Brakes Pull to right when applied hard: corner balance?

[tortuga]

Calipers all good, pads all new, did repair to rh cv's but didn't change anything, also adjusted rear ride height, wondering if getting corner balance wrong might over/under weight a front wheel causing over/under adhesion while braking? It's not horrible but definitely there...

Thanks
Steve H
SPF 1764
Alameda Ca

[Jim Vander Wal]

Steve,

Corner balance - maybe, but it would be hard to identify on dry pavement at more normal speeds. If you were on a track running hard or in the rain then I think you'd notice.

My guess is most cars do not get corner balanced and could easily be a fair ways off and owners don't notice a change or imbalance in braking. I doubt that the average street car fresh from the factory is corner balanced.

I'd guess that there's another issue specific to the brakes. Bedded in well? Just change after the last bit of work? Irregular road surface/level during your experience where you noticed the braking balance or pull? Could be alignment too.

Resolving this will be educational and frustrating. Been there, didn't like it either.

Jim

[t walgamuth]

I bet one of your calipers is not 100%.

[redmt]

delete

[tortuga]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I bet one of your calipers is not 100%.

Long story but they are all four new...

[Grubby]

I agree with above comments. Seriously doubt corner balance would be noticed on the street.

My money is on brakes not bedded correctly or completely.

Do a series of 40mph to near zero stops as quickly as possible w/o locking the brakes. Do this until you notice significant brake fade. On a family car it is less than 10. On my ERA cobra it was closer to 20. Then keep driving to let things cool down before coming to a complete stop.

Most people don't think bedding is important. A lot of times isn't, but sometimes it is the difference between brake pull or not.

John.

[tortuga]

Originally Posted by Grubby

I agree with above comments. Seriously doubt corner balance would be noticed on the street.

My money is on brakes not bedded correctly or completely.

Do a series of 40mph to near zero stops as quickly as possible w/o locking the brakes. Do this until you notice significant brake fade. On a family car it is less than 10. On my ERA cobra it was closer to 20. Then keep driving to let things cool down before coming to a complete stop.

Most people don't think bedding is important. A lot of times isn't, but sometimes it is the difference between brake pull or not.

John.

Thanks, Ill give it another try...I just was doing it until it stunk

[Tom Kirkham]

Did the pulling start after changing or fixing something?
How are the suspension joints?
Tire air pressure same on both sides?

[jhv48]

I’ve noticed that my right front wheel locks first on a hard stop if there is no passenger in the car. Definitely corner weights are off at that time.
However, both fronts lock simultaneously if I have a passenger that weighs around the same as I do.

Try it with a passenger and see what happens. If that cures it, and if you do most of your driving solo, then you should corner weight the car for proper balance. I drive 99% of the time with a passenger, so mine is setup for that. If I drive solo, I have to remember that the right front will lock first if I have a panic stop.

[Jim Vander Wal]

Steve,

OK, new calipers and pads. Got it. But, are the calipers and by extension pads parallel to the rotors? Your old ones were bedded in simply through use, the new ones may not be. This MAY cause a lack of parallel mating surfaces possibly on one caliper, i.e. the one that seems to not be working as well and then a difference in clamping areas.

My experience with Superformance cars (1855 & 2584) and other cars in general is that perfect doesn't exist. I had to shim the bracket on one corner of 1855 to get the mounting plate parallel. This may not be the problem but if it was out far enough it might cause a problem. I checked this with depth mic through the caliper mounting holes and measured to the rotor surface. I made an assumption that the caliper was good and my methodology was sound, perhaps not safe bet but still...

A lot depends on usage and expectations. More aggressive driving will force imbalance to appear.

Hope you get it worked out w/o going beyond the normal cobra crazy.

Jim

[t walgamuth]

Stiff springs will make the car more susceptable to locking one as it will not transfer weight as much.

I still suspect caliper over corner weighting. Just because they're new does not mean they cannot have a flaw.

[tortuga]

So I cleaned up the rotors with Garnett paper, brake cleaner, paper and brake cleaner again...did the bedding proceedure until I felt some fade, last couple hard stops WERE straighter!

Jim believe it or not I checked with the depth end of my digital calipers and they were all pretty darned parallel...

JHV
Yep that's what happens, I'm not light my sailing friends like to point out that I am an eith of a ton, I'll try with my little wife holding a hundred pounds in her lap...ha ha

Thanks for all the thoughtful and insightful comments

Steve H
1764

[tortuga]

So I cleaned up the rotors with Garnett paper, brake cleaner, paper and brake cleaner again...did the bedding proceedure until I felt some fade, last couple hard stops WERE straighter!

Jim believe it or not I checked with the depth end of my digital calipers and they were all pretty darned parallel...

JHV
Yep that's what happens, I'm not light my sailing friends like to point out that I am an eith of a ton, I'll try with my little wife holding a hundred pounds in her lap...ha ha

Thanks for all the thoughtful and insightful comments

Steve H
1764

[t walgamuth]

Originally Posted by tortuga

So I cleaned up the rotors with Garnett paper, brake cleaner, paper and brake cleaner again...did the bedding proceedure until I felt some fade, last couple hard stops WERE straighter!

Jim believe it or not I checked with the depth end of my digital calipers and they were all pretty darned parallel...

JHV
Yep that's what happens, I'm not light my sailing friends like to point out that I am an eith of a ton, I'll try with my little wife holding a hundred pounds in her lap...ha ha

Thanks for all the thoughtful and insightful comments

Steve H
1764

Fixed or floating calipers?

[Snake2998]

I had this happen once and the hose on one side had swollen shut - don't think it's your problem but if all else fails check it.

[tortuga]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

Fixed or floating calipers?

As per title

[t walgamuth]

Thanks!

I'd suspect one puck sticking. Might be detectible difference in wear on the pad.