A small brake/steering problem

[Vogon SuperTrooper]

Sometimes when I brakes, the steering pulls to the left, other times to the right. Sometimes I don't brakes at all yet still the wheel nudges one way or the other. Sometimes (under harder braking) the pull is very noticeable. The tyre pressures are almost the same.

 

What's going on?

 

Cahlres

[Swiss_Tony]

It may be worth having the tracking checked.

If not try swapping the front tyres for the rears (if poss)

 

James

 

[R2D2]

I had the same problem during the last couple of months and I think it is important to try to seperate what seems to be a confusing situation.

I concentrated on trying to solve the brakes pulling from side to side first and I decided that there were two possible faults.

1) I had sticky caliper pistons

2) I had pads that were glazing

 

I was using Mintex 1144 pads and a couple of brake specialists seem to think that these pads have a fairly low coefficient of friction and are prone to glazing in light cars. They also seemed convinced that glazing could also have affected the discs which would make the problem worse.

 

Unfortunately I didn't have time to isolate the two effects.

 

I changed the pads for green stuff, re-built the calipers with new seals and fitted some solid Red Dot grooved discs. The brakes have been perfect for the last 6 weeks.

 

The steering problems that I thought I had also seem better and I think that I had become so concerned about the brakes pulling I was conctrating on every minor camber change/groove caused by trucks etc, etc,

[CHRIS CLARK]

Charles.

 

Never underestimate the effects of worn dampers (AKA shock absorbers). This can also give this sort of 'live steering' effect when travelling over slightly less than billiard table smooth roads!!!

 

Good job you're only Director of the 'Rumble' and not driving the course in the Seven!

[Vogon SuperTrooper]

Thanks all. My car is entered for the Rumble as it happens, under the surprisingly similar name of Chris King-Holford. So maybe I should get these checked today. Is this a speciallist job or can any old geezer have a stab at it?

Cahlres

 

Edited by - Charles K-H on 7 Sep 2001 07:01:39

[ashaughnessy]

Pulling under braking could be (as already said) a brake problem. Check the calipers, especially the rubber seals. If the seals are split, there's an excellent chance the pistons will be corroded and not work properly. If you've got drums at the back, check the slave cylinders (again, split rubbers indicate trouble). Try turning each wheel round while someone presses lightly on the pedal. A light pressure might not make a corroded caliper/cylinder operate so the wheel will still be easy to turn.

Brand new brake pads or discs will also pull until they're bedded in, but this doesn't take long.

What about your various rubber bushes? Bushes that are cracking up will cause instability.

Also, what kind of steering rack do you have? Various past threads have implicated the quick racks as being stiff and causing the car to feel like it's pulling while driving in a straight line without braking.

Anthony

[Brad Tipp]

You are running with acb10'S and 250lB front springs :-)

 

 

 

T 1 PPB - Superlight

 

"Well yes officer I'm not arguing, it's just that [insert excuse here]..."

[Vogon SuperTrooper]

Thanks for your thoughts, all. I've had new pads put on the front and rear brakes and yet, if anything at all, the problem is worse than before.

 

And the wheels are, btw, 16 inch HPCs. Steering rack is a standard ('91 issue for component builds.) I'm told that as the shock absorbers aren't leaking fluid they're probably alright although they've had more than 20k miles running through their tender seals.

 

Should I panic yet, or what?

 

Caherls

[Big Brother]

"Check the calipers, especially the rubber seals"

 

Sound advice, I had a similar problem recently and traced it to a sticky caliper piston.

Removed the piston, cleaned it up with V fine emery cloth and refitted with a new seal (the old one was split).

 

Problem solved

 

Steve

 

cool.gifScream...if you want to go faster!!!id=limegreen> cool.gif

[ashaughnessy]

"...and yet, if anything at all, the problem is worse than before". Not surprising. New pads will pull in this way until they're bedded in. Doesn't take very long though. Probably after a good blat they'll be bedded in and the situation will be back as it was before. At least you will have eliminated the pads as the problem.

You could also try checking the steering rack mounts. If you've got the rack I think you have (Triumph rack, plain black tube, not alloy) the rack doesn't seem to be held very positively (or even remotely positively, to me). Check that the rack tube isn't moving about. Turn the steering wheel while the car is stationary and watch the rack (a friend is useful to turn the wheel while you watch). Doesn't sound likely though, I still think you should check your brake calipers for stickiness.

Anthony

[JKJ]

Had exactly the same problem under braking Charles, pulling to the one side then the other. The guys at Auto Centre, Darlington overhauled the whole system replacing the pads, and now runs true under braking or not.

[stevefoster]

How bad is it?

I had this and traced it to a sloppy trackrod end ball joint..

Some slop in the rack and tramliney 16" wheels and road camber did not help either.

(have 13" now...)