Brakes pull to the right (front disc, rear drum)

[Matt42]

My truck pulls to the right when braking. It's not as bad as, say, a 1960 4 wheel drum Ford Falcon, but enough to be annoying. I am thinking that the right front caliper may be sticking. It's original, meaning that it's 26 years old. The rear drum cylinders got upgraded to Delco 1 ton models 20 years ago, so they are (sort of) newer. The front pads were replaced with Performance Friction carbon metallic after I literally smoked the original pads many years ago. Then I installed a PacBrake.

I flushed and refilled the brake system last month with DOT 4 fluid. What came out was dark, but still translucent. It didn't change the performance.

I have not yet checked the rear brake adjustment by backing up and stopping a dozen times, or lifting by the axle and doing the hand spin test.

I don't like the current state of rebuilt calipers. Who knows how many times they've been honed. Are they round inside? Egg-shaped? Diameter too large? Bad pistons? I am equally leery of new calipers that are made offshore.

After more than 2 decades, I am thinking about having the front calipers re-sleeved and rebuilt by White Post Restorations. It'll cost more, but I will be starting with a known set. Thoughts?

 

[GAmes]

If you are leery of remans why not buy new ones? RA lists them for about $53. But before you do that make sure the rear brakes are adjusted correctly. I've owned my truck since new, the auto adjusters have never worked. From my reading of different forums that is pretty much the case across the board. In addition, if you still have the original brake hoses they may be due for replacement.

 

[Topzide]

Also check those slide pins! I've gotten into the habit of once a year when doing a rotate of tires, lube up the slide pins and check calipers over. Lot of truck to try to stop when you need it to!

 

[AH64ID]

If you are pulling right I would be looking for a lack of braking on the left side, not the right side.

 

[Cummins12V98]

If you have never replaced your brake lines I suggest doing all front and rear.

 

[Matt42]

If you are pulling right I would be looking for a lack of braking on the left side, not the right side.

You're correct. I don't know what I was thinking.

If you have never replaced your brake lines I suggest doing all front and rear.

I'm planning to replace the flexible rubber lines in front, for sure. Arizona is far from the rust belt and the humidity is under 15% most of the year. There is no external indication of corrosion on the steel lines. Do you think that there may be a corrosion problem inside the steel lines that isn't visible? There was no indication of unexpected particulate matter in the brake fluid when I flushed the system. The fluid was dark but it didn't look like it had flakes, even small ones.

Access to the long steel line next to the fuel tank is, ah, difficult. Edit: I see that LMC Truck has replacement lines, in pre-bent stainless steel for about $260. That'll be $300 when I factor in shipping.

 

[petersonj]

I would just replace the flexible lines. I think the reason replacement was suggested is because the inner part of an old flexible brake line can collapse and partially block brake fluid from flowing freely in either direction. This could cause a pull to one side.

- John

 

[Matt42]

Thanks. That makes sense.

Brakes and tires. Stopping is important. Paint is less so. I just changed my avatar to illustrate the calico nature of my truck, as is is these days. The white hood on the green & driftwood truck is the result of a roll of roof underlayment falling in the middle of the night.