04 T&C pulls right

Gulfstream1 · #1 04-27-2009, 01:45 PM

When we bought the van recently, it pulled to the right. I assumed alignment and asked that they perform an alignment. Got it back and no change. 2 weeks later the front right tire got really hot after getting off interstate and started smoking. Dealer replaced both front calipers and pads and rear pads (for free). I thought this would fix the problem. However pulling is still present. Noticed yesterday that there seems to be more brake dust on right tire than left. I've read several posts about brake hoses collapsing internally, not letting the caliper release. Does this sound like the probable culprit? Any advice would be great. Thanks.

RIP · #2 04-27-2009, 03:20 PM

Welcome to the forum. Sounds like you're on target. Never experienced it but like you I have read about collapsed brake hoses many times and yes, it's a good possibility and well worth replacing. It's usually the last thing people try with pulling issues. Can you do us all a favor? If a collapsed brake hose turns out to be the problem, please slice the hose length wise to reveal the "flap" and post a picture on the forum. It would reveal a mystery some find hard to believe and help many in the process.

Gulfstream1 · #3 04-29-2009, 03:56 PM

Well I finally got some time to look at the brakes. I jacked the van up and spun the wheels. They both drag but the left seemed to drag more, which seems backwards to me since the van is pulling right. I read somewhere else to pump the brakes and then barely open the bleeder valve. If it squirts out rather than drips then it is probably a brake hose. They both squirted, again the left more than right, then the left wheel would turn much easier until I applied brake pressure again. I also measured for alignment just to rule that out. The highest measurement I can take is about 1/4 up the wheel. The difference from the front of the tires to the back of the tires was 1/16 to 1/8. I think that sounds about right. I know you are supposed to have a small difference to preload the bearings. Is there anything else I should check before buying new brake hoses? Why is the van pulling left if the left brake is dragging worse than the right? Thanks for any help.

jpb53 · #4 04-30-2009, 06:01 PM

Swap the front tires side to side; and then drive it. Could just be a tire pull.

Gulfstream1 · #5 05-02-2009, 11:47 AM

jpb53 you're a genuis. I got new brake lines and was about to put them on and then I saw your post, so I thought I would try that first. It seems to have fixed it. It pulls a liitle to the left now, but just barely. Should I replace that tire or just leave it unless it starts causing problems? I think I'm going to go ahead and replace the brake lines anyway just in case. Thanks for the advice.

RIP · #6 05-02-2009, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpb53

Swap the front tires side to side; and then drive it. Could just be a tire pull.

Well I'm scratchin my head now. Any ideas as to how a tire causing a pull can get hot to the point it smokes and later appears to create added brake dust? I would think there would be obvious tire where indications...well at least obvious to a dealer. I'm not doubting the fix. I'm just lost on the how.

toddman67 · #7 05-02-2009, 02:54 PM

Sounds as if the tires may be a different size. Tread depth, tire pressure all effect the overall diameter. Or could one tire for example be a 225/75r/15 and the other be a 225/60r/15. big difference between the two.
Think of it like the stagger on a race car.

Gulfstream1 · #8 05-02-2009, 02:59 PM

Well they replaced the caliper, rotor and pads on the right side so that fixed that problem. I can only assume either the dragging brake damaged the tire (overheated?) or it was bad from the start. (The tires were new from dealer when we bought it). It confused me too. I would never have thought about a tire causing that problem. I just finished the brake lines and bleeding. Took it out again and it still seems fine. Still has a little pull to the left now, but not bad.

Gulfstream1 · #9 05-02-2009, 03:03 PM

The tires are all the same size and brand. I also checked the tire pressure. All seems normal.

toddman67 · #10 05-02-2009, 03:15 PM

Pehaps an alignment at some time might reveal a problem that existed prior to the new tires?

Just a thought.

jpb53 · #11 05-03-2009, 08:15 PM

The power of google can get you a lot of info. This guy writes for a lot of trade publications and this article has some good inffor some one trying to diagnose a front end problem.
http://www.babcox.com/editorial/tr/tr50244.htm

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