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Pulling to the right when breaking

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Old Mar 19, 2004 | 06:36 PM
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Pulling to the right when breaking

I have a 91 Explorer 4X4 and when I push on the brakes, it wants to pull to the right. I just changed the front break pads and the rotors were ok. Could it be a bad caliper? Thanks for any and all info. LD
 
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Old Mar 19, 2004 | 08:37 PM
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Just a guess, but perhaps air got in the brake lines? Was it pulling to the right before you did the pads?
 
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Old Mar 19, 2004 | 08:37 PM
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Did you clean up the slides for the calipers? That can also make one pull. Otherwise, you could also have a caliper sticking. If you replace one, think about replacing them both. Air won't make it pull.
 
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Old Mar 19, 2004 | 08:47 PM
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alignment could be off or rotors can be bad.
 
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Old Mar 20, 2004 | 05:15 PM
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I didn't clean or lube the caliper slides. Where are they on the caliper and what do i lube them with. Thanks for the info.....LD
 
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Old Mar 20, 2004 | 06:50 PM
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I did my brakes in January. The caliper slides are what the funny looking metal & rubber pins go in to for holding the caliper on. I lubed mine with the same grease I did the wheel bearings with.
 
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Old Mar 22, 2004 | 07:08 PM
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Servicing the caliper slides should always be done when pads are replaced. I suggest a product such as "silglide" or copperslip.
These products ar designed for higher heat applications.
A tip on diagnosis. When you pulled the pads--if the pad next to the caliper piston was worn more than the outboard pad-the piston is sticking on. It has to move back ever so little or the pad wears to allow the rotor to run free. Stiky piston=brake pull
If the outboard pad was worn the most. The caliper pins or slides are sticky or seized. Sticky slides=brake pull

hope this helps
 
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Old Mar 23, 2004 | 05:30 AM
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Does it pull all the time when you hit the brakes, or just the first couple of times when you first start driving it? If it's just the first couple of times, it could be a collapased/constricted flexible brake line.
 
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Old Mar 23, 2004 | 06:43 PM
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I Cleaned and lubed the caliper slides tonight and it didn't seem to help. It still wants to pull to the right pretty bad when I use the breaks. It doesn't just pull when I first start breaking but it pulls everytime I use the breaks. I notice tonight that the rotor on the right side has some grooves on the back side of it. There not real bad but you can feel them with your finger. How can I tell if I have a caliper sticking or a bad rotor? Thanks for all the help guy's.................Larry
 
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Old Mar 23, 2004 | 07:14 PM
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I'm not sure how to tell, but changing out the rotors to new ones is pretty easy. If you shop around you should be able to get a new set for about $80.

One thing to check is to make sure both calipers are grabbing. To do this, just lift the front wheels off the ground then spin the each wheel by hand as someone presses the brake pedal. If the calipers on both side of the vehicle grab and stop you from turning the wheels, I think it would tell you the problem is more likely a glazed rotor.
 
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Old Mar 23, 2004 | 07:15 PM
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sounds like ya might need a caliper and might as well do the other at the same time
 
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