help! front brakes pulling left

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Old April 24th, 2009, 04:50 PM
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help! front brakes pulling left

I have a 69 442 and when I apply my brakes they pull to the left. Running 50-60 I'd be in real trouble in a panic stop. Can anyone determine this cause? Thanks Eddie
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Old April 24th, 2009, 05:07 PM
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Had a skylark did the same thing only to the right. Opened the drums up and drivers side was completely inoperative. do you have disks or drums, and have you checked hydrolics for clogging or inoperative caliper, or brake cylinder. Rust can jam things up pretty tight
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Old April 24th, 2009, 05:59 PM
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If you find nothing obvious (like stuck rusty parts, brake fluid leaks on the linings, etc) and after disassembling, cleaning, lubing and reassembling, the brake hoses might be deteriorating from the inside and are acting like one-way check valves... My old Ford did that after 25 years...
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Old April 24th, 2009, 06:24 PM
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If you have disc brakes up front make sure the pads have not become contaminated with grease or brake fluid. I have seen grease seals go bad and it will start coming out and cause this to happen.
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Old April 24th, 2009, 08:47 PM
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I have had the hoses do what Rob is talking about. Usually if they do this, the brake on that side will get very hot since the pressure does not release. You will not go very far.
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Old May 1st, 2009, 06:09 PM
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I have drums. All usefull information. I'll be tearing them apart this week-end. Thanks for all the info.
Eddie
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Old May 28th, 2009, 06:41 PM
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Found cause for pulling left.... Replaced left ball joint....FIXED.... Thank God....
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Old June 8th, 2009, 05:06 PM
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I just replaced my front brakes on my '72 and now have the same problem - pulling left. I replaced pads and rotors. It does not do it every time I hit the brakes, but when it does it pulls pretty hard. I lubed the ball joints when I had everything apart. I am curious on the note above how the ball joint caused your problem. Also curious if anyone has an idea on a disc car what would cause this intermitantly.
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Old June 8th, 2009, 05:30 PM
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Found cause for MINE pulling left.... Replaced left ball joint....FIXED, But I have drums. Still hope It helps. Check your ball joints....
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Old June 8th, 2009, 05:34 PM
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Well that's what the guy told me. Did I get ripped off. Lets hear from the experts...Please....Now I'm worried... Maybe he adjusted my left drum and charged me 170.00. Thanks
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Old June 9th, 2009, 07:49 PM
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Originally Posted by joades
........ curious on the note above how the ball joint caused your problem ........
Sloppy ball joint causes the alignment to move when the brakes are applied.

Originally Posted by IDAS 69
........ Did I get ripped off ........
Did you inspect the old part? Is your "pulling" issue cured?

Norm
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Old June 10th, 2009, 02:36 AM
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Smile Left turn Clyde

My '57 pulls to the left...because the right wheel cylinder is seized..
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