Help with Steering Pull Problem
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 667
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From: Pasadena Texas
Help with Steering Pull Problem
Car is a 1982 with low mileage, today for the first time the steering pulled to the left when braking. It pulls quickly to the left and then straightens out and from that point brakes normally. If you brake very slowly it is hardly noticable, but the harder you stab the brakes the more pronounced it is, but still just that split second. Cusory look did not uncover anything but I'm open to suggestions. Thanks in advance.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 745
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From: coolsville nj
Re: Help with Steering Pull Problem (99 Torch Coupe)
i bet you figured this out already...but it's the brakes! :D probably just one caliper grabbing a little faster than the others. bleed the brake system, sounds to my like you might have air in the lines someplace, which is causing the side w/o the air to clamp down faster.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 560
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From: Camino CA
Re: Help with Steering Pull Problem (99 Torch Coupe)
Usually when a car pulls to one direction when braking it's because the brakes on the other side aren't working right. So I would check the right side for leaks, and you should probably bleed the whole system anyways.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 5,635
Likes: 4
From: Orlando Floriduh
Re: Help with Steering Pull Problem (99 Torch Coupe)
Sounds like a classic example of weak (old ) brake hoses. BUT first bleed the brakes to make sure it is not just air in one caliper. What happens is ... when you step hard on the brake, the weak hose tries to balloon up, so the car pulls to the opposite side. This takes a fraction of a second ... then all is nornal. They will actually get to the point that when you let OFF of the brake, the pressure in the swollen hose will cause a "dart" back the opposite direction. So when you step on the brake slowly the weak hose is much less noticable. I'd change both front hoses.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,770
Likes: 3
From: St Louis MO
Re: Help with Steering Pull Problem (99 Torch Coupe)
In my experience, pulling brakes usually meant that one or the other side had some type of funk (brake fluid, grease, lube) on the pads or shoes.
Brett :thumbs:
Brett :thumbs:
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 122
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From: Camp Hill Pennsylvania
Re: Help with Steering Pull Problem (99 Torch Coupe)
Does the steering wheel pull to the left, or just the car? I replaced all the bushings on my '76 and a little while later the same thing happened to me. Pulled to the left under hard braking, but not under easy braking. Finally a member of our club suggest that I check all the bushings. Sure enough one of the bushings had split and the only thing remaining was the part of the bushing around the rod. Replaceed the bushing and no further problems.
