Brake Pull to the Left

timsheehan · #1 (**permalink**) 01-21-2008, 09:41 PM

I have a 2000 Excursion 4WD V-10 with 151,000 miles. It has always had problems with pulling and vibration when braking. Usually new pads and a turned rotors would do the trick but the problem reappeared when the pads were half worn. About six months ago it started pulling hard to the left when braking. I decided to change out the calipers and brake lines, new pads, turn the rotors and put this problem to bed. Within weeks of this work the problem reappears. I talk to the Ford shop and he suggests I may have a tempered rotor from overheating and try swapping rotors and pads and see what happens. I switch them and the vehicle either stops good and straight or pulls to the right. I put on new rotors and pads both sides. I noticed a tear in a cup rubber pad on the right caliper so while it's under warranty I switch it out too. Bleed the brakes, take for a drive and it brakes like new. Car sits for an hour then we go to the movies, brakes fine, come out the movies and on the drive home it starts the hard pull to the left again when brakes are applied. I had ball joints replaced about a year ago and had grease-ables installed and I grease them. I need your help, please advise....TIM

DSMMH · #2 (**permalink**) 01-22-2008, 07:30 AM

It sounds like you have debris in one of the brake lines. I just fixed a similar problem on my T-Bird SC. My SC pulled hard to the left on initial braking but then would brake with a little pull on subsequent braking. I knew it was debris because I have fixed this problem before and I had just changed the Master Cylinder when this problem started. Doing that will jar debris loose in a brake system. Also, brake fluid has an afinity for moisture and subsequent brake line rust. So Friday I removed the right front wheel and started removing brake line parts. First part back from the hose was the ABS pressure sensor. I removed the sensor and there it was. Debris in the sensor. Cleaned the sensor with HP air and now it brakes great.

I would suggest that you remove the line that goes into the non caliper end of the brake hose and have someone push on the brake to do a flush. I would catch the fluid in a clean jar and check to see if any debris comes out.

DSMMH

RDJ184 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-15-2008, 05:59 PM

Did you check tie rod ends

danny2001xlt · #4 (**permalink**) 05-15-2008, 09:02 PM

I had the same exact problem 2 days ago and it was the caliper guides or you may called the caliper pins ect ect . They are the bolts that you mount the calipers on , you have to lubricate those every once in a while or they get rusty and thae caliper wont slide in and out so you only are braking on 1 side and it pull like a b-----. hope this helps .

danny2001xlt · #5 (**permalink**) 05-15-2008, 10:05 PM

I had the same exact problem 2 days ago and it was the caliper guides or you may called the caliper pins ect ect . They are the bolts that you mount the calipers on , you have to lubricate those every once in a while or they get rusty and thae caliper wont slide in and out so you only are braking on 1 side and it pull like a b-----. hope this helps .