Braking pulls to the right?

[LegacySHO]

When I brake, the car noticeably pulls to the right, so I have to compensate by steering a bit to the left. What should I look at first? (I did do a search on braking, pulls, alignment, etc. but was surprised to not get any relevant results...)

 

[Tony2005]

When I brake, the car noticeably pulls to the right, so I have to compensate by steering a bit to the left. What should I look at first? (I did do a search on braking, pulls, alignment, etc. but was surprised to not get any relevant results...)

Check Right front brakes, then right rear brakes, then tie rods, ball joints,....

 

[FavoriteMystaque]

Could be air in the lines, or the right brake grabs better than the left, due to pads not moving properly. Could even be a dragging rear brake.

 

[BrApple]

check clean and grease all slide pins, check tires for odd wear and have an alignment done if you haven't in a while but first check all suspension components and replace as needed after checking the brakes

 

[projectSHO89]

Add the following:

Restricted brake line on LEFT FRONT
Failed LCA bushings (where it mounts to the subframe)
Dragging caliper or slider pins.

Check to see if it's coming from the rear by (safely) applying the e-brake while rolling to see if the pulling is comong from the rear.

Steve

 

[andreslobo]

or a siezed up left caliper

or a siezed up left caliper

Since you live in the 'salt the roads till they are clear' zone you might check the LEFT caliper to see if the piston is frozen or rusted in the caliper. If it is you will have little to no braking on the left.

Jack up the left front with the car in neutral (be safe use protection) and see if you can turn the wheel easily by hand, if not you may have a siezed piston in the caliper.

Good luck

 

[LegacySHO]

Thanks for all the advice. Just to add something I noticed...when I brake, the car only pulls to the right very mildly (it almost tracks completely straight; I did it like 10 times before I decided that maybe it did actually pull a little to the right). But even though the car tracks almost straight, the steering wheel itself pulls fairly strongly a few degrees to the left. I initially thought it was me turning the wheel to the left to compensate for the car pulling to the right, but it's not; it's really the steering wheel turning itself during firm braking. This effect is most noticeable at higher speeds.

Now the question is: Knowing this, would any of the above advice change?

I think maybe the right side brakes are grabbing harder than the left, resulting in the car dipping lower on the right than on the left, changing the suspension geometry and causing the steering wheel to turn to the left. Or something like that. :shrug:

 

[projectSHO89]

Now the question is: Knowing this, would any of the above advice change?

Nope, it only confirms the above.

It's not a matter of one side pulling too hard, its a matter or the OTHER side not clamping enough. Again, usually caused by insufficient hydraulic force due to a line restriction or inadequate caliper travel due to binding, corrosion, or other mechanical failure.

Steve

 

[LegacySHO]

Just wanted to post an update to this problem; replaced both front calipers and pads based on my mechanic's advice; same problem. My mechanic didn't charge me for labor once I told him that it didn't fix the issue (I also got the calipers used, so it wasn't that big a deal...just the cost of the pads). He took a look again and it looks like the inside rear bushing on the driver's side lower control arm is shot. So that's the next target. (probably should've been the first...but oh well).

Anyone know if you can buy just the bushing without the whole arm?