Brakes pulling to the left

[Greg_B]

I never had and issues with the brakes pulling until I installed those ceramic brake pads a few weeks ago. They seem to be stopping the Bronco fine but the pedal does feel different than before. All I did was hang new pads on the front and bleed them.

Why would it now be pulling slightly to the left? There is no other adjustments to make is there?

It isnt much of a pull but yuo can feel it.

It was great before the pads but they squeaked...

Greg

 

[bknbronco]

Drums or disks?

I will assume disks. If there pulling there is nothing you can do. Id let the wear in a bit more or just get new pads. Cheep ceramics can be a pain. They are known to squeel and they take more pedal pressure.

 

[Greg_B]

They are front disks...

You think it could be the new pads? I can return them...

Greg

 

[Apogee]

Greg, did you do any sort of bedding-in process? Did you turn the rotors prior to installing the new pads? Some pad compounds don't play well with others, so when you swap pads a quick skim pass on the rotors will give you a fresh rotor surface to bed the new pads into which should only help performance.

As for "ceramic" pads being known to squeal and requiring high pedal efforts, that's a gross generalization IMHO as there are a range of "ceramic" pad options for a range of budgets and performance levels. "Ceramic" pads in my experience tend to marketed as low dust, low noise, low rotor wear options. Any low coefficient of friction (CoF) pad is going to require higher pedal efforts when compared to a higher CoF pad, regardless of whether it's dubbed ceramic, semi-matallic, non-asbestos organic, metallic, ferro-carbon, unobtanium-ferro-killer-coolness stuff, etc. If you're going to generalize, I would say that you tend to get what you pay for with brake pads for the most part.

Tobin

 

[phred]

Greg, Make sure the slides are clean and lubed. I had problems with my full size at super cell. drivers side caliper got stuck while on the dragon. Had to pry it loose. Also the if your calipers have phenolic pistons that piston could be hanging. First thing I would do i make sure the slides are clean and lubed so the caliper can return to neutral.

 

[Greg_B]

I didnt do anything but hang the pads on the factory rotors... I cleaned everything up with brake cleaner but I didnt apply any lube to anything.

I did put the grease on the back of the pads that is supposed to stop the squeaking... they are super quiet as opposed to the one s I took off that squeaked everytime you touched the brakes.

I believe they were called "Wanger Thermo Quiet pads"

Greg

 

[garberz]

Greg, Make sure the slides are clean and lubed. I had problems with my full size at super cell. drivers side caliper got stuck while on the dragon. Had to pry it loose. Also the if your calipers have phenolic pistons that piston could be hanging. First thing I would do i make sure the slides are clean and lubed so the caliper can return to neutral.

X2, This is very important. Also file down any burs on the caliper sliding surface. Lube those surfaces with some silicon grease.

 

[Greg_B]

Wouldnt that make it pull when the brakes are NOT applied? It only pulls left when I am using the brakes. I forgot to make that clear.

These were supposed to be quality pads... I was not looking for cheap, I really didnt care what they cost since they will last the rest of my life based on the miles I put on this rig per year

I just want things to work like they are supposed to work.

Greg

 

[garberz]

I had the same situation. Replaced the pads, now it pulls hard when applying the brakes, always to the same side. I don't know why but, I changed out the calipers, (they were cheaper than the pads). I cleaned all the rough edges on the rebuilt calipers where they slide, a little grease, and it works fine since then. One of my calipers must have not liked the new pads being thicker, and the piston in the new position (thicker pad) just stuck. Could be your issue as well.
Mark

 

[Greg_B]

Hmmm.. Thats interesting...

Thanks for the info..

Greg

 

[lowbush]

warped rotor, get them cut and I would bet dime to dollar it goes away. I have seen it be a stuck caliper as well, but rotor is the #1 suspect to me. I have also seen it happen on the newer brakes with the guide bolts one of the guide bolts gets a little rust and sticks and it causes hellatious vibration and pulling. I don't know why but for me, it seems that with my driving style, heavy on the brakes at lights, if I use the cheap pads, I warp rotors all the time, so I have been through the pulling issue on several vehicles until I figured it out.

 

[slims75]

If it is pulling to the left you should be looking at the right side for the problem

 

[Greg_B]

warped rotor, get them cut and I would bet dime to dollar it goes away. I have seen it be a stuck caliper as well, but rotor is the #1 suspect to me. I have also seen it happen on the newer brakes with the guide bolts one of the guide bolts gets a little rust and sticks and it causes hellatious vibration and pulling. I don't know why but for me, it seems that with my driving style, heavy on the brakes at lights, if I use the cheap pads, I warp rotors all the time, so I have been through the pulling issue on several vehicles until I figured it out.

I have had warped rotors before but that usually mean the brakes were grabbing or they would vibrate when you applied the brakes. I have had them so bad they shook the whole car. Mine right now are very smooth but it will drift to the left as soon as you apply brakes. Others has used the term "cheap pads" as well. What is a cheap pad? I asked for the best pad they offered at O'Riellys. These were like $45.00 a set... "Wagner Thermo Quiet" it that a cheap pad?

Also, I thought if a caliper stuck it would make it pull when brakes were not applied... One the OEM calipers the only slide is the little spring clip that you tap in the bottom right? I really dont see anythign that "slides"

Greg

 

[1sicbronconut]

First step in this diag would be to swap the pads side to side and see if the pull changes sides. If the pull changes then it's more than likley the pads if it doesn't change look torward a hung up caliper.

 

[lowbush]

I have had warped rotors before but that usually mean the brakes were grabbing or they would vibrate when you applied the brakes. I have had them so bad they shook the whole car. Mine right now are very smooth but it will drift to the left as soon as you apply brakes. Others has used the term "cheap pads" as well. What is a cheap pad? I asked for the best pad they offered at O'Riellys. These were like $45.00 a set... "Wagner Thermo Quiet" it that a cheap pad?

Also, I thought if a caliper stuck it would make it pull when brakes were not applied... One the OEM calipers the only slide is the little spring clip that you tap in the bottom right? I really dont see anythign that "slides"

Greg

I have had warped rotors do both, shimmy like hell, and other times smooth as can be put pull to one side. I guess it all depends on how it is warped. As for pads I use Wilwood, I don't know if any of the local stores carry them I generally order them.

 

[jw0747]

First step in this diag would be to swap the pads side to side and see if the pull changes sides. If the pull changes then it's more than likley the pads if it doesn't change look torward a hung up caliper.

x2. 1sicbronco is a Ford Tech who works on this kinda stuff daily so try his suggestion. if it continues after you look into what he recommended you probably have a warped rotor or a rotor that needs to be resurfaced.

 

[Apogee]

Wagner Thermo-Quiet pads are a well respected product, not something that I would classify as "cheap" junk. That doesn't mean that you can't have a pad issue, it just makes is somewhat less likely IMO.

 

[Greg_B]

I will try swapping sides... sounds logical.

I dont think Wilwood makes pads for the OEM calipers do they? I looked for them a while back with no luck.

Greg

 

[lowbush]

I will try swapping sides... sounds logical.

I dont think Wilwood makes pads for the OEM calipers do they? I looked for them a while back with no luck.

Greg

Don't know I have the GM conversion, which they do make the pads for. Hawk is a good choice as well, but if the other guys say your pads are good, I would trust their word. I am not a brake pad expert, I just found pads that worked for me after going through a lot of frustration with brakes.