Any debugging tips for brakes that pull car to the left?

Hello again,

i'm ironing out all probs on the baja before valla comes, and one in particular is the brakes pulling the car left. its definitely in the front (did a handbrake test :P). I have a 1969 with stock disk brake front.

Is there any tips for the debugging of such? its a newlie developed problem and feels as though its getting worse over time, and i'm a newbie to such probs.

all advice would be much appreciated 🙂. Thanks heaps in advance.

Hmm, i have a slowly deflating tyre on the left (as i fitted some new old rims) and it seems to be a porosity issue, i need to get a tube installed while the drivers side tyre remains high and mighty. i will reinflate and go for another test drive (its not fully flat, but was ok for a test drive after resetting torsion bars).

Could that be my problem

Wait.. nah can't be.. because without braking, it doesn't pull to left, it actually more goes right. (another problem to iron out, caused by an american LHD pitman arm and wheel alignment lol)

Brakes would be my first suspect.
It could be a sticking piston in 1 brake caliper, resulting in uneven braking.

Hi

A faulty brake hose will give the same symptoms, I don't think its a good idea to crimp brake hoses, this can lead to this sort of issue.

Steve

If it does it with equal tyre pressures then either sticking caliper piston, old degrading flex pipe or old internally corroded hard line from the MC.

Thanks guys, much appreciated. I will get stuck into it and eliminate the possibilities. 👍

bajachris88 wrote:Hello again,

i'm ironing out all probs on the baja before valla comes, and one in particular is the brakes pulling the car left. its definitely in the front (did a handbrake test :P). I have a 1969 with stock disk brake front.

Is there any tips for the debugging of such? its a newlie developed problem and feels as though its getting worse over time, and i'm a newbie to such probs.

all advice would be much appreciated 🙂. Thanks heaps in advance.

Hi Chris
Yes most probably a stuck piston in the caliper... which means no braking at that wheel whatsoever....

see if You can push the caliper piston in with a clamp
brakes unbolted but still attached to the car...

or faulty master cylinder... does fluid come out with the bleeded undone slightly and a push on the brake pedal??

I know it all comes down to money Chris..
I built My beetle over 10 years lol... [medical reasons really] but had lots of time to buy new brakes etc... hoses etc..
so it drove and stopped like a new beetle... which is pretty good..
beetle brake problems can drive You around the bend.. lol

even new parts and bleeding the brakes is usually a headache...

best of luck

LEE

PS: some one mentioned using clamp or vicegrips on brake hose..
this is OK if You are going to replace the hose later... lol.. LEE

Thanks Lee 🙂. will have a tinker. Hopefully she'll be running as smooth as silk when valla comes. The front calipers, disks and reservoir are the last original components of the brake system left appart from the long steel brake line that runs to the rear along the tunnel.

I have some money coming in a couple weeks and will put my order in after checking the lines.

then its time to hunt for a 1500 series pitman arm lol.

make sure there i no seepage onto the disc

Hi again
in My driveway, If I hit the brakes hard, all 4 wheels will lock up which makes it easy to see which wheels the brakes are working by the marks in the gravel...

thinking about Your problem..
one hit of the brakes will confirm whether its front or rear brakes locking up.. I'm pretty sure its the front though..

cheers

LEE