Alignment question

[vdaily89]

I just replaced the pads on all 4 corners and both front calipers. The vehicle is pulling hard to the right and has been for a while. The pads on the front left were all the way gone while not on the left side. Anyways, after replacing all the pads and the 2 calipers we took it to Big-O yesterday for the alignment. Well they had to replace a ball joint in order to allign it(passenger side). We got it back just before they closed. The vehicles allignment hasn't changed :fire: We went to eat last night & I drove the Explorer. It's just as bad as before if not worse. My wife is taking it back Monday. Do you think they just FORGOT to do the alignment or is there something else going on with my suspension?

 

[dogfriend]

If you are getting different brake pad wear on one side, I would look for a sticking caliper. That would make it pull to one side.

 

[vdaily89]

If you are getting different brake pad wear on one side, I would look for a sticking caliper. That would make it pull to one side.

That's what I thought so I replaced both front calipers before getting it alligned. It pulls all the time, not just when braking, but I changed the calipers anyway. I'm hoping they got in a hurry before closing and just didn't do the alignment.

 

[explrths]

DO the brackets move freely on the calipers? I had a stuck one on the right, and it pulled bad to the left when braking. The pads pinch down on the right do to a stuck bracket

 

[vdaily89]

DO the brackets move freely on the calipers? I had a stuck one on the right, and it pulled bad to the left when braking. The pads pinch down on the right do to a stuck bracket

Sorry to sound dumb, but what brackets are you talking about? The mounting bracket?

 

[explrths]

The bracket that the front pad sits into. It should press in and out. THere are two pins that slide. Mine were froze up.

 

[vdaily89]

Wife took it back to Big-O today. Turns out the front right tire is worn from it being out of align. They didn't drive it and didn't know it was doing it. They rotated and balanced the tires and now it drives fine. I haven't looked at the tire yet but the guy told my wife it should be good for another 10k miles and may even out (not counting on that). Oh well, all is good now I guess.

 

[ExplorerDMB]

tires can cause a pull, but a brake line could also cause a pull.

-Drew

 

[vdaily89]

just drove it and it handles much better. Guess the tire was the culprit. Oh well, new pads/calipers can never hurt.