My trans am pulls very hard to the right when you have to apply the brake in a normal stopping condition. Why does this happen? Is the caliper frozen up on that side(the car has disc brakes on all 4 corners)? Or has something in the suspension went bad?

 

Sticking caliper or, just as likely, a bad brake hose... (oh, and the problem would be on the left side if its pulling right)..

 

There are several things the could contribute to your "pull". First I would jack up your car and support the front end w/jack stands under the control arms. You can then have a friend apply the brakes while you turn the wheels w/your hands. That way you can tell if your calipers are working properly. I used to have a problem like yours and after installing new rotors and pads the problem still existed. Turns out, after finding some play in the steering box, the worm gear was out of adj. after adj. it, it still had play in it and needed to be replaced. You can always take your car to a garage and get it inspected for free w/an estimate, then you can decide if you want to fix it yourself or let them do it if it's something major (like control arm bushings or ball joints.)

 

I have had the same problem and I have replaced every part of the front brake system (rotors, pads, calipers, bearings, hoses, slide bolts as well as the power booster, prop valve, and master). Cha-ching!! Everything I have done has helped, but the pull is still there under certain conditions-- like very hard/ quick stops.

Sqzbox- are you saying that the steering box could be bad?? Or a bad ball joint or ca bushings??

What should I look for in the steering??

I have some play in my front end. With my hands at the 9 and 3 positions, I can feel and see the front steering move a good bit.

 

Ya, I think it might be something in the ball joints or control arms in mine. So I am going to check them out and see what they look like.

 

i have the same problem. so if it pulls right the problem is on the left side??

 

if when first applied, the car pulls to the right, its because the right side is working and the left side is failing.

if when you let off the brake, it pulls to the right, its because the right side is sticking and the left side is working.

 

it pulls right immediatly, what is the brake doing that makes it pull like that? is it a easy fix? thanks

 

first thing i would do is inspect the brakes... if the pads and everything look good, then see if any fluid is missing.


if theres fluid missing, you probly have a slight leak in one of your left side lines, and you now have a little air in there.

if theres no fluid missing, i would bleed the brakes and see how it works from there...


also, if the soft (flex) lines look old at all, i would replace them.

 

how do i bleed the brakes? i was just wondering if there was an article somewhere that went over it. thanks again

 

Yup! If your rotors are good, pads good, bearings adj., and it still pulls. Mileage will tell you alot, after 80k, lower control arm bushings and ball joints are usually ready for replacment.
With the WS-6 package, the stiff front end really takes a beating on public roads, and the steering box is no exception!
Some play can be adj. out by adj. the worm gear on the top of the steering box. If you loosen the lock nut (while holding the shaft with an allen wrench so it doesn't back out) you can turn the allen wrench clockwise till resistance is felt and remove some of the slop in the steering. (be sure to hold the allen wrench while tightening lock nut) car's will naturally pull a little to the right a little anyway because of the crown built into the road for drainage purposes.

 

I have tried adjusting it before and it is at the point where if I go 1/4 turn more, I have to continously steer right to left for over/ understeer.

I'll look into the bushings, etc. I get can a complete front end rebuild kit for $200 and after 163K, it may need it.

Thanks for the help