Question about pulling to left while braking.

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Iamthewalrus

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2019
Posts
26
Reaction score
7
Location
Austin
First Name
Austin
Truck Year
1983
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
5.7
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

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2014
Posts
2,366
Reaction score
2,036
Location
Port Orchard, WA
First Name
Dave
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
350
Tire pressure equal? Toe set properly? Any worn steering parts? How severe is the crown on the road?
 

Blue Ox

Turning Diesel Fuel Into Fun
Joined
Mar 27, 2018
Posts
5,221
Reaction score
12,024
Location
LI-NY
First Name
Derek
Truck Year
MCMLXXXV
Truck Model
K20HD
Engine Size
6.2L
Does the steering wheel try to turn left when you step on the brakes, or is it just the truck?
 

Charlie

Mopar by Birth. Chevy by Choice.
Joined
Aug 2, 2017
Posts
1,837
Reaction score
912
Location
Euless, Texas
First Name
Don
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
Cheyenne 10 LWB
Engine Size
350/TH350/AC/4 BBL Quadrajet
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

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2016
Posts
7,270
Reaction score
15,877
Location
Weiser Idaho
First Name
Perry
Truck Year
1975-1979
Truck Model
K20-K10
Engine Size
350
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.
 

shanegtr

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2018
Posts
315
Reaction score
275
Location
Perth, Australia
First Name
Shane
Truck Year
1989
Truck Model
R2500 Suburban
Engine Size
454
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
 

Snoots

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2013
Posts
8,753
Reaction score
18,205
Location
Georgia
First Name
Roger
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
Jimmy Sierra
Engine Size
350 w/203
Flush ALL the brake fluid starting with the right rear, left rear, right front, left front.
 

Iamthewalrus

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2019
Posts
26
Reaction score
7
Location
Austin
First Name
Austin
Truck Year
1983
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
5.7
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.
 

79K10

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2012
Posts
551
Reaction score
26
Location
Sacramento,ca
First Name
Ryan
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
350/th350
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

Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2017
Posts
32
Reaction score
29
Location
Polk City FL
First Name
Butch
Truck Year
1976
Truck Model
c10 stepside
Engine Size
468 BB
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.
 

Ronno6

Full Access Member
Joined
May 14, 2018
Posts
438
Reaction score
126
Location
South Mississippi
First Name
Ron
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
355
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

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2017
Posts
647
Reaction score
835
Location
Northern IN
First Name
Kim
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C1500
Engine Size
454
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.
 

Snoots

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2013
Posts
8,753
Reaction score
18,205
Location
Georgia
First Name
Roger
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
Jimmy Sierra
Engine Size
350 w/203
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

Automobile Hoarder
Joined
Jan 23, 2016
Posts
5,848
Reaction score
2,389
Location
Mississippi
First Name
Jesse
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V1500 Jimmy
Engine Size
350
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

Turning Diesel Fuel Into Fun
Joined
Mar 27, 2018
Posts
5,221
Reaction score
12,024
Location
LI-NY
First Name
Derek
Truck Year
MCMLXXXV
Truck Model
K20HD
Engine Size
6.2L
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.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
44,173
Posts
950,857
Members
36,288
Latest member
brentjo
Top