Truck pull is driving me nuts! | Ford Explorer Forums

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Truck pull is driving me nuts!

Afboy143

Explorer Addict
Joined
September 23, 2003
Messages
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City, State
Tampa,FL
Year, Model & Trim Level
1999 Ford Explorer Sport
Hey guys,
Shortly after I installed my new R1 Concepts rotors, my truck developed a pull to the right. I dont understand it and its becoming a money pit for me. I have

-Replaced both front calipers
-New pads
-New hydaulic hoses
-Switched sides of the rotors
-Installed new wheel bearings
-Installed new sway bar links
-Switched tires around

STILL no luck. I dont think its a brake problem because when I hit the brake, it doesnt pull to one side. Its driving me nuts!!! What else could it be? Could luck just put my alignment out of wack the same time I got rotors? Tie rod ends went bad? ahhhh
 



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if you take the tires and rotors OFF and spin the wheel and the pass vs. drivers side spins more freely or not as freely its deff not the rotors. but when you put them on i would check the spacing of the pads on the caliper and the caliper slides they may be getting hung up and not retracting the whole way causing the truck to pull. also maybe one of you calipers was damaged when you clamped them to retract the pistons for the new pads. i would switch the calipers and see if it pulls to the opposite side or not. that will give it right away for brake problems!
 






Both calipers are brand new and didnt require clamping. I installed them and still the same side pulls. Both wheels spin freely with the brakes/calipers off but when I put them on and apply the brake pressure, one doesnt spin as freely as the other. Its weird because when I brake, the truck doesnt pull to one side. It just constantly pulls to the right. The caliper slides are all new and newly greased. I am utterly stumped and its depressing
 






Just a thought; since the truck doesn't pull to one side when you break, it could be because both wheels are breaking equally, thus resulting in a straight stop.

I had a problem similar to yours where as one of my break hoses was separated inside the hose. When I applied the break, the hose "ballooned" on the inside thus not allowing for the break fluid pressure to release.

The results were that after breaking, one of the calipers stay applied and the truck pulled to that side. Eventually, the pressure slowly released and the truck straightened up.

If you raise both tires, apply and release the breaks, does both calipers release? If not, after the breaks are applied, turn the bleed screw and see if releasing the pressure releases the caliper.

If if does release the caliper, I'd bet you have a blocked break line or defective master cylinder.

Since you stated that you replaced the rubber break hoses, that eliminates that.

By the way, my defective hose appeared to be good, it was an inside hose defect so visually everything looked good.

You may have gotten a defective hose, but I don't think that's likely.

Good luck,
Blueraven
 






He replaced his hoses. It says so in his post.

I would have the alignment checked.
 






I would double check to make sure the wheel bearings aren't too tight. And make sure they are packed very well with grease. It could be that one side is too loose or the other way around. I had a similar situation in my explorer after having new tires put on and the alignment done. My alignment was way off, but still tracked straight. After the alignment it had a very slight pull to the right. Took it back to make sure everything was right and they redid the alignment and still had a very slight pull to the right. But your situation sounds like a wheel bearing issue to me.

Dan
 






My truck pulls to the left a bit, don't know why. Makes for an itneresting drive. I have to keep the steering wheel to the right just a bit for it to go straight. :D

-Marc
 






My guess would be the nut holding on the wheel bearing.

Did you torque to 20 ft/lbs loosen then torque to 20 inch/lbs. (I think thats the proper procedure). Even off the slightest bit will make a HUGE rolling resistance difference.
 






My guess would be the nut holding on the wheel bearing.

Did you torque to 20 ft/lbs loosen then torque to 20 inch/lbs. (I think thats the proper procedure). Even off the slightest bit will make a HUGE rolling resistance difference.

I torqued it to 20 ft/lbs but I backed it off, but I guesstimated on it. How would I measure 20 inch/lbs?
 












I torqued it to 20 ft/lbs but I backed it off, but I guesstimated on it. How would I measure 20 inch/lbs?

the only way i know of would be to go to autozone or the likes and pick up a torque wrench you can adjust it to whatever you want and it will click out and stop you before you over torque it.

Justin
 












Those things are junk. Spend some cash on good clicker torque wrench.

Home Depot has a good one for around $70 and it goes up to 250 ft lb.
 












I had numerous issues with my R1 rotors.

One of the issues was the hub height.

It was bottoming out on the center bore of the wheel.

It caused NUMEROUS issues with my Explorer. Driving, stopping, handling...

Check the wheel to hub clearance.

Ryan
 






I torqued it to 20 ft/lbs but I backed it off, but I guesstimated on it. How would I measure 20 inch/lbs?

You need an inch lb torque wrench. Ive heard 20 inch/lbs is "1 finger tight".
 






I had a bad pull and found a loose upper crontrol arm bolt, plus these are known for bad control arm bushings. I know it has nothing to do with brakes but worth a look?
 






I had a bad pull and found a loose upper crontrol arm bolt, plus these are known for bad control arm bushings. I know it has nothing to do with brakes but worth a look?

interesting, where exactly is this at?
 






I had numerous issues with my R1 rotors.

One of the issues was the hub height.

It was bottoming out on the center bore of the wheel.

It caused NUMEROUS issues with my Explorer. Driving, stopping, handling...

Check the wheel to hub clearance.

Ryan

I had a feeling this might be it, but i switched the rotors from side to side and still same thing?
 



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