Hey Y'all-
Need a couple things, stuck in the boonies with no service literature (I usually have it every freakin time cept when I really need it....)
01 F350 XLT SD 7.3 4x4 DRW CC, auto hubs, 4WABS. Pull to the left upon braking only, tracks fine (no pull when cruisin off the brakes). No ABS MIL.
Pulled caliper, pistons don't appear frozen, push back onto caliper OK, one caliper pin sticky due to torn boot+ contamination. Cleaned pin, OK action now. Non OEM pads, appear OK. No overheating evident on pads or rotor.
I need to know any other suggestions or if I missed anything, also torques for caliper pin bolts and wheel nuts. The only other thing I can think of would to be to bleed the brakes to ensure the right front line/ caliper doesn't have air, although I can't see how any air could have gotten into the system, since there are no leaks and the system hasn't been opened.
Thanks for your input, maybe this post should be in the brake section, but I figured the PSD section would be more germaine...

 

Brakes are not the only thing that makes trucks pull tires, alinement will also do this.

 

Yep, you're right, what I neglected to say was tires are same brand, tread pattern, size, and inflation, alignment was checked recently, was OK.
Also, truck tracks straight when cruising off brakes.
I think it was the sticky caliper pin, after I cleaned it and action was OK I reassembled and situation improved almost 100%. I noticed on hard braking 80%+, when speed drops below 15mph it will pull slightly. I figure that could be due to the road surface (country road) or the aftermarket (unknown origin) pads.
I didn't realize the newer SD's were so sensitive to the caliper pin action. I never had a problem with my older F-trucks from the 70s- 90s with brake pull, cept when the calipers would freeze up, and that was rare. Never had a problem due to pins or sliding caliper tho.
Was hoping someone could shoot me the torques tho- I guessed and went 25 lbs/ft on the pin bolts and 165 on the lug nuts. Would appreciate it if someone can let me know if I'm in the ballpark on these, thanks. I gotta drive this truck another week and 1000 miles before I make it back home. Then I gotta get new pin boots too.
Thanks for your input.

 

140 on the wheels and good and tight on the caliper bolts. the brake hose could cause a pull also. usually they will cause a caliper to stick but i have seen a few in our shop that cause a pull. the rubber breaks down inside the hose and a flap breaks loose on one side causing a check valve action to happen. how do the rear brakes look? not usual but they may be affecting the pull some too.

yes the caliper pins freezing are a very common problem front and rear. free them up clean them, put some never sieze on the with new boots and they will be good till the boot rips again.

if you need more help let us know
tim

 

Thanks much, tjbeggs..
Didn't know about the interior deterioration of the hoses, I'll have to keep that in mind should more future problems arise.
Back (disc) brakes are OK.
Definitely will be replacing the boots, seem to be critical on these SD's.
Thx for the torque info, I'm a stickler about torques, when that info is available.
I appreciate your time.
Jim

 

Its been my experience that any time small things like that happen, I always change the brake line. That damn little hose will look fine and not be worth a crap. I replaced both calipers, pads, and lines on my truck when I got it. Did brakes and rotors all the way around. It cruises like a lexus.

 

Just curious, what year is your truck and what milage did you replace hoses?
Mine's an 01, 73K.