pull to the right-only when braking (1 Viewer)

[MaddBaggins]

Haven't had any trouble until tuesday. My LC always tracked straight. On tuesday I got my tires balanced and rotated and now she pulls to the right ONLY WHEN BRAKING. Straight as an arrow when cruising.
My brake pads are 8 months old and still plenty good, rotors all look even.
What perplexes me is that I did not have this problem until I had my tires balanced and rotated and I can fly down the road hands off without drifting.
I have it at my mechanic buddies shop right now and he is taking a look at the rotors and calipers and he might rotate the tires.
Any clues?
I will be going on a run next friday so I only have a few days to fix this.

 

[CJF]

...he might rotate the tires.

Well, definitely have him do that. Either swap the front two, or put them back how they were; then take a test drive. Cheap and easy way to get more information.

CJF

 

[MaddBaggins]

You know the cool thing about my friend. He is a good mechanic, and his shop is right next to where I work. So when I'm stuck here 12 hrs a day and have no time to fix my truck I can take it next door.
He said the mechanical looks good so he rotated the front 2 tires and drove around the block without problem.
I am about to leave work so I will test it out on my way home and post back later on the results.
I find it interesting though that a bad tire #1 would show this problem after 7k miles and #2 that it only pulls the truck when braking.
If that is the problem then I feel stupid for posting and you guys can go ahead and flame away. I'm fireproof(I'll just cry myself to sleep).

 

[CJF]

If that's the problem, why should you get flamed? Any info on how weird tires can act seems useful to me.

...but then I am just a noob

CJF

 

[Mr.Bryan]

Hey, I've got the same problem. Dunno what it is though. I'm to lazy to try and fix it, cause it still drives and stops just fine, just a pull to the right. If I had to guess... sticky caliper? I dont know, whatever, if you find out anything, post it so I can check it out as well.

-Bryan

 

[yellowchaosfj80]

Ya boys if pulling to right left caliper sicking , if see pulls to the left right caliper sticking .

 

[ultimauk]

Well I had a completely frozen piston in one of my front calipers and it would really exhibit a strong pull in the opposite direction under 10mph till stoped and a lot less say 20 mph to 10 mph.

For whatever thats worth?

 

[MaddBaggins]

When I left work I thought I had a little pull to the left now. I was a a crappy road at first, once I got to a better road everything seems fine.
I will be paying close attention for a while thats for sure.
My only conclusion is that my tires do not like being rotated side to side, only front to back.
Seems a little odd, they are not directional tires. Oh well, what do I know. It seems the problem is solved.


P.S. the tires in question are Yokohama Geolander AT's

 

[CJF]

My only conclusion is that my tires do not like being rotated side to side, only front to back.

Check your owner's manual; mine (91) indeed says rotate only front to back, regardless of whether they're "directional" tires. ;p

CJF

 

[Kalawang]

I get that pull too, albeit, very minor and intermittent. I have not yet found the problem source, though friends tell me it's just the old style self adjusting brakes adjusting. I drive a '90 model and apparently it's not supposed to happen to the newer models.


Kalawang

 

[MaddBaggins]

Well i blew in to work this morning and hit the brakes good a few times. No problem.
So there you have it, DO NOT rotate your tires side to side, only front to back.