I have an '88 IROC that has developed a scary habit of pulling to the right if you hit the breaks when you are going 40+MPH. The brakes, pads, discs and fluid bleeding are fine. No brakes are hanging up or leaking. Could this be suspension related?

 

The usual symptom of a collapsing brake hose (which would be 20+ years old if it's never been replaced), though I'm unsure what the 40+ would be about.

JamesC

 

Doesn't pull if you're just stopping at a stop sign...!!!

 

Could be a bad caliper. My guess. Had the same thing the piston junked out.

 

Bad rubber brake hoses. If they are the originals,they are your problem.

 

Just get new calipers and hoses if you're looking for a cheap way out. They aren't that much.

 

Same explanation if it pulls hard to the left??

 

Since it doesn't do it at slow speed, is there any chance this is steering/suspension related?
Thanks for all your help.

 

Yes. Opposite side hose. You'd be well advised to replace both sides.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/faq-...ulls-side.html

JamesC

 

I can't imagine what it might be (but my imagination is limited).

For kicks, try coming to a long slow stop from, say, 35, then at 10 mph jam on the brakes and see what happens.

JamesC

 

i had the same problem on my car had no engine and been sitting in a garage for 10+ years my hoses were corrupt and caused the caliper to stick to the disk so go to auto zone and get new hoses for i forget i think like 32 dollars and should be fixed mine work fine now while ur at it though check everything else on the brakes to make sure everything is ok like the calipers and disks

 

Actually at 10MPH you can get it to do it, but only if you don't hold the wheel. The faster you go the more obvious it is. If you're going 40mph you can get it to pull while still holding wheel. Incidentally, the wheel does not turn while you're holding it, when the car pulls to right.

 

well i dont see how a collapsed brake hose will cause pulling during BRAKING, but that would make more sense if it pulled w/o braking. think about it, a collapsed hose will HOLD pressure once applied and never let pressure back out which then would cause a caliper to stay applied even when your not braking. idk, maby its possible for it to collapse to where it wouldnt let pressure IN the caliper, which could make it pull during BRAKING.

but if your for SURE all air is out of the left front brake line, then idk what to tell ya lol. u might wanna double check and re-bleed just in case

 

The car is pulling because the left brake hose is causing a restriction & allowing less pressure to the left brake. The harder applying right brake makes it pull in that direction.

Sometimes if you stop on a down hill section of road & hold the brakes for a while, then quickly release them, the car will likely pull left for a second if you are not holding the wheel when it first moves... It works opposite on releasing the brakes.


I had the hoses go bad on both of my 3rd gens....

Just buy both hoses & put them on.

 

A guy at work said he's seen bad hoses do that also. One hose had a piece of inner wall flake off. It acted like a one way flap. Apply brake pressure and the flap would close off and restrict pressure to the caliper. Release the pressure and the flap would allow the limited pressure that got past to return and the brakes wouldn't drag.

 

Thanks everyone,
I am going to change both front hoses this weekend. While I'm in there I'll make sure everything else is OK.
I'll post the results when I'm done.

 

Exact same thing happened to me. Was the front left side though. Flexible brake hose. Also put in two brand new calipers for $10 Each... Score.

 

Replace the hoses and calipers. Chances are they are old and need to be replaced anyway. Then do a nice bleed job.

 

i changed the hoses a month ago, and it pulls to the left while braking from 40ish.i even slowed downed, and locked the tires, only the left wheel locked with a pull. im thinking i got air in the right brake hose still. what do you think.

 

Replaced hose and caliper/pads on left and pads on right...then car pulled to left slightly, replaced right side hose, and caliper. Still pulls to right if you let go of wheel when stopping. Suspension??? alignment???...any ideas??

 

i noticed today that when i press the brakes the car pulls to the left but when driving, pulls to the right. im thinking the caliper on the right side is stuck. i bought a rebuild kit, going to rebuild it. i had an alignment, even minor front end rebuild still pulls. im thinking stuck caliper. the hoses are new. no leaks. maybe some air. i hope it isnt suspension.

 

TTT

 

Any ideas??

 

i have an idea, maybe the rear brakes are pulling. not too sure though.

My experience today: it was sprinkling wet roads, i came to a stop sign and pressed the brakes. the car grabbed to the left and lost traction, locked up on the driver side front brake only and went tiny bit sideways . im starting to think i only got one good caliper working the rest are junked. i bought a passenger caliper for ten bucks and am going to install that. and bleed, hope it helps with the pull while driving and reverse pull while braking. then this weekend im going to rebuild the rear with the GM rebuild kit, and replace the master cylinder because it needs it. lying around in garage for months, and to top it off, brake warning light is lite. Ghetto

*update 11-16-09
i replaced my M/C fixed the brakes and pull, but while driving still pulls to the right. im thinking sway bar bent