WTF is wrong wih my brakes?

[SlicksInRain]

When I go to slow down the truck veers to the right. It has done this for years, but tonight it snowed and it really pulled hard to the right. Also it keeps making a squeaking noise unless I touch the brake petal. Do I need new pads?

I really don't know what is up with this truck jerking to the right when I slow down though... especially when I use a lot of pressue on the petal.

Anyone know what's going on?

 

[dremu]

Pads are easy; take the tires off and look a the metal tangs. If they're close to the rotor, replace them.

The squealing could be caused by the rotors and/or pads being glazed. Have the rotors turned by a machine shop, and either replace the pads, or at least sand the glaze off.

The pulling could be several things (rotor out of round, whacked pad) but is most likely a sticky caliper. I'd replace both of them to get good balance, and the hoses if the rubber is at all suspect. Note you'll need to bleed the system after you replace the calipers, so it's a good time to flush both front and back brake circuits.

-- A

 

[SlicksInRain]

Thank you for your info.

The thing I worry about is the pulling.

It has been doing it for years even after a brake job. Someone once told me it could be a twisted brake line. Does this make since?

 

[cuervo]

If your frontend alignment is off it will show even more when you press on the brakes.

 

[BlackBourbon]

Thank you for your info.

The thing I worry about is the pulling.

It has been doing it for years even after a brake job. Someone once told me it could be a twisted brake line. Does this make since?

yeah it makes sense. i had a clogged brake line once on my old k5 and it pulled like crazy cuz it was only squeezing one side of my front brakes. clogged,pinched,twisted, etc. line on one side will do it.

 

[jimmy'sjimmy]

happend to me before...ended up being a broken shock bolt. the truck would dive to the left for till i noticed the shocks looked odd on the left side.

 

[dremu]

Thank you for your info.

The thing I worry about is the pulling.

It has been doing it for years even after a brake job. Someone once told me it could be a twisted brake line. Does this make since?

Well, depends on what was done on this "brake job". If they just surfaced the rotors and slapped on new pads, the caliper could still be sticky.

Alignment is a possible cause, especially if it's a 2WD truck. The straight axle is pretty hard to get wrong and not notice in lots of other ways.

Suspension is also a possible culprit -- spring U-bolts loose, loose or broken shock mounts, etc.

It sounds like you're not so much into turning a wrench yourself, so I would recommend you find yourself a local shop and run it by them, maybe get two opinions and see what they say.

Given the age of the vehicle, the only way to solve this is prolly gonna be to tear it down.

-- A

 

[SlicksInRain]

It sounds like you're not so much into turning a wrench yourself, so I would recommend you find yourself a local shop and run it by them, maybe get two opinions and see what they say.

Naa I'm into saving money and learning, but this I am new too. Brakes are something pretty new to me. I never take my cars to anyone anymore.

I'll give the K5 a look when I have time in a day or two. Thanks guys!