When I slam the brakes hard
Submitted: Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 18:10
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51090
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Member - Troll 81 (QLD)
Team I have a little issue with my brakes when I have to brake hard to stop. The car moves to the right and depending on my speed I have to steer to the left to keep it straight and at highway speeds this can be pretty scary. I have replaced my pads the other day thinking that might be the problem but it still happens. I didn't get the rotors machined and I know I should have done that but it was to hard at the time and I am not sure if that is the cause. Other things that crossed my mind was wheel balancing or alignment issue but the steering doesn't wobble when I drive and the
wheels are straight as is the steering wheel. I am guessing the problem it's with the front right components.
Does anyone have any smart ideas?
Reply By: DIO - Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 18:14
Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 18:14
In the interests of road safety (i.e. yours and particularly others) take it to your nearest brake specialist. I would suggest that if you must drive it there, be very careful as now that you know there is a problem, if you are responsible for an accident (result of brakes/steering) you will be in big heap trouble. (Insurance and RTA).
AnswerID:
269154
Reply By: Gob & Denny(hampton park vic) - Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 18:19
Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 18:19
goodday troll
do you have a sticky calliper the bit that pulls the disc pads togetherhad \a simsilar thing years ago afetr putting new pads in a car the slide jammed andcraeted a similar thing
steve
AnswerID:
269156
Follow Up By: Member - Troll 81 (QLD) - Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 18:21
Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 18:21
it started happening before I put the new pads in
FollowupID:
531981
Follow Up By: Gob & Denny(hampton park vic) - Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 18:21
Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 18:21
jeez look at the typing and ive only had 1.5 cans of woodie
steve
FollowupID:
531982
Reply By: oldpop - Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 18:20
Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 18:20
Looks like its time to overhaul your front brake calipers
Regards
Oldpop
AnswerID:
269157
Follow Up By: Member - Troll 81 (QLD) - Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 18:25
Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 18:25
Hey oldpop
Is that a bitg job and big $$
FollowupID:
531984
Reply By: Member - Lance S (VIC) - Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 18:30
Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 18:30
Troll81, If u still have your old pads, check that they are wearing evenly and if so your calipers are fine but every time u change pads u should clean and regrease your sliders.
After checking all that i would get a balance, u might of lost a weight from your wheel, and while your there u might as
well get an alignment
cheers,
Lance
AnswerID:
269160
Follow Up By: Member - Troll 81 (QLD) - Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 18:33
Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 18:33
I don't have the pads anymore but I compared the front left and right and they were even. I have a feeling it's the balance but if that was the case I would have though I would get allot of vibration driving around on the steering wheel and all that feels normal
FollowupID:
531992
Reply By: oldpop - Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 18:32
Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 18:32
Troll 81
Depends a lot on your mechanical talents about 2-3 hrs per side
not sure on parts price but should not be more than $100 and a bit of brake fluid
regards
Oldppop
AnswerID:
269161
Reply By: Harrow - Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 18:45
Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 18:45
Hi Troll 81
2 suggestions
Check for even tyre pressures, though I suspect if this was a problem this would be visually obvious
Check for damaged brake lines either
Crushed pipe
Or
The flexable hoses sometime's deteriate internally ald restrict / obstruct fluid flow.
Cheers
Harrow
AnswerID:
269165
Reply By: 96 GXL 80 series - Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 19:13
Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 19:13
Check all your tyre pressures and change the two front tyres around, then see if it changes to the left re the pull.
If it does you might have what they call Tread Pull.
It might be a faulty tyre.
If this does not help I would get the disc's machined and check the pistons in the callipers and make certain they are moving in and out when the brakes are applied.
If one side piston is not releasing then when you hit the brakes it will naturally pull to one side.
Then if that is not the problem, I would look at your wheel alignment.
Check the tread wear on both front tyres and if the tyres were fitted at the same time they should be roughly the same in tread wear.
Also you can run your hand over the tread area of your tyre and if it feels eneven like sharp edges to the tread block, this will tell you that your wheel alignment might be out.
AnswerID:
269170
Reply By: Barnray - Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 19:22
Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 19:22
Forget wheel balance period. If the pads that came off are worn evenly should indicate that the callipers are Ok but in resetting the calliper's to fit the new pads may have caused a jam or seizure. what I would be checking is your rear brakes for problems. A simple test on a dirt road at low speed to find which wheel is locking is to brake hard until lockup of a wheel and then check which wheel is locking. If the steering wheel is pulled to one side it may indicate a wheel align problem as
well. barnray
AnswerID:
269172
Follow Up By: Member - Troll 81 (QLD) - Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 19:49
Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 19:49
Remember it started before I put the new pads on. Strange thing is that is only happens sometimes and seems to be only at high speeds. Tried it again driving home from work tonight doing about 60 and nothing happened......very weird
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Follow Up By: Barnray - Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 19:59
Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 19:59
When it happens is the steering wheel jerked about. Barnray
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Follow Up By: Member - Troll 81 (QLD) - Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 21:22
Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 21:22
No not that I can tell but I do have to steer a little to the right to keep it going straight
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Follow Up By: Barnray - Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 21:47
Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 21:47
Get the rear brakes checked. Barnray
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Barnray - Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 21:48
Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 21:48
Might be an idea to check rear
suspension component too. B
FollowupID:
532090
Reply By: Himble - Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 20:06
Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 20:06
No-one's mentioned anything abt the cylinder in the caliper assembly.
If you have a sticky one, it'll be struggling to apply correct pressure to the pads.
Cheers
AnswerID:
269181
Follow Up By: Himble - Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 20:20
Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 20:20
...what I also meant to say was that if it's pulling to the right, then check the LHS front assembly. Fine dust ingress, over time, can cause this condition.
Cheers
Himble
FollowupID:
532039
Follow Up By: Member - joc45 (WA) - Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 22:32
Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 22:32
I had this on a car years ago. Sticky pistons, most unpredictable when driving. Cylinders were aluminium alloy, pistons stainless steel. Took apart and found corrosion building up in the groove under the rubber seals causing uneven pressure on the piston. Cleaned out, fitted new rubbers, and liberally smeared rubber grease on the cylinder and piston between the cylinder seal and the outer rubber boot to keep out any moisture ingress. Fixed the problem.
Gerry
FollowupID:
532103
Reply By: BoldJack ( Penrith NSW) - Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 20:43
Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 20:43
G'Day Troll 81
I would check all the front
suspension mounts, bushes, bearings etc.
If something is worn or loose it could behave differently under varying conditions. When just cruising along components might settle in a preferred position under normal loads.
Now just think what happens when you apply the brakes. In effect you are trying pull your
wheels and
suspension backwards through your vehicle as tries to carry on going forward. Any wear or play will force your steering geometry out of the normal position during these loaded situations.
Hope this helps .
Cheers BoldJack
AnswerID:
269186
Follow Up By: Member - Troll 81 (QLD) - Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 21:25
Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 at 21:25
Thanks BoldJack
I took it to pedders a couple of months ago while it was happening and they did a steering and
suspension check and everything pulled up okay according to them
FollowupID:
532074
Reply By: AdlelaideGeorge - Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 08:07
Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 08:07
...
check the rear brakes! ...
check the rear brakes!...
Happy days
George
AnswerID:
269244
Follow Up By: Member - Matt (Perth-WA) - Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 11:58
Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 11:58
Cant believe it took 11 posts before someone said
CHECK THE REAR!!!!
Troll all the suggestions are valid but theyare AFTER you
check the rear...one rear brake pad or drum not operating as efficiently will turn your 90 deg when braking hard!!
Remember if the vehicle pulls to the side with the
GOOD brakes and away from the side that has less than good brakes.
They tend to not suddenly get good, they tend to get poor over time so there is a hint for where to look.
Guessing you have 4wdiscs so if the front calipers are free and you checked them when you changed the pads...then look at the rear for even pad wear. Eneven pad wear means the side with tthe most pad has the problem. (usually)
If you still have drums then look for leaking wheel cylinder...nearly always the culprit.
All the best and if you are not confident then get it to the servicing station for a
check up.
Matt.
FollowupID:
532153
Reply By: nthshorelad - Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 13:25
Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 13:25
have you checked the brake booster? sometimes a small leak in pressure can cause erratic brake function that you speak of
AnswerID:
269283