Cascade Crew

flea · Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 11:14 am Post subject: Brakes

Over the past three or four weeks my car is pulling real hard to the left when I apply the brakes. This pull is only an initial hard pull, then they go straight. By hard I mean is left uncorrected the car will turn about 10 deg. off course, and it feels like the steering wheel was jerked left.
I changed the front pads, although they looked fine; minimal wear. I checked the rear shoes and they also look fine. I didn't change them but could. The adjusters seem to work fine in so far as I can manually adjust them but still it pulls.

chevymad · Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 11:26 am Post subject:

It's either a caliper or a brake hose. You need to see which side is hottest after a drive. It could be either. You would think the bad one would be the side that pulls, but it can be the other one not actuating, or the brakes getting hot enough on one side the other side works better.

I had this happen last year on a trip to seattle. Made a very sucky ride home.

Calipers arent much money for rebuilt. I think my last one was $15.

Jack up the front end, step on the brakes hard. Then see if both front wheels turn easy. If one acts like it doesnt release, open the bleeder screw on that caliper. If it releases then, you have a bad brake hose. If not you need a caliper.

chevymad · Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 11:27 am Post subject:

Oh, and now that one side has gotten hot, it will take time before the brakes act normal again without pulling. Sometimes they'll never act right.

Al Hasse · Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 12:35 pm Post subject:

Like Brandon already pointed out, it could be a brake line. Most likely the one opposite the direction you're puling. A bad rubber line not letting fluid travel through can cause the other side to grab first. I'd replace both lines though, if one is bad, the other isn't far behind.

90droptoproc · Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 1:33 pm Post subject:

yup, had line failures on 2 f bodies now, both had visegrip teeth marks from past owners Evil or Very Mad

flea · Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 3:06 pm Post subject:

ok Thanks I'll check them out.