I've got a 69 convert that pulls real hard to the right under braking. I changed the wheel cylinder in the front left thinking that would fix it and it did not. Any suggestions on what to do next?
Try changing the flex hoses, they can look good on the outside but have defects on the inside. Did you check the right hand wheel cylinder? If it's leaking it could cause the shoes/pads to grab. Check the drum/shoe clearance, to much on the left and too tight on the right may cause pull to the right. Check for cracked drum. Check wheel bearings. Check rear brakes as well.
Is this somethings new that has developed or a problem that has existed since you got the car?
this too...new problem , or new car to you? if car is new to you, check frame...might be bent...but if its something that just happened...wheel cylinders, if drum brakes is often culprit...if it pulls one side, maybe other side is leaking and spreads pluid over brake drum?
Take your car to reparable brake specialist and have him diagnose your entire brake system and get a quote. Then decide what you can do yourself and what to have done by professional.
We can help you with the removal, installation and the parts to buy.
Better than "hit and miss" method that can take longer and cost you more in the long run.
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When my car pulled right (when I had 4 wheel drums) the right side wheel cylinder had been leaking and expanded the shoe friction material causing that side to be too tight, thus the pull.
[quote=Dr. Drivability}....Or are we just playing a game of "parts shotgun?"[/quote]
Come on Dr! That's what we do here. ... keep recommending different parts be replaced so we can keep our parts venders in business. Didn't you get the memo?
But seriously, I think there is little harm in replacing a few 50 year old parts every now and then.
I too had a very severe pull to the right which developed literally over night...hard enough to pull the car off the interstate had I not been at least semi-alert. (front discs) My brother recommended changing the soft lines, which as far as I could tell were at least 30 years old. It resolved the problem.
Last edited by Bronze Bird; 08/31/1808:20 PM. Reason: because I can
I'm a hobbyist. Not a professional. Don't be hatin'!
So far I have changed both front wheel cylinders, and completely cleaned up all 4 drums. It still pulls hard to the right. I am going to check/change the rear wheel cylinders.
Take a good look at the brake hoses exspeacialy where their crimped They might be swallowen around that area if they are their bad You can also jack up the front end and shake the front end down Looking for a tie rod that may be bad or idle, pitman arm And so on while it’s in the air you can have someone in the car and lightly hit the brakes or stand on them and see which front brake is grabbing or not grabbing
Is this something that just happened overnight or something that’s been gradually been happening and getting worse
Honestly the car has sat in a garage since 2006 and was just givin to my wife from her mom. It was her Dads who passed away. Didnt take much to get her running. Changed all fluids, plugs and wires. Now looking at brakes. Thinking front disk at some point. Also want to do a new intake so I can put a 4brl on.
So far I have changed both front wheel cylinders, and completely cleaned up all 4 drums. It still pulls hard to the right. I am going to check/change the rear wheel cylinders.
What about the front shoes or adjustment of the shoes? If it has sat for any length of time 20 bucks for a set of shoes is in order, hoses are not a bad idea either.
When I replaced my entire power steering system a few years ago, it did the same thing as well as front brakes locking up way to easily. Somebody recommended that I replace the Proportioning Valve and re-bleed the system, and that fixed it immediately. Not sure if it was the valve or the re-bleed. After replacing all of the power brake and power steering parts and pieces under the hood I knew something would go wrong.
'68 428 HO M3 Monster, 4-on-the-floor! Need I say more?