replace soft lines on brakes? (1 Viewer)

[Poriomania]

Finally got the pistons popped out and they look good at first glance, shop guy said they were wondering why I was even going to rebuild them. I told them it was one of the things I was trying to eliminate the pull to the right on braking along with replacing the front bearings. He said that since these were in good shape that rebuilding them wouldn't make a difference But he did suggest replacing the soft lines to the calipers as another thing, is this something else that would cause the pull?

 

[clownmidget]

Gary,
How many miles on your truck? What year is it? When was the last brake service? When was the last time fluid was changed? If you're planning rebuilding the calipers, why? Do the soft lines look like they're cracking, bulging? How are your rotors? Pads?

Some background info really helps in helping you. But off the cuff I'd say replacing the soft line wouldn't change pulling to one side under braking.

Mike R

 

[Poriomania]

97
about 113k
no known brake service ever
no known fluid change other than the one I'm doing
rotors and pads being replaced in addition to birf service and bearing replacment

Stock lines seemed fine with no cracking or bulging, but I didn't know if there would be some other aspect I wasn't aware of.

Thanks

 

[quicktodoze]

Actually, yes, a bulge in the soft line would most definitely cause a pull, but only a quick temporary one.

This happened to me in the past. I'd stomp on my brakes and my car would pull hard left but then catch itself and run straight again. Weird, huh? What was causing the problem was that a soft line on the right side had a bulge and when I stepped on the brakes, that bulge was what was expanding, not the pistons. Only when the bulge stopped expanding would the brake fluid be forced into the piston, evening out the brake force on both sides of the car and it car would run straight again. All this would happen within about 1 second.

I'd say that if it catches itself in this manner, then yes look at the brake hoses. But if they continue to pull to one side all the way to a stop, then no, probably not the lines.

 

[Tools R Us]

This is very rare but I had this problem once, rebuilt everything and when we tried to bleed it very little came out of one caliper. Finally replaced the soft line, that fixed it. Cut the line open and the liner inside the hose (the inside layer) was loose and would bunch up with the fluid flow clogging the line!

 

[Poriomania]

I won't worry with it now, see if the replacing all the other pieces takes care of it. I just hadn't heard of the lines being an issue with the pulling.

Thanks all