Question about pulling to left while braking.

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Iamthewalrus

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So I just replaced bearings, rotors, calipers and pads on my front axle. I was having an issue of a pretty decent pull to the left on hard braking before I did the brakes, but they were in bad shape so I assumed that was my issue. After what I've now done, I still have the same problem. What in my suspension does this point to next? Thanks in advance, you guys are always very informative.
 

dvdswan

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Tire pressure equal? Toe set properly? Any worn steering parts? How severe is the crown on the road?
 

Blue Ox

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Does the steering wheel try to turn left when you step on the brakes, or is it just the truck?
 

Charlie

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Possibly brake rubber flex hose. They fail internally, literally swelling inside not allowing proper flow of brake fluid to caliper. Pull left, right hose. Pull right, left hose. I have had both symptoms and replaced hoses and fixed.
 

idahovette

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Does the steering wheel try to turn left when you step on the brakes, or is it just the truck?
Could be the rear brakes. If the steering wheel tries to turn when brakes applied ,usually front but if the whole truck just goes probably rear.
 

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I've had the same issue with my burb, except pulling to the right. New rear brake shoes sorted the issue for a little while, but the problem is back again
 

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Flush ALL the brake fluid starting with the right rear, left rear, right front, left front.
 

Iamthewalrus

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I'll try to get everyone's questions answered here.

@dvdswan Tire pressure is good. Yes there are worn steering parts, as I haven't made it to replacing any components belonging to the suspension/steering yet at all, so I know there could most definitely be problems there.

@Blue Ox Yes, the steering wheel actually turns left when I hit the brakes hard, not just the truck in general.

@Charlie Rubber brake lines will probably be my first thing to try. I got the lines to replace when I did the brakes, but I couldn't get them off to save my life. Everything was so seized up. I decided to hook the old lines back up for now (didn't seem to be leaking) and get it driving again and do the brake lines when I take my rotors back off and do my ball joints.
 

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Brake problems are a PITA! ... sounds like ill be needing to flush all my lines too... back drums seem ok, i can bleed them... front right caliper has fluid coming out of the bleeder valve, but the pads are sticking and the wheel is hard to turn even with foot off the pedel.
front driver brake line is empty! i even stomped on the brake pedal with the line unbolted and NOTHING came out of the line... are you saying new rubber lines from the frame rail to the caliper will fix this?
Thanks!
 

clendon1

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The rubber brake hose is usually the culprit because they collapse on the inside and you can't tell if they are flowing, no fluid out of your left hose pretty well tells the story. New brake hose, bleed and you should be all set.
 

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Flush ALL the brake fluid starting with the right rear, left rear, right front, left front.
That procedure is in the conventional order;however, if your truck is like mine,
the junction block on the diff is actually on the right side of the banjo.
This means that the left rear brake line is actually the longest and should be bled first.

Something I have learned on this forum!
 

Kim Burke

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Austin, when did this start and how long have you noticed the brake pull? Does the truck have a slight pull until braking?

I agree with hoses collapsing and that's probable, but on the off chance this has been coming on slow or been there a while, you may have a broken belt in your tire virtually creating different backspacing on rims side to side. Anyway, swapping tires side to side will rule that out immediately.
 

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That procedure is in the conventional order;however, if your truck is like mine,
the junction block on the diff is actually on the right side of the banjo.
This means that the left rear brake line is actually the longest and should be bled first.

Something I have learned on this forum!

I agree and stand educated.
 

1987 GMC Jimmy

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Does the steering wheel try to turn left when you step on the brakes, or is it just the truck?

He’s saying it’s the former, but what would say if it was the latter? Rear brakes?
 

Blue Ox

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He’s saying it’s the former, but what would say if it was the latter? Rear brakes?

Yes. That would be the first thing I would check if the brake pedal didn't try to turn the wheel.
 

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