Pulling to the right when braking...need suggestions

[3pt1lumina]

On my 96 Lumina, I have been noticing that when you step on the brakes, either slamming on them or just easing into them coming to a stop, the car is pulling to the right. The harder you slam on the brakes, the less it pulls? Why this is, I don't know. I also notice that there is quite a bit more brake dust build up on the wheel on the right side of the car.

 

So far, I've taken the wheel off and checked to see if the piston inside the caliper is moving. It still moves as it should. I don't really want to put a caliper on the car... should I just re-grease the sliders? Or do I need new sliders or what? Am I even correct in assuming the sliders are the culprits? I can't say I've come across this on any of my cars before.

 

Thanks for your input!

[95 vert]

I've had this happen and it ended up being the brake hose(s) collapsing.

[GP4U2NV]

either a hose or one caliper is starting to stick. (hard slam causes it to more correct)

 

 

[jtwmechanic]

if you have a caliper that is sticking either because a line is collapsing or any other reason the brake pads on that side should be showing a lot more wear than the other side, i don't take any chances when it comes to my brakes or steering, i don't know your level of exp. so if you are not comfortable with diagnostic on these issues please let someone who is check it out. also a bad front end alignment could cause this too

[Schurkey]

if you have a caliper that is sticking either because a line is collapsing or any other reason the brake pads on that side should be showing a lot more wear than the other side

If the caliper pistons are stuck tight enough, it's the opposite side that'll have all the brake dust--because the stuck side isn't working at all any more.

 

I've seen pull-during-braking that was the result of wiped ball joints or tie rod ends. But since you've got unequal brake dust--yeah, you probably want to check the calipers.

 

Do the rear brakes work properly? Do you ever use the emergency (park) brake? Is the brake pedal lower than it used to be?

[jtwmechanic]

instead of speculating you should inspect the whole front end from ball joints to tie-rod ends to the condition of your brakes.i do this for a living and like i said don't take chances or short cuts when it comes to brakes and steering.

[3pt1lumina]

Front end is right on the money and tight. I had it aligned back in February. However, I did notice this all started after the hub assembly replaced. So I don't know what happened from then until now.

[jtwmechanic]

is it pulling on the same side that the new hub was put on.

[3pt1lumina]

Yes, problem with the hub perhaps? Although, I have slammed on the brakes a few times since I posted this and it doesn't pull anymore but I still have a bunch of brake dust on the same side.

[1990lumina]

It's possible when the brake was removed to replace the hub it wasn't put back together properly or the hose is twisted or routed incorrectly...I'd take the wheel off and have a quick look.

[jtwmechanic]

right on! hard to beat a good visual inspection. don't be lazy and go ahead and look at both sides while you are at it

[3pt1lumina]

Okay, after taking your ideas into consideration, I took both sides apart and did a nice inspection. The hoses are not kinked and are in good shape; no dry rot on them. The pads have more than half life left, as do the rotors. Both calipers move inside the brackets just fine. I did notice, however, the back side of the rotor on the right side is getting a "groove" worn into it. The pistons in the calipers appear to be moving properly.

 

So I took some of that GM brake lube (the stuff that looks like lotion) and I greased up the sliders real good. The sliders I replaced when I did the pads/rotors about 20k ago. They are perfectly smooth as well.

 

I test drove the car afterwords, and now I'm still getting brake dust on the right side, but it hasn't pulled to the right again since. So I don't know where to go from here. Any ideas?

[jtwmechanic]

take it for what it's worth(remember no second chances with brakes or steering) i would go ahead and do a brake job, turn the rotors, new pads, and swap out the caliper, bleed system and have awsome brakes you can rely on

brake caliper(new) 26.99

store brand pads 19.99

turn rotors 10.00

your labor free

total cost about 65.00 w/tax don't forget the brake fluid

[3pt1lumina]

Do you think I need to replace the brake hose to the caliper as well? It's only $17 so I am thinking of doing so. I can turn the rotors at work so that's not a big deal either.

[jtwmechanic]

that would be the safest way to go, $17 is a cheap insurance policy!!!!!

[radman3120]

which caliper and hose are you replacing?

[3pt1lumina]

Right side... probably going to do it this weekend.

[radman3120]

well if it pulls to the right when you hit the brakes wouldnt that mean that the right side is the one that is actually working and you would want to check out the left

[jtwmechanic]

the grooving he described on the right side rotor inicates to me that the caliper probally is not releasing all the way and is riding the rotor when he is off the brakes and grabbing sooner than the left both of which will cause excessive brake dust on that side(right) but not to undermine your solution if by chance the left caliper is not working then that would cause the right to do most of the work hence the grooved rotor and brake dust. but the first scenario is the more common. this should have been discovered in the visual inspection that was done earlier

[radman3120]

the grooving he described on the right side rotor inicates to me that the caliper probally is not releasing all the way and is riding the rotor when he is off the brakes and grabbing sooner than the left both of which will cause excessive brake dust on that side(right) but not to undermine your solution if by chance the left caliper is not working then that would cause the right to do most of the work hence the grooved rotor and brake dust. but the first scenario is the more common. this should have been discovered in the visual inspection that was done earlier

 

ok, that makes more sense since he said that the wear is fairly even and that even though it seems to have stopped pulling he is still getting excessive brake dust on the right side. i guess i should have reread his post instead of just going from memory lol...good luck 3.1lumina. hope this solves it