Brake pull to the right

I am the owner of a 1992 CMC. It has over 22000 miles and the donor was a 1973 IRS bug as best I can tell. When I test drove the car it had a sharp pull to the right when the brakes were applied. Foot pressure is solid. The front calipers were replaced and there was no change. The left front disk seemed to have light contact. New front hoses were installed, left caliper removed and reinstalled and pads moved from side to side. The the whole system was bleed. The back drum brakes appeared to function ok with no leaks. When operating the emergency on a straight away there is no pull. Tracking seems to be ok with a very slight drift to the right based on normal highway design.

Since I am determined to get to the root of this problem I have continued to test and have found that when in a slow speed left turn the right pull is present as well as in a straight line stop. In a slow right turn, however there is no pull. Does this lead to a front end issue? Does any one have any suggestions to solve my problem?

Are the bleeder screws positioned at the TOP of the calipers on BOTH sides?

The rear drums must be adjusted manually, and can cause the car to pull in one direction or the other. Also, if one of the rear axle seals leaks grease into the drum, that side will not brake well, causing the car to pull. However, that shouldn't apply to an IRS car. I'd check the adjustment first.

Leaky wheel cylinders will contaminate the linnings..... If a simple adjustment doesn't correct the problem, its time to pull the drums for a look / see....

It doesn't sound like a front end problem unless it has a strange setting for camber on the left side (That's the only thing I can think of in front that might make it pull under braking).

So, if it's not that, it sounds like rear brakes and the problem is NOT on the passenger side as applying the brakes normally makes it pull right so THAT side seems to be OK.

Several things to check in order of preference:

1. Pull the left brake drum and check condition of the shoes and wheel cylinder. Also make sure that the star adjusters at the bottom turn OK so you can adjust them. Re-assemble and torque the hub nut to 230-250 ft lbs. Then, adjust the brake shoes using any decent repair manual as a guide. I adjust them out until they just begin to drag, then step HARD on the brake pedal a few times to re-center the shoes in the drum and re-adjust, repeating until it's consistent, then back off 1 adjuster swipe on both star wheels (about 1/8 turn on the star wheel) so the drag juuuust stops.

BTW: It's possible to adjust the rears to get a different "feel" (or pull) between the pedal and the e-brake pull, just because of the design of the rear brakes. It is what it is..... but mal-adjusted rear brakes can really make it pull to one side.

2. Replace the flex hose on the driver's side rear wheel - they tend to collapse or crud up over time and it may not be passing adequate fluid to do the job. Re-bleed after replacement (I prefer a power bleeder, but you can do it just by pumping the pedal with an assistant).

3. Is the RIGHT rear wheel turning freely? Does it drag at all when turned by hand? It may be adjusted too tight.

4. Are all of your tires inflated to the same pressure? Especially the same left and right?

That's all I can think of. If 1-4 don't help, then I would have the front camber checked. If camber is slightly negative on the left compared to the right side, it will pull very gently to the right w/o brakes, and pull more once the brakes are applied, but check 1-4 first.

Thanks for the responses. Let me try to respond and answer some of the questions posed.

There are 2 bleeder screws, one the top and one on bottom of each of the calipers. Fisher Buggies Caliper #FPD113615107/8B. A check yesterday indicated both disks seem to be working and smooth.
The rear drums are clean of any grease or brake fluid.
All tires (which are new have 30 lbs of air).

My next step is to check the rear brake adjustment and then order 2 new rear cylinders and brake hoses.

I appreciate your suggestions and will let everyone know of my progress.

Whatever else you do, let some air out the tires.

X2. I run 18lbs in front and 28lbs in back.

Yep, I'd drop the pressures a bit. Sure is handy having two bleeders on the calipers. That way you always can bleed the one that's on the top!
Let us know how you make out!

~WB

I think the two bleeders are so they don't have to do different calipers for left and right. One works on either side, use the top bleeder.

My Ghia calipers only have one bleeder and the left and right are different.

I had problems with mine pulling to the left. Tried everything to no avail. Nothing like hitting the brakes for the first time and rocketing over to oncoming traffic...
Then we discovered someone plumbed the master wrong. Perfect now!

Hmm, good one Bill! One of the front brakes went to the rear port on the master? Or something like that.

Make sure the upper and lower trailing arms are not bent. Seems like that should be checked. Swap calipers L to R and see if it pulls the other way. I had a rear frozen caliper once on a Corrado. The brake pull would make you change lanes at speed!

Put Speedy on a lift today and checked the rear brakes. Very slight adjustment done, but probably wasn't necessary. Still pulls to the right when braking, but while up in the air (on an alignment lift) I sat in the car and moved the steering wheel while the mechanic watched the parts move. It seems that right outer tie rod end as well as left inner had excessive movement. I will be ordering the appropriate tie rod ends and hope my problem will be solved. Will up date in a few weeks after the parts come in and are installed.

hi steve,you ever drive to miami beach ? let me know.

Appears my problem has been solved. The right outer tie rod end was worn and after replacement the pull was 99% gone. The left inner was also bad, but the specs called for a right thread and mine ended up being a left thread so have re order. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Hey Steve,

Thanks for taking the time to let everyone know the solution. It helps all of us to see the problem, listen to potential solutions, and then hear what solved it.

^^^