalink**) 07-28-2003, 07:25 AM

Pulling is usually a stuck or dragging caliper.

You might want to put the car on stands and turn each tire. Have someone sit and apply the brakes lightly and see if you can feel the difference in the rotation.

Warped rotors make the pedal vibrate and feel like you are climbing cinder blocks.

They may be new, but it could be the caliper. If you check it out and they seem okay, see if you can get you hands on a 3000 PSI gauge and put it on each brake at the caliper. You could have a line problem.

Just my $0.02

Curt C. · #4 (**permalink**) 07-28-2003, 03:43 PM

I believe I have a suspension / alignment problem. Put the dial indicator on the rotors - they check out. Scuffed them up with emory cloth - still pulls. It is not the calipers; I have had two sets on already. Only thing I have not tried is swapping rotors. Both brake hoses and the hard line on the right side have been replaced. This baffles me.

Bob Putnam · #5 (**permalink**) 07-28-2003, 04:12 PM

Have you checked whether the calipers are "square" to the rotors? Misalignment might be indicated by uneven pad wear.

scott britvec · #6 (**permalink**) 07-28-2003, 04:20 PM

check your ball joints

Curt C. · #7 (**permalink**) 07-28-2003, 06:45 PM

I am having the suspension checked out and aligned. We shall see what they say about ball joints and other possibilities. I checked the left side caliper with respect to squareness with the rotor. I will check to make sure the right one is square too. Thanks for the input guys.

aumoore · #8 (**permalink**) 07-28-2003, 07:19 PM

Are the lines running from the master cylinder to the front brakes the same length on both sides? If not this will cause a pull by applying less pressure to the side with the longer brake line. This is a old race car trick that I read about somewhere. The lines have to be the same length and if I remember correctly a 1'-0" longer line can affect brake bias.

Could be a sticking piston in the brake caliper as well. Make sure you do not have the old phenolic(very hard plastic) that was used about 10years ago. They are nortorious for getting egg shaped and sticking in the bores.

tnlprt · #9 (**permalink**) 07-28-2003, 08:18 PM

Try checking your left rear brake may be trying to act as a steering
brake when you stand on the brake pedal .Clamping harder than the right rear brake. A very small difference in clamping force
will make a big difference. just from my own offroad experience
in dune buggies with steering brakes

Curt C. · #10 (**permalink**) 07-30-2003, 04:19 PM

Bob wins the prize. Calipers not completely square. As these are fixed calipers (vs. floating), apparently it is a big deal. Thanks for all the responses

Excaliber · #11 (**permalink**) 07-30-2003, 07:39 PM

Maybe the left side is working perfect and the RIGHT side is the "lazy" one!

Ernie

Bob Putnam · #12 (**permalink**) 07-31-2003, 05:08 AM

OK guys - I'm going to go through this one more time...

Hoses, steel lines, or anything else in a hydraulic circuit that is not almost completely restricted have NO effect on pulling! Steady state hydraulic pressure is equal everywhere in a closed system. Even if there's a very small leak. Or a soft hose.

It's part of the basic nature of fluids. The only caveat is that height has a small influence, but in the high pressure side of a brake system, it's neglible.