I've been tryin to figure out whats goin on here. When I step on the brakes, the car darts to the right very quickly then straight again. The more quickly I step on the pedal, the harder it darts. If I just ease the pedal in, no matter how hard i end up pushing the pedal, it brakes straight. I'm tryin to get rid of that initial drift. Sometimes its so violent, it could spin the car out in the rain... HELP PLEASE!

 

most likely you have a restriction in the line or not working brake system part (caliper) on the other side

 

...definitely something in the left side not working.

Start by checking your wheel bearings, then see if there is anything obvious with the left, then the right.

Is

• the caliper loose
• the rubber line broken/leaking
• is there any pad left
• tie rod ends still attached

 

If you hit the brakes, and the car jerks to the right, if you let off the brakes quickly, does the car jerk to the left a bit? If so, I'd vote for a clogged (internally deteriorated) left brake hose. Replace them both, anyway... on an '85, the rubber hoses should be replaced by now. They're only about $25/each, and the copper crush washers cost pennies.

 

Well, the calipers and pads are brand new, but the same problem existed even before those were changed.

I'm thinking of changin the lines as you all sugested... but, what about those steel braided lines? Are those of any benifit? or are the stock ones just fine?

 

Steel Braided is definately far superior, but you have to weigh your cost. It is definately the soft line. I replaced everything but the soft line on my last car before I fixed the problem. That ends up being really expensive by the way.

 

Our cars do suffer from the rubber brakes hoses collapsing.If I were you i'd change them and for the small extra cost put on the braided ones.
Dont forget the rear one over the axle!!!
Use good quality fluid and bleed well.

cheers
powermite

 

Thanks alot guys, thats much help!

One final thing though, where can i find a braided rear hose?

 

Aeroquip or Russell sell really good braided lines. Just make sure they can handle the pressure.

 

I just worked on a medium truck the other day that had the same problem. The truck is only a month old and when you stepped hard on the brakes it pulled to the right. Everything checked out fine.

I finally pulled the calipers and found the right brake pads were chewed up like they were chattering. All I could assume is they were grabbing more now than the smooth ones on the left. A new set of pads and the problem was fixed.

You say the problem was there before you changed the pads and calipers and it's still has a problem. Were the rotors machined when the brakes were done?

 

Almost every brake component in front were changed to bran new gm parts; the calipers, the pads, and the rotors. The bearings were check and they rang green, so we just repacked them and put em back in.... so, everything points to the lines huh?

 

One more thing I've thought of. How's the air pressure in the tires?