I've been living with it for about a year now because I don't drive the car much, but it's too unsafe and I have to get it fixed ASAP. 1991 Bird, I've owned it several years and drive it very little, same brakes that I bought it with and it didn't have this problem then, disc front and drum rear, 80(ish) thousand miles, good tire pressure. The "brakes" idiot light is always on now for what that's worth. When going over 20-30mph and braking under normal conditions the whole car pulls HARD to the driver's side and I have to turn the steering wheel right just to stay in my lane. Not sometimes, but every time. It's dangerous and I need to fix whatever it is, but does anybody know what it may be just from describing it? Or is it just time for new brakes all the way around?

 

Sounds like your right front caliper is not working. For what it costs for new calipers, pads and hoses just get new stuff and you should be good.
After going for a drive feel the rotors and see if one is hotter than the other. That should tell you where your problem is.

 

i had a similar issue with 1984 camaro i had crack where steering box was at, took it to body shop, they welded it up good as new

 

The idiot light is a good indicator that there's an imbalance or loss of pressure in the system. Symptoms sound like a bad hose, or stuck caliper, probably a little of both. Considering that at the very least you probably need to replace the hoses, it'd be a bit silly not to just get a pair of rotors, calipers, hoses, pads, and just rebuild and flush/bleed the entire brake system. The fluid needs to be flushed and replaced with fresh fluid frequently, as it absorbs moisture over time. That moisture if left in the system will rot the hoses from the inside out, along with the brake lines, and calipers. If you've never flushed the fluid, it's time. Fortunately all the hoses, calipers, pads, rotors, etc are all dirt cheap.

 

 

Awesome info, thanks

 

My brake hose was clogged 30 years of old nees
I changed everything then still didn't fix it
and my car got fixed mint when I changed both front rubber hoses
it's easy
it cost 50 bucks

 

I second the brake line issue.

my first 84 did the same thing and the inner lining of the hose had broken down so there was essentially a flap inside the hose. Under braking it would close off one the right brake line and apply everything to the left causing it to pull hard left.

later,
Chris