I have a 99 f250sd 4x4 5.4liter. In the last year in a half or so I've noticed my truck has been pulling to the left every time I brake. It happens at any speed...even at crawling in my neighborhood it will pull. It's very aggressive when I'm at high speeds. Since it started I've replaced all the front calipers, rotors, and pads. In the last month I've bled all 4 calipers, got Brad new tires, and new front shocks. Still nothing has changed in the pulling.

I need some suggestions on what too check next or any tricks to determine my issue . May it be coming from the back? Hard to believe since I see my steering wheel turn left even at the slowest speeds of braking. Please any info would help...snow is coming and I need to get this fixed.

Thx

 

Do you have front wheel abs or just rabs?

Sounds like the front to me...Right front not working up to par...Check brake rubber line?///replace maybe

If have fabs then unit may be causing issues but not likely.

Alignment or tie rod ends/linkage. sloppy

 

What am I looking for to determine if I do or don't have abs ? I've had me ball joints done ....driver side about 2 years ago and passenger side done about 2 months ago along with a full front end alignment .

 

Wires going down to the front bearings... Can you keep the front tires from locking?

 

One other thing...when I drove the truck today I really paid attention to the stearing wheel when I braked at crawling speed and 45mph....it doesn't so much turn the steering wheel on its own at slower speeds but the vehicle definitely turns on its own when at higher speeds ....it have too aggressively counter steer to keep the vehicle straight when this occurs

Just some added info if it helps

Thx

 

About the anti lock....when I replaced my front hub assemblies about 5 years ago I did not purchase the ones with wires too connect so must not be front abs

Seems like anything that goes to that area behind the front tires are the brake hose and a vaccumed hose for the auto locking hubs

 

I have driven vehicles with abs and I know when u slam on the brakes you will get a pulsating sensation rather than a lock up

I can't remember locking up my truck on pavement...but I don't get that sensation of what abs would feel like when I hit them hard....so I am assuming no abs

 

check out the rear brakes..

 

Ok thx...will post when I get those damn rear calipers off...need air tools lol

 

Did you replace the caliper brackets?

 

Every time that has happened to me it was the front brake lines.

They don't last forever. After the other stuff you've done already, my money is on the lines.

Had exact same problem with the expedition .... Replaced the hoses and problem solved.

Do your hoses and report back

 

Thats weird I have never had a brake hose go bad...never. At least not where it wouldn't let fluid by. Bunches of old vehicles...Lucky I guess.

 

Curious, I get the pulling to the right.

Could you expand a bit more on the brake line issues/replacements you've experienced please. i.e. was the line pinched, leaking, twisted, damaged etc. How did you know it was the brake line?

 

Replace the hose on the side OPPOSITE the direction of the pull first. It's usually that hose that causes the pulling. It gets pinched from corrosion inside the steel holding bracket that wraps around the hose.

Been there, done that on my 01 SD.

Rear brakes can indeed cause it, but take care of the front hoses first as this is a pretty common occurrence in the Salt Belt.

 

Outwardly, there were no signs of the hoses being a problem any of the times I can think of. They just seem to degrade from the inside and develop internal restrictions.


the first time I had it happen was on an 86 escort. I was borrowing my grandpa's car for the weekend and it had a noticeable pull to one side, so I decided I'd fix it for him. This one was bad enough that the hose wasn't letting the fluid come back to the master after you let up. it would eventually, but when driving it town it just kept getting hotter and hotter. After rebuilding the caliper, to no avail, I went back to the store to get a reman caliper the guy said that if the caliper doesn't fix it then to check the hose. Like you I had never even considered the hose since it looked fine. After installing the new caliper it was no better than before. so I replaced the hose and it fixed that side.


But, what I learned is that if one side is bad enough to cause a problem, the other side isn't in very good shape either. After I fixed that side, it had a very slight pull in the other direction. the new hose was letting the fluid pass with less restriction than the old hose, so there was a slight side-side delay in the braking action. I didn't replace the other hose since it was so much better than it was when I got it.


My 91 Crown Vic locked up a front caliper after a long slumber. not being sure whether it was a caliper or a hose I had them both replaced because the cost to do both was only $100. That fixed that side, but it does have a slight pull the other direction now (and a warped rotor, because I didn't replace that either).


Most recently I had something similar to what you describe happen with the expedition. if you would step into the brakes slowly, you wouldn't really notice any pull, but if you stepped in to them more briskly there was a definite pull to the right. But what was weird, once you let off and stepped on the brakes again, there was seemingly no pull.


Not so long ago I replaced the pads, caliper hardware, and greased the pins so I was pretty confident that the problem wasn't in the calipers. So I replaced both hoses and the pull was completely cured. Remembering what I learned years ago with the escort, I just replaced them both.


Aside from curing the pull, my brake tip-in feel was noticeably improved. it always felt just a little soft on tip in. they worked fine, but compared to my 2010 F150 at work, the brakes were just a little soft on tip-in and felt more "delayed". After replacing the hoses the brakes felt every big as good as my work truck with 100K less miles.


If money is tight, projectSHO89 is right, you can replace the hose on the opposite side of the pull assuming it is pulling when you step on the brake but doesn't pull after you let up. but if you have the time and money to do them both, do that.


Like most, I don't start with the hoses. but after doing everything else like you have, they are about the only thing left.


good luck!
keep us posted