On my 2000, intermittently my front brakes will pull hard - either to the left or to the right. The dealer has no idea as to what may cause this. I have thought that maybe the Active Handling Package might have something to do with the problem

Anyone have the same problem and been able to have it fixed or have any suggestions?

 

Is this happening all the time? Or only on roads that have ruts or grooves in them from other cars and trucks?

My guess is the latter. It's fairly normal as the C5s tires are wider than regular tires that made those ruts. So, when you brake, depending on what side of the rut you are on, the car pulls to the left or right. And you may also notice the car wandering a bit on rutted roads.

A brake problem would normally result in the car pulling to one side ot the other rather than randomly.

 

I have not heard of this one Jack. You may be right; perhaps a bad sensor or sensor install? Are your air pressure readings OK? BTW, I know your area has really grown; we uswed to go to band concerts in the park there when we were kids!! Good luck with the brakes.

 

I have been driving for over 40 years and know what effect ruts in roads can have when braking. In this case, sometimes it pulls to the right and sometimes to the left and sometimes not at all. Road condition does not seem to make any difference with this problem.

 

If the Active Handling was going off, it would flash a message in the DIC. If there is a problem with the AHS, there should be codes set.

The only problem with the AHS that is remotely similar is when the brakes are continually applied as the yaw sensors were loose. But, they also flased the message in the DIC.

If none of this is happening, then have the suspension throughly checked out.

 

Questions!! does this occure at different speeds??Pulling at high speeds and low speed braking....
does it occure while braking in a straight line? Only
while braking on a turn?Only

 

Don't worry it's a "normal" GM car trait.

This is a problem with the hydraulics. You are getting uneven braking on one side or the other. It is a known issue, and one of those "things"

Essentially, when you put your foot on the brake, one side gets more pressure than the other side causing your car to pull one way or the other.

This is also a problem that goes beyond the C5 platform. My buddy's 96 Z28 does the exact same thing.

If you feel the car pulling to the side, pump the brake a couple of times and the pressure should equalize (and pull in a straight line).

If it _really_ gets bad you should get it checked out.

Good luck!

 

I've never heard this particular problem being mentioned on the forum & I've never had the problem with any of the (more than a dozen) GM cars I've owned, Including Vettes, Camaros & Firebirds.



[Modified by goldman, 8:34 AM 8/9/2001]

 

It's definitely been talked about before. With a C5 you will expirence it one time or another. It's not very noticiable with light braking, only heavy to moderate braking (the harder you brake the harder the wheel will pull). It will go away most times if you pump the brake at least once while braking.
So depending on your braking style, you may or may not see this problem or even notice it when it happens. But it is a design characteristic of the brake system so it will be in every car.
The same goes for the f-bodies too.
Chris

 

Obviously you know nothing about hydrolics..if there is no air or moisture in the lines... there will be no pressure variable..

 

Hi...All my C4's and C5's have done this! I have never had this happen on my Seville or Eldorado. Get used to it.

 

I've experienced the Brake pull,It's a rare occurence.

 

Are you telling me that I am lying? Or perhaps I am insane and am not really expirencing the pulling when I apply my brakes?

And yes you're correct, I'm no expert on hydraulic systems, but I do know a thing or two about them.

With hydraulics, you're correct there should be no pressure variable when the hydraulic fluid is "pure" (no contaminants). But that is not the only thing that has any bearing on fluid pressure. The first thing that can cause a differential in the system is line length. It's very small but it exists nonetheless. The second thing that can cause a pressure differential is the "pump" or cylinders. If there's uneven distribution of fluid pressure due to a design flaw in the "pump" then this could account for the problem.
There's also the issue of the required force to properly move the pistons in the brake caliper. If there's a design flaw there, there will be uneven fluid distribution (or not) that could cause this problem. Also since the front rotors are quite large, I would expect the brake line pressure to be quite high due to the force required to apply the brake. I'm sure the area of the piston head is a factor in this.
There's also the bias spring which is supposed to distribute the fluid pressure unevenly between front and rear brakes. If this part was designed improperly, it could be a culprit for a left/right front hydraulic fluid pressure differential.

BTW, I'm not saying that the pulling problem is one thing or another, I'm only metioning things that it could be.

And considering you are accusing me of not knowing anything about "hydrolics" What is your explination for this problem? I'm here to learn as well as help if I can so I would be very interested in an expert's opinion ;)

 

This is a great post as I have noticed this on my vert from time to time and at first thought the rotors were starting to warp but it only does it sometimes and doesn't pulsate like warped rotors. Guess I'll chalk it up to another GM/Corvette extra like windshield wash on acceleration!! :crazy: