PULLS TO RIGHT OR LEFT WHILE "INCHING" FORWARD AT STOPLIGHT

[JWChessell]

I have 62,000 miles on my '03 4X2. About 3 months ago it started pulling to either the right or the left (no preference for either side) while I was "inching" forward at a stoplight, with my foot on the brake. Apply pressure to the brake -- pull SHARPLY to the right or left, sometimes either side at the same stoplight --speed less than 10 feet-per-second. First time it happened, I pulled into a vacant lot and got out to look for a flat tire; of course, no flat tire. This problem occurs about once every two weeks, with no warning. NO such problem at any speed above 02 MPH.



At 61,500 miles, Dodge tech could find nothing wrong; he opined it might have something to do with the power brake system being run by the same system as the power steering (that at least makes some sense). Same tech inspected the brakes, said that I had 30,000 left on the fronts, 50,000 on the rears, and that he found no problem with the brakes (I know that's high mileage for brakes, but that's what he said... ).



Has anyone experienced this problem? Any opinions on what's going on?

 

[mwhals]

I had a 77 Caprice Classic do the same thing. It was a crimped brake line to the rotor. When the brakes were applied, one wheel would get pressure faster than the other causing the car to steer towards one side or the other. Check your brake lines is all I can offer at this time.

 

[NUKEMAN]

Good advice. Could be a sticky caliper too.

 

[Hoefler]

Could also be a bad rubber line to the caliper from the frame. If the calipers were ever off for any reason and left to dangle by the hose, you could have a cut inside the line.

 

[steved]

Did you ever consider it might be the asphalt??



The roads we have around here are particularly bad near stop light (they have wheel tracks) and causes ANY vehicle to wander...



I feel that is most likely your ramdom wandering... nothing more than the truck following the asphalt's surface...



steved

 

[DPKetchum]

Tires do it also. You can have a straight steering wheel on a alignment rack and the floating pads,back vehicle off and watch steering wheel cock right or left.

 

[JHardwick]

While at a dead stop, cock your steering wheel one way or the other and tap the brakes ... ... ..... the steering wheel will pulse the opposite way you have it cocked.



The steering is connected to the brakes via the power steering pump.

 

[Badunit]

I'd say that since it does it to both sides with no preference, we can eliminate a crimped brake line or other restriction issue. Since it just started recently ,we can probably eliminate asphalt at the stoplight as the issue (plus, it is a sharp pull, not a wander). I'd think it has to do with the operation of the steering gear at lower pump pressures. Could be the pump isn't putting out enough volume when idling, but that's just a guess.

 

[JWChessell]

JHardwick: Your post jibes with what the Dodge tech said at my last service. However, I just tried it in the driveway -- trans in D, foot on brake, wheel alway to one side or other, then tap brake: Nothing happened.



Badunit: At my next service, I'll show the tech your post and Hardwicks and see what they say. Thanks!