front end

[my97tbird]

Ok guys, here's the deal, when I brake the car pulls left fairly hard, I took it to the shop and they told me the left caliper was sticking, well it was about time for some caliper work anyway so I went ahead and had them replaced. I have also replaced both front brake hoses, as well as the rotors. The pads are in good condition. It is still pulling like before. I've been back to the shop on 2 following occasions and they still can't find the cause. I am having the tires rotated and balanced, and the alignment checked next payday, if that doesn't work does anyone have any other ideas for why it's pulling during braking?

[forcfed93]

Originally Posted by my97tbird

Ok guys, here's the deal, when I brake the car pulls left fairly hard, I took it to the shop and they told me the left caliper was sticking, well it was about time for some caliper work anyway so I went ahead and had them replaced. I have also replaced both front brake hoses, as well as the rotors. The pads are in good condition. It is still pulling like before. I've been back to the shop on 2 following occasions and they still can't find the cause. I am having the tires rotated and balanced, and the alignment checked next payday, if that doesn't work does anyone have any other ideas for why it's pulling during braking?

If it ONLY pulls under braking conditions rotated and balanced the tires and the alignment will NOT help.

The only thing you haven't done is the pads, correct??? That would be the next step ...........

[my97tbird]

Well I found out something else. Took it to another place for R&B and realignment work, he put it up on the lift and within seconds located a problem the other place missed during three seperate inspections. My lower ball joints had ruptured the rubber seal and the grease dried up. These are factory ball joints and anyone who owns a ford knows that they are not maintenanceable (is that even a word?). My friend at the shop said that it wasn't likely that the ball joints caused the pull during braking, but applied liberal amounts of grease through the ruptured seals so that I could drive until the new ball joints came in. And lo and behold!! the pulling stopped! It was the twice bedamned ball joints the whole time. The only thing I can figure is that when the brake was applied the ball joint couldn't hold the wheel in proper place and caused the pull. Will still be replacing the brake pads soon due to my strong dislike for "lifetime" pads. They may last forever but they eat ford rotors for lunch and I'd rather replace pads than rotors.

[Loaded NightraiN]

congrats man!!! it always nice to get stuff like that figured out!!

[my97tbird]

I still can't believe it was the ball joints, but they were replaced earlier this week and the problem is gone. Not only that, my steering was really stiff and wasn't coming back to true after a turn, I thought it was the new tires but turns out that must have been ball joints too. wish I had caught this before I dropped 350 on the brakes. I only spent 50 bucks to fix the ball joints, my local junior college has an auto shop that will work on anything that meets their semester criteria for only a $10 shop fee.