2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Dodge Brakes

[JackWagner]

I have a 98. 5 3/4 ton 4x4 Dodge diesel. I have and have had front brake trouble from day one. When applying brakes the truck pulls to the left, drivers side. I have put on new calipers and pads, flushed the system. When I have to apply the brakes hard it will pull or dart to left. But if you let up and reapply the turck will pull straight. I ordered a service and repair manual when I bought the truck. It tells you to check back brakes at 5000 miles as a tight brake will puill. On the backing plate there are 4 rubber plugs... 1 forward, 1 aft, two on bottom. I had an old military jeep that was the same and to adjust brakes you use a feele gauge. But in my book it has no specs so I am using 15/thousands and 18/thousands and they may be wrong. The next thing is I am going to change the rubber hoses to the wheels. I have changed, adjusted, cleaned, and turned till I am at a stand still. I would welcome any help anyone can give. Thanks

J. Wagner

North Fork, CA

 

[Joe G.]

Do a search and you will find more reading about this problem than you really want to read. Basically, the calipers stick. File the sliding surfaces a little to smooth them up. Pull the pins that the calipers ride on and polish them. If they are rough get new ones and polish those. Get some high temp brake grease. Lube the sliding surfaces and the pins with that. Every oil change clean and lube the pins. Another thing that can cause brake pull is rear brakes out of adjustment. So so-called automatic adjusters work when they feel like it. So adjust the rear brakes manually at every oil change.

 

[av8r]

Track Bar

My 94 pulled to the right when braking because the track bar was sloppy. Just a thought.

 

[Joe Mc]

Mine had (and still has) all the same symptoms as your truck except it pulls right. Also, since day one - purchased w/75k - presently 134k. I've done EVERYTHING I could find here including replacing calipers, lubing pins (only lasts a little while). In conclusion MHO the brakes on our trucks SUCK. Either you figure it out or learn to live with it.



It's actually gotten better (pulls less) with everything I've done, it just plain tics me off. And, I can't understand why the caliper sticks when you first apply brakes and then doesn't when you immediately re-apply. Enough to drive you nuts!

 

[mikel]

Just as a thought, have you checked that the rear brakes are both adjusted correctly? I had a '99 that would pull to one side or the other kind of randomly when the rear brakes got out of adjustment. Just a thought...



Good Luck,

Mike

 

[bpenrod]

Just thinking out loud but has anyone thought about looking at the proportioning valve? Not sure on the setup but I think each caliper has a line back to the valve. Maybe something in there is sticking and clears up after hitting the brakes hard one time?? Just a thought.

 

[pwerwagn]

I second the track bar suggestion.

 

[Jschafer]

The only time I notice mine anymore is when someone else drives it. Also look at ball joints or anything elese in the front that could be lose. My truck has done it since brand new, wonders a lot also.

 

[BTighe]

my 97 used to pull to the right. installed a level kit and it stoped. it kinda pulls to the left know but not as bad.

 

[fharsh]

I had the same problem, although not with a Dodge. It turned out the faulty caliper was on the opposite side. The truck pulling to the left was NOT the fault of the left caliper grabbing too hard but the fault of the right caliper not grabbing at all. I cleaned up all the sliding surfaces and it works to this day.

Good Luck.

 

[Joe G.]

Joe Mc is right, these brakes are marginal at best. If you service them at every oil change you can get them to work ok. My truck had a steering drift to the right that I could not get rid of. Not bad, but had to hold the wheel with a little bit of pressure to keep in straight. I put some Michelin tires on it and the drift went away. It has always stopped straight since I started servicing them every oil change.

 

[DKarvwnaris]

My truck had a steering drift to the right that I could not get rid of. Not bad, but had to hold the wheel with a little bit of pressure to keep in straight. I put some Michelin tires on it and the drift went away. It has always stopped straight since I started servicing them every oil change.

New tires took care of my drift when driving too, I aligned it and it was fine, so I replaced my fronts when ever the backs wear down and put the old fronts to the rear or stick them on my suburban's rear.

Maintaining the rear brakes was the key with mine as well. I had succumbed to this as the only remedy for the problem. (I never let my front end parts get worn too much as the death shake issue is something I wish to never experience again. )

A few weeks ago, a friend of my neighbors came by with his dodge to have me check his brakes. He has a '97 5. 9 ext cab 4wd like mine. He has four wheel disc brakes on it, The brackets are aftermarket, and he does not know who installed them as he bought the truck with them on it. I could not believe the difference the discs in back made compared to mine. It will nose dive to a dead STRAIGHT stop no matter how hard you mash on the pedal. His only complaint was his rear brakes were squealing as a result of a squeaker pads rubbing. 80,000 miles on the thing and the rear pads we still from when he bought it. I measured them and found they are the same size as a 3/4 chevy straight axle truck. I haven't had a chance to check yet, but I am betting they are off an older caddilac Eldorado as I remember these were used for disc brake kits by ORU for Gm pickups.

If anyone knows who is making kits for the dodge trucks '94 to 200* let me know. I am going to be looking into buying a set. It is the biggest improvement I have seen on a dodge for brakes in this generation of trucks.

Might be worth consideringf if you're still pulling left and right when braking. THe calipers would at least remain constant and even as far as adjustment.

 

[pwerwagn]

Off road unlimited does have a kit that uses a choice of two calipers for the 14bolt chev. The 78-79 eldorados had rear discs with an emergeceny brake. If you dont want an emergency brake, you can use 73-86 chevey dana 44/10-bolt 8-lug brake assy's (caliper, rotor). Im not sure if the RWABS will make anything weird or not, though.

Ive done the conversion on a 14-bolt, and it would work just as well on a dana 70 or 80. you can get the brackets off Ebay for about $50. Also, check on pirate4x4.com. there is a lot of rear disc info there.

Off road unlimited's kit for the 14 bolt is extremely pricey. I bought the same exact parts they sell you, an I have about 1/3 the amout of $$ invested in it as they sell it for.

 

[GatorRam]

Does anyone know if the EGR front kit will fix this problem?



Adam

 

[HPSimpson]

I installed a EGR kit on rear of 1996 Dodge what a big differnce in stopping power straight and true.

 

[GatorRam]

Thanks, sounds good. Anyone know about the front kit?