Brake and frt diff questions

[svt4cam]

Greetings all, 2000 Explorer XLT auto 4wd SOHC 187,000 miles Did some searching around the site but didn't stumble on my exact problems. 1) Steering pulls to left when brakes applied. I replaced the front rotors and pads last fall and recently it pulls to the left under braking. It also liberally coats the left front wheel with brake dust where the right wheel has none. Both rotors are polished with pad contact and the right caliper pistons move in freely with channel locks. Does not pull when brakes are cold gets more pronounced after repeated hard stops. (maybe the left brake is fading because of heat?) I'm thinking of replacing the rubber brake hoses as I've heard of cases where they will internally deteriorate and restrict return brake fluid flow? Possibly left caliper is sticking? Problem 2) When I was doing the exploration today it appears the overflow from the front diff (mounted above frame rail on left side?) has been blowing diff lube. Was using 4 wheel high on the way to work on Saturday about 45 miles an hour and goofing around a bit on the side roads throwing it sideways and the like not very much screwing around though. To my knowledge it could be the factory fill just bought it last fall and had to drop a reman trans tires and tires and frt end parts on it. Was figuring on catching up on the diff fluids this spring. Any opinions on this one? Where is the fill plug on the front diff? Sorry about the novel, just figured it was better to give all the info from the start.

Thanks, Steve

 

[my pos mounty]

Classic example of your caliper dragging. That explains the excess brake dust and you mention the right caliper pistons can be moved with channel locks, but not the left. If the car is pulling left, look at the left caliper.

At a minimum, double check your front diff fluid level. If memory serves me, the plug is to the right of the driveshaft ??

 

[svt4cam]

I took the right caliper off because the pad retainer clip had come loose and was rattling around in there. I didn't remove the left caliper while I was screwing around because I don't have replacement parts yet and was just looking for something obvious. Have you had problems with the rubber hoses restricting caliper release or shoud i just replace the left caliper and see if that does it? I will have to get under there and deal with the fluid or possbly just take it to faslube and have them deal with it. Do you think it might blow out the overflow because the lube is degrading and things are heating up in there in 4wd? Nothing worse then laying on your back in a slushy garage. I'm to old for that crap lol.

 

[my pos mounty]

I took the right caliper off because the pad retainer clip had come loose and was rattling around in there. I didn't remove the left caliper while I was screwing around because I don't have replacement parts yet and was just looking for something obvious. Have you had problems with the rubber hoses restricting caliper release or shoud i just replace the left caliper and see if that does it?

I haven't had any problems whatsoever with the rubber hoses, however I have replaced all 4 of my calipers.
As far as the front diff, yep, what you said. Not really "degrading" per se, but good enough description. Im right there with you as far as laying on the slushy garage floor.
If theres a "fastlube" around you that can do it quick, go for it.

 

[svt4cam]

Thans for your help! Should I have any concerns over bleeding abs brakes? Any special tricks besides not breaking the bleeder screws lol. I do have a vacuum bleeder.

 

[my pos mounty]

My only suggestion (besides not breaking the bleeder screw) is to ensure the brake resevoir doesn't drip dry. Just keep an eye on it. If it does run dry and you get air in the ABS pump, I believe you will need a special tool. Some say you do, some say you don't. I say avoid the necessity. Love those VAC bleeders, got one last year and now I look back and wonder why I didn't get one sooner!

 

[svt4cam]

While I'm at it I may pick up new pads and rotors for the rears as they look like they will need some help by this summer. That way I can get a couple large bottles of synthetic brake fluid and bleed the hell out of things and get rid of the old fluid and hopefully prevent more caliper failures.

 

[my pos mounty]

Not a bad plan at all. Might want to think about slide pins and those rubber boots for them. Last brake job I did, all 4 sets were worn in a weird pattern so I replaced and greased them.