Pulling to the Left

[cyrus]

So yeah I've got my drive axles replaced. Greased up the tie rod ball joints (I believe this is what they're called? Please inform me.) The pieces inside the dust collectors on the tie rod ends. So those are nice and loose. Retightened those. Had the lower control arm disconnected during install and what not so those couldn't have been damaged. Same with the tie rods. Disconnected during work.

Now the problem... When I'm going over 55, if I hit the brakes... It seems to pull to the left as if something was dragging... Kind of like something maybe is clogging the brake line on the left side? Or maybe an uneven wear? Possible rotors are goin to crap? I'm not sure. Ideas?

Also... another result of the repair... When I turn the wheel past half way, it pulls its self into the turn and i have to pull twice as hard to recover it to straight.

Ideas on these?

[fastivaca]

..tire pressure OK?

[phantorn]

may need to check the alignment with having the lower control arm disconnected one wheel may be futher forward than the other.I'll ask the front end guy tomorrow he already left for the day

[kzbill]

Maybe slow down and try to describe what you did do so far and how it was when you started. It is most difficult to diagnose on line anyway because so many people have as many descriptions.
It doesn't sound safe for sure. How are the front wheel bearings? they can cause it to auto steer if they are bad enough. usually the passenger side goes first. but who knows.

[cyrus]

well to redescribe..

i just recently replaced my drive axles. put new tranny fluid and an oil change. process is described above. it ran fine before. no steering issues. alignment was awful though. now, alignment is better now that i guessed at it and got it straight. only problem is when i brake. left pulling. doesn't make sense to me? haven't checked the pressure for a couple weeks but will do. wouldn't that make it pull all the time though? but yeah alignment check would probably help... i wanted to wait til i replaced the tie rod ends for that, though...

[jglutz]

Its probalbly not the lower control arm....if you left it attached at the frame....the knuckle end cann't go in wrong if the bolt installed easily.

If the problem only exist during heavy breaking (only?) its not an allignment problem, it is most likely the right break circuit

Will be easier to diagnose with more complete description of all driving conditions

Things to check for on the right break. No grease on rotor from previous service?....No Leaks?...does the caliper slide easily on the bolts if the pads where removed.

[cyrus]

okay more info again? lol

its left side that's odd... not on heavy braking... normal breaking dry surroundings no moisture in the air. happens at all hours. it was attached on the frame but disconnected at the knuckle. during work.

we also used brakleen or whatever its called and cleaned the rotors with this. would this possibly have any effect?

[kzbill]

Brake cleen should be fine. how did you check the alignment? string for toe in? camber? caster should be ok if arm wasn't bad? and did you check both front wheel bearings? The sticking of the steering, and the auto steering when in a turn still bothers me.

[Axlander9289]

Sounds like one of your front brake calipers may be dragging or locked up. Drive it for a while and check to see if one of your front wheels is hotter than the other. The hot wheel usually conceals a dragging caliper.

[festivaWES]

Check your brake pads maybe the opposite side is worn down pretty bad and there is more brake friction on the driver side. Thus when braking your drivers side brake pulls the car. Or it could be a seized caliper. This used to happen to my tacoma work truck all the time.

[cyrus]

thanks everyone. i'll check it out. i can't wait to just buy a festiva... lol

[festivaWES]

A little off topic but...

A while back on ebay there was a festiva for sale in colton for 300 dollars on ebay, i know its gone know. But there is an abundance of them to buy. I too was from cali and found mine in costa mesa after a year and a half of living there. There was also one for sale in fontana off of i believe citrus and the 10 fwy at a small car lot for 750.

I can set you up with a guy in corona who is looking to sell a aspire with a b8-me motor swap which is uncomplete, not smog legel. I bet he'll take 200-300 for it.

Also i remember there's where one is parked in sanbernadino at local repair shop thats been sitting there for a while they may sell it its off of waterman going north before mill or at mill. It's a blue efi 93. There's another up in sanberdoo at highland/30 and 12st or something, i can't remember the exact street, but i knocked on the door once to talk to the owner about selling it but never got a hold of them.

[phantorn]

check to make sure the caliper wasnt flipped causing a kink in the brake line,just a thought

[jglutz]

check to make sure the caliper wasnt flipped causing a kink in the brake line,just a thought

Brilliant!

[jglutz]

Sounds like one of your front brake calipers may be dragging or locked up. Drive it for a while and check to see if one of your front wheels is hotter than the other. The hot wheel usually conceals a dragging caliper.

Maybe...un equal heat indicates a problem...but the draging wheel may not be functioning at all...thus the cooler