Brake Pull to Left - help!

[WOT]

I just turned 40K and I started having brake pull to the left.
With mild braking you don't really notice it, but when you brake moderately or hard you have to fight to keep the truck from going left.
Without applying the brakes, it will run straight on flat road or a road that breaks slightly to the right & will gradually go left if the road breaks to the left.
I removed the left & right pads to inspect them. The drivers side was about 50% gone and the passengers side was about 75% gone. The inner & outer pads showed even wear on both sides.
Any ideas? I thought I might swap the left pads to the right tomorrow & see if that helps. Also need to have someone turn the wheel back and forth to check the track bar.
Is it time for an alignment check? I don't have any noise coming from the front suspension components & don't feel any slop in the tierods or ball joints.

Thanks!
(BTW, I now have Rickson wheels - need to update my signature! I have had them for about 4K & everything was great until this little issue arose!)

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2000 QuadCab, 4x4, 2500, 6spd, Intense Blue Pearl, No mods as of yet!

 

[cumminsgetme]

Did you grease your caliper pins? When my truck starts doing this, a little grease to the pins and boot cures the problem.

 

[LSMITH]

Clean out the bushings and pins for the calipers. Grease them with silicone brake grease and put them back together. Should fix it unless you have a more serious problem.

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99 2500 QC 4X4 AUTO SB 24V LARAMIE SLT 3. 5 LSD 285-75-16'S SPA Boost/EGT Rancho 9000's Everything but leather NRA Member Great Lakes TDR Member

 

[illflem]

Also make sure your rear brakes are adjusted evenly. My 2500 will start pulling left if I don't adjust the rears about every 5k so I include it with every oil change. If your truck is tracking straight and the tires are wearing evenly don't bother with an alignment. I usually wait for an alignment when I get new tires unless there is a problem.

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'95 2500 4X4, AT, Driftwood, Banks Stinger, Warn fender flairs and running boards (work truck)
'95 3500, 5 speed, 3:54, BD E-brake, Driftwood, Banks & Psycotty, 34,000 GCW apple and tractor hauler (works harder truck)

 

[sam peterson]

All of the above is good advice. Like illflem said if the tires are wearing ok, don't touch it. It may come out worse.

 

[WOT]

Thanks for the input.

I have adjusted the back brakes - no help. I might pull the RR drum to see if there is any oil in there.

I will clean & regrease the pins tonight to see if that helps.

The original tires (265/70R16) wore very evenly and have about 6/32 left on them (when I pulled them off at 36K).

Bob

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2000 QuadCab, 4x4, 2500, 6spd, Intense Blue Pearl, No mods as of yet!

 

[MHindman]

Let me know if that works for you... i am having the same problem with my truck... i have 35000 on it.

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(Silver Bullet)1999 Ext Cab 4X4 5SPD, All options. Power Max 3(adjustable), K&N Filter, no muffler, Pyro,Fender Flares, Toolbox, bedrail covers, 450 watt Kenwood Sub, 33 12. 50 16. 5's, 3. 54's... Soon to have: 4inch, DDIII's, Southbend clutch.

 

[WestTN]

It's possible your right caliper piston could be sticking. If so, the right brake will remain partially applied. This will cause additional wear of course, but may also cause this side to fade. The left brake will then be stronger, causing the pull to the left.

 

[WOT]

Sorry for the delay in response... been busy lately.

I removed the calipers & cleaned/regreased (synthetic) the bushings/pins. I swapped the pads (left to right, right to left). Checked for play in the track bar - none.

I think I was in error on the original post. The pads that were on the drivers side originally have about 1/8" less meat than the ones on that were on the passengers side.

Anyway, the first 20 stops or so it pulled to the right (on way to work today). Had to make a quick stop in some traffic and must have swerved over about 3 feet! On the way home I made a couple of hard stops & it seems to have stopped pulling to either side.

We'll see how long it lasts. If it starts pulling to the right again I will be inclined to think that once the pads get so thin that it "binds" the caliper assemply so that is pulls to that side. Then I will put new pads on it.

Priced:
Perfomance Friction ($45) w/lifetime warrantee.
CarboMets - $60 (don't know about warrantee)
Cheapies ($24)
(anybody know the thickness of the stock (new) pads & the CarboMets? The Cheapies & PFs are 1/2")

------EXHAUST BRAKE $540 --- Hmmmmmmmmmm

I'll keep updating... .

Bob

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2000 QuadCab, 4x4, 2500, 6spd, Intense Blue Pearl, No mods as of yet!

 

[sam peterson]

Bob All pads in any brand are the same thickness on the #821 pad set. . Sam

 

[Harry V]

I suffer from this problem as well. It was corrected by the dealer by replacing the front pads. It came back when the pads got down over 50%. I replaced them and it went away. I think that keeping the back brakes adjusted also helps. I support the thin pads, binding caliper theory.

The problem will also manifest itself when exposed to a lot of stop and go traffic, something which I rarely encounter.

It's the only complaint I have... brakes s#@k.

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1999 2500 SLT 4X4 QuadCab Shortbed, AT, Driftwood, Rancho RS9000, Deck Lid, ISSPRO 0-50 psi boost, Pyrometer and Trans Temp gauges on Triple A pillar mount and ..... we're just gettin' started!

1995 M3 Hell Rot 5sp AT

1967 Piper Cherokee 180

 

[Bugman]

I read here somewhere that Raybestos has calipers with metal bushings and space for grease.

My knackered rotors are evidence of uneven wear due to binding of the calipers. Going to go with metal bushing calipers when I gets me new rotors.

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Mike Cartwright.
1995 Ram 2500 4X4. 107,000 miles. K&N Air Filter. Silencer ring removed. Rancho 9000 shocks.

 

[WOT]

Just an update... .

Still no pulling to either side.

Maybe just regreasing the pins made the difference. Just seems strange that it would have taken 20+ stops to start taking effect.

 

[rickhans]

I have been a TDR member since Jan. 2000 and keep seeing this same problem show up. You can search on "brake pull" or just "brakes" and should find many topics on this subject.

I still have the same problem. At 20k took it too a dealer and they pulled the wheels and argued that I don't have a problem, that my brake pads (plural) were all worn out. I didn't want to pay their price so I went home and changed the pads. They lied. Only the left pad was gone, almost in the metal. The right one still had about 80% pad. The problem went away then would come and go, and now at 45k is back solid. I plan to work on them again soon.

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98. 5 24V QC 4x4 SB 3:54 5sp