Brakes

[kwatts]

99 Diesel 3500 4wd abs quad cab with 95K miles



Brakes pulled to left at about 25K. Replaced front and rear linings at 41K (Dodge Dealer). Left front disc worn down to 1/2 thickness of right. At 55K started pulling to right. Replaced front discs at 59K(Dodge Dealer). After 70 K started pulling to right again. At 95K local Dodge Dealer found right disc worn down and

swapped right disc for left. Still pulls to right.



Alignment is correct. No accidents.



Any ideas on how to correct this vexing and continuing problem?



kEN

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I'm moving this to the 2nd gen forum where it will get more responses.

 

[Joe G.]

Ken,



There are a couple of things to do. First make sure that the mounting pins for the front calipers are polished and lubed. Also file the excess roughness off the caliper mount where it slides and lube that also. I used SilGlide from NAPA for this. Others use a silicone grease. Check to make sure that each caliper slides ok but compressing the inside pad a little with a C-clamp. That will give you a little slack so you can check caliper motion on the pins and mount guides.



The next thing is to make sure that your REAR brakes are adjusted properly.



I have 182K miles on my '95 and it stops straight.

 

[dan_gilson]

I wrote up a pretty long post previously about this. As soon as search gets turned back on I will find it for you.

 

[dan_gilson]

Search is working on the test site.

Please take a look at my post:

http://216.235.147.117/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=38697



I hope it helps.

 

[dan_gilson]

Sorry I just noticed...

You will probably need to change the IP address: 216. 235. 147. 117 to www.turbodieselregister.com



I fumbled my cut and paste.

 

[dram99]

i have this pulling problem from time to time... ... my solutiion. cheap. drive about 20 mph, with no one behind you just lock up the brakes... does a nice stip test on the road. fixes problem for about 30 days... less work too... . some day after 80k miles when i do my brakes i will work the clipers like everyone else. put off today what you can... . tomorrow it may not matter...



duane

 

[jberelson]

I had the same trbl on my 99 V10... Stealer kept replacing the pads, never replaced the calipers though... A couple of weeks later after I traded the V10 in, the sales manager said "did you know the left rear brakes were shot?" he also said the wheel cylinder was toast...



Josh

 

[MidwestMotorman]

brake pull

The rears need to be set often by backing up and braking. Sometimes those nasty little star wheels won't turn though. Another thing to check is the parking brake cable at the hanger connection on the drivers side at back where the two sides are tied together. If one side has too much tension it will affect how one side brakes and also will promote a drag while driving.



My parking brake will not engage unless the parking pedal is pushed all the way to the floor. That way I know it will release fully and not drag.



The front calipers are known for hanging up. I think it is mainly due to the pins and sliders, but Dodge did have a batch of calipers that were just too tight on internal clearances in 99 model year. I believe there was actually a service bulletin on it. Also, the right hand side of the road collects the most water so the right side usually rusts up and drags first.



Swapping calipers will not help if the problem is in the rear. Being the rears were done at 41k, I would pull the rear drums and see if the backs are wearing the same. I would also de-glaze or turn the rears too. Check the star wheels and the adjusters while it is apart. It will be easy to tell if the adjuster is not working right. Brake adjustment is critical for the rear brakes in relation to straight line stopping and front pad life.