OK, so I've had my truck since late August 2010. I had the dealer install a levelling kit upon delivery and I added 35" tires. Since day 1, my truck has been pulling left pretty bad. I've had it back to the dealer 3 times, they've even installed an adjustable track bar on their dime. I've also had it to what is, by reputation, the best alignment shop in SLC. I've also had it back to the tire shop twice to check to insure there wasn't a problem with a tire. Nothing fixed the issue.

I dropped it off at a different dealer this morning for the same problem. After a few hours, I just got a call from him and he's telling me the issue is that my left front brake is stuck on.

They are going to look at everything else for another 30 minutes or so, but if this is true, wow. That could also explain why I've seen such worse mileage than I see from most others on here. After 10,000 miles I'm still averaging around 12-13mpg (more often 12) and that's not towing.

Anyway, thought I'd share. If it turns out to be something else, I'll post it. I'll also update my mpg after this weekend if it's fixed. I'll be taking a 600 mile trip (300 each way) this weekend.

 

First thing I would have done was swap the front tires from left to right. Possibly this was already done by the dealer or alignment shop.

At least that would rule out the tires.

--
Gordon

 

I would think you would have cooked your brakes if that was the case, normally calipers exhibit pull when you apply the brakes if they are bad.

 

Update. It is a problem with both calipers. The tech said both calipers are seized or too tight, and it's causing drag on both front wheels. He said he could barely turn the tires by hand on the lift. He thinks the left is worse than the right, and that is what is causing the issues. He didn't see anything out of whack with the alignment and even said that based on the numbers, it should be pulling slightly right not left.

The interesting part is that he did some research and said that this is a known issue. He's been instructed by Ford to replace both calipers and send mine back to Ford for analysis. They didn't have the calipers, so I took the truck for our road trip this weekend and I have to take it back in next week. He said there weren't any safety concerns and that it wasn't enough pressure to hurt the transmission or engine.

I'll update again next week after the calipers are replaced.

 

Yeah, that was done at the tire shop. They tried several combinations and it pulled left every time. The Ford Tech said he was even going to try a new set of wheels/tires until he found the issue with the calipers.

 

hopefully they are replacing the pads and rotors, too... that many miles with stuck calipers is going to affect all the brake components up front.

 

Yeah, I'll be requesting/demanding that as well. So far I don't think it's going to be an issue with this service department. They've been fantastic so far (not the case with the one I was using before). I'm just happy they've found a problem and the what they are doing to fix it.

 

here is how you tell if its indeed the front calipers, take them off the truck push in the pads as far as you can, reinstall the calipers, check to see if the wheels spin freely, now road test it without touching the brakes, use the trans and the ebrake to slow the truck when you have to. and see if it still pulls, note pushing back the pads and pistons might just might fix the problem.

block the truck and leave it in neutral so you don't have to apply the brake out of park when doing this. .

 

I'm interested in the "known issue". When I bought my 450 it had a nasty pull to the left when braking. I guessed that maybe some of the pads weren't bedded completely so I took it out and did several hard braking runs. It had a bit of hot brake smell when I was done but it completely solved my problem. Sounds unrelated to yours but maybe it indicates a larger overall issue with the calipers. I have different rotors than you but I believe they are the same calipers. I could be wrong.

 

Just a thought it may be that when they did the level kit they kinked or stretched or somehow deformed the brake lines

 

Yeah, really not sure. I was just surprised that the tech said after his research that Ford knew of the issue. Maybe if Cheezit reads this he can verify if it is in fact a "known" issue. I haven't seen a thing about brake issues on here. I'm most interested to see if my mpg improves significantly after the wheels are free'd up.

 

Typically, when the brakes are dragging on a disc brake system, it is caused by the calipers not sliding back and forth on the pins that suspend them over the discs. The pins get dry, dirty, sticky, warped, bent, etc. You can take them apart, clean up the pins, lube them with a special disc brake pin lube, or replace them. That may or may not be your issue. Hard to diagnose from WY. But if that is the issue, the dealer should replace the discs if worn, calipers, pins and brakes and make the necessary repairs under warranty. My opinion. Brakes are a wear item, and not covered under warranty. Not my words, but Ford's. Hope they treat you right. Sounds like they have been doing pretty good so far. Good luck.

Devils advocate type question. Did the truck behave like this prior to the larger tires and I'm assuming larger wheels? Could it be possible whomever installed those big a** heavy tires and wheels could have dropped them onto the calipers while mounting them? Just brainstorming here. A lot of shops employ young kids to work in the back. I used to install tires years ago and it was all I could do sometimes to get those rascals mounted on the trucks. Hope I'm wrong.

When I bought my four wheelers, the owners manual instructed me to accelerate to 45 mph and bring the vehicle to a hard sudden stop. I was to do this 4-5 times to condition the brakes. They too are disc brakes. I forget the technical term for this procedure. I bet someone out there knows it tho. I'm not saying to do this to yours, but.

 

Impossible to know if it was before or after the bigger tires as I had them put on after a 3-4 miles drive from my dealership the day I picked up the truck. The only thing that tells me it was an issue from the factory is that the dealer brought it up and gave absolutely no push back at all on making it a warranty repair. And again, the technician telling me that it's a "known" issue and that Ford wants my calipers to analyze them.

I'll know more this week after they get the parts and make the repair.

 

Just an update. Called dealer today and parts still weren't in. He thought they would be in yesterday, so he's hoping today. I'll update after I get it back with the exact details of what they did, if the truck drives straight and if there are any mpg improvements.

 

good luck with this thing - sounds like they are taking care of you. Hopefully they give you some real details so you can give them to us