87 Caprice brake problems

My 87 caprice classic v8 305 when i hit the brakes the steering wheel pulls to the left, the harder i hit the brakes the sharper the pull to the left is.

I think it's a bubble in the brake lines but i checked the brake fluid level it's fine and i'm not sure what to check or do next

There could be air in the lines, or worn out pads or worn/warped rotors or any combination of the above. It could also be symptomatic of master cylinder or caliper problems.

Could also be a bad hose on the opposite side.

Try bleeding the brakes. Thats the only way to get any air out of the lines. Even if that doesn't solve your problem, bleeding them will purge the system of old fluid and get rid of any moisture that may have built up over the years. I remember reading an article about how brake fluid is hydroscopic (I think thats the word they used) and likes to absorb moisture.

Another possibility, and it's a fairly simple job is that the grease in the caliper sliders on one side had dried out and isn't allowing the caliper to move freely anymore causing a pull tp one side or the other.

One more tip, is the problem most likely lies in the passenger's side because if it's pulling to the left then that can indicate that the driver's side front brakes are working and the passenger's side are not.

The word is hygroscopic. And yes, brake fluid is very hygroscopic.

i got new brakes about 4 months ago, i'm gonna take it back to the shop and see what they say

My money is on the brake hose as CD mentioned. Always replace them in pairs for safety. If the caliper was sticking that badly, you would get a noticeable smell with it.

Bob

If it were a hose though he'd notice brake fluid leaking. beside when my driver's side front hose went bad I lost all front brakes, not just braking to that side. Theres no proportioning valve from the left to the right so equal pressure is going to both sides, if pressure drops on one side, the other will immediately follow suit. He also says it pulls while braking, but not driving so a sticking caliper is out unless the caliper is stuck in the relaxed position, which is why I think it may be the sliders because regarldess of the caliper condition, if it cannot move it will not properly "clamp" onto the rotor. This is why a lot of times when the sliders are beginning to stick, the car will shake with braking. But who knows, I could be dead wrong. I wouldn't really know for sure until actually seeing it.

If it were a hose though he'd notice brake fluid leaking. beside when my driver's side front hose went bad I lost all front brakes, not just braking to that side. Theres no proportioning valve from the left to the right so equal pressure is going to both sides, if pressure drops on one side, the other will immediately follow suit. He also says it pulls while braking, but not driving so a sticking caliper is out unless the caliper is stuck in the relaxed position, which is why I think it may be the sliders because regarldess of the caliper condition, if it cannot move it will not properly "clamp" onto the rotor. This is why a lot of times when the sliders are beginning to stick, the car will shake with braking. But who knows, I could be dead wrong. I wouldn't really know for sure until actually seeing it.

When a brake hose goes bad, it collapses internally, there is no leak. The effect is the side it collapses on has no braking power, the other side works and will pull sharply to the working side. With a caliper sticking, you should get a heat buildup that causes a burning pad smell and/or wheel bearing grease that melts in the hub and oozes out over the lug nuts.

Bob

I see, well I can't see how a line with pressure in it can collapse, but I won't argue.

What happens under braking is the line actually expands I think.

The line breaks down from the inside and then will in effect balloon under pressure.

Or is it a matter of the crap in the line causing a blockage???

Either way, my 86 did the same. Replaced both from hoses and the problem was solved.

Oh, I can see something like that now, the internal collapses or "breaks off" and acts as a cork blocking the brake pressure from getting to the caliper. I rememebr hearing something here on the forums of power steering lines doing the same thing.

P.S. Almost forgot, Happy Halloween everyone!

well i took it to a shop to get it fixed the morons at tiresplus put my drum shoes on wrong, they put both long brakes on one side and both short brakes on the other. and they never resurfaced my drums, so the left side had more braking power then the right

Wow, who would have thought of that for the problem? One more reason why I do all my own brake work. I've seen cars brought in with that before, or they just mix the shoes up and put the long shoe on the rear of the backing plates.

I think they only started color coding them (darker shoe to the back) in the late 1970's. The rear shoe is the one that does most of the work and is of a different compound than the front shoe.

Alls well that ends. Bob

well i took it to a shop to get it fixed the morons at tiresplus put my drum shoes on wrong, they put both long brakes on one side and both short brakes on the other. and they never resurfaced my drums, so the left side had more braking power then the right

Yes, that'd do it. If you paid for the original work with a credit/debit card, I'd dispute the charge unless and until they can make amends.

Tires Plus, eh?