Truck Pulls To The Left When Heavy Braking - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

zsmith29 · #1 03-23-2009, 10:39 PM

I know I know.
This is a Mercedes Diesel forum but I have joined all of the other Dodge Cummins forums and I cannot seem to get reliable info.
All they are interested in is getting a bigger, taller, faster truck to make them feel bigger, taller, and faster.

So to the problem. When I brake the truck heavy at stoplights it wants to pull very hard to the left.
My friend/mechanic tells me that it might be a stuck caliper.
Does this make any sense?

Thanks Guy's for all the help with the 300D.

tbomachines · #2 03-23-2009, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zsmith29

I know I know.
This is a Mercedes Diesel forum but I have joined all of the other Dodge Cummins forums and I cannot seem to get reliable info.
All they are interested in is getting a bigger, taller, faster truck to make them feel bigger, taller, and faster.

So to the problem. When I brake the truck heavy at stoplights it wants to pull very hard to the left.
My friend/mechanic tells me that it might be a stuck caliper.
Does this make any sense?

Thanks Guy's for all the help with the 300D.

Could be and sounds like it, you should probably take off the wheel and take a check under there. Check for uneven pad wear, especially if you've replaced them recently. Might as well check up on all the other brake components too, replace them if necessary.

zsmith29 · #3 03-23-2009, 11:17 PM

Yeah.
I don't think it is anything big but I thought it would be worth bouncing it off of you guy's to see if you had any advice.

By the way, I was very suprised to find out that the guy's on the other car forums are not as polite and helpful as you all. To be honest w/ you I am not sure if I would have bought the truck if I knew that.

This forum has saved my thousands of dollars in repair costs.
Rock-n-Roll

daw_two · #4 03-23-2009, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zsmith29

I know I know.
This is a Mercedes Diesel forum but I have joined all of the other Dodge Cummins forums and I cannot seem to get reliable info.
All they are interested in is getting a bigger, taller, faster truck to make them feel bigger, taller, and faster.

So to the problem. When I brake the truck heavy at stoplights it wants to pull very hard to the left.
My friend/mechanic tells me that it might be a stuck caliper.
Does this make any sense?

Thanks Guy's for all the help with the 300D.

LOL......yeah, I'm a member of cumminsforum.com now.....and I hear what you are saying.

#5 03-23-2009, 11:42 PM

I agree, the people on this forum seem to be the most level headed and polite that I have seen. You can get real honest answers, with no bull.
As far as your truck pulling to the left, you might check your pads to see if your not worn down to metal. Did you buy the truck new? I have had problems before where a guy wore the pads down so bad, that the rotors had massive grooves in them. Instead of replacing the rotors, they salp some new pads on and call it a day. Later down the road, one side will pull more than the other due to the grooves. Just an idea, not a certain answer. Stuck caliper seems possible too. Either way, I agree with the comment on some guys making their trucks taller, faster, and bigger. Are they compensating for the smaller "parts" in their life? or what? I like my vehicles pretty much stock.

Oracle12345 · #6 03-23-2009, 11:59 PM

stuck caliper would be a good place to start. brake pads have nothing to do with a car pulling to a side when hitting the brakes btw.

pulling to one side means the oppoiste side is stuck.

jplinville · #7 03-24-2009, 01:14 AM

I've dealt with dodge trucks for many years...i am willing to lay money on a brake cylinder.

BobK · #8 03-24-2009, 07:28 AM

quick inspection of both sides will probably show left pads very worn and right side looking great. If so, try to push the pistons on the right side back into the caliper. If they move, look to see if the caliper was binding somehow (pads will probably be worn more toward inside/outside or top/bottom. Yeah, I hate when my car changes lanes just because I stepped on the brakes. Some places are nicer than others. Shame, we all need information/help from time-to-time. The wealth of knowledge and wisdom on sites like this is huge. This site, the MBCA site and the old Suburban forum have saved me a pile of money and time over the years. Plus, it's a neat bunch of folks here. I mean, where else can you go to ship a cat - safely!

#9 03-24-2009, 07:36 AM

I would check your calipers if the problem isn't there your brake fliud might have gotten contaminated.

fruitcakesa · #10 03-24-2009, 08:30 AM

My Cummins was pulling and smelling like hot brake pads and sure enuff drivers side caliper was stuck. Not worth repairing as a remanned one is $40 from Napa.

jubjub · #11 03-24-2009, 09:01 AM

Broken record here. stuck caliper. Happened on my 01' 2500. Fix it soon or you could damage the sliders. On second thought, have someone else fix it. As soon as you take it apart, you'll see what an inferior design it is and start cursing the Dodge engineers

euronatura · #12 03-24-2009, 12:52 PM

Though stuck caliper on the opposite side could be the culprit, and most likely, but you are need to check:

1) Alignment - if the car is out of alignment, when braking hard it can cause it to pull to that side.

2) Steering and suspension parts, check this also, worn out parts in this area can also cause it to pull to one side at heaving braking.

3) Master Brake Cylinder, depends on how it is broken down, in other words, does it have one hose/pipe for each wheel coming from the master cylinder or the distribution box (sorry do not know another word for this) but you can have a master cylinder that does to a distribution thingy, and that could be the culprit cause the brake fluid does not flow evenly or correctly to all tires

These are just a few of other possible culprits. You did not mention the year or make.

Regards,

Iggy

zsmith29 · #13 03-26-2009, 07:58 PM

Wow,
Thanks for the help Guy's.
What do you all think about the Brake Shops that claim, "Free Brake Inspection"
Is it a scam or what??
I was thinking that at the least I could take a look under there the easy way.

MTUpower · #14 03-26-2009, 08:22 PM

How to check for a stuck caliper? After driving for some time when you park it touch the front rims- if one is very hot, or hotter than the other one- that one is "stuck". My wagon pulls to the left, but I do not have a stuck caliper. The right one is slower to engage somehow. I found another one in the yards here. BTWyard prices for all used parts have risen quite a bit lately.

jplinville · #15 03-26-2009, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zsmith29

Wow,
Thanks for the help Guy's.
What do you all think about the Brake Shops that claim, "Free Brake Inspection"
Is it a scam or what??
I was thinking that at the least I could take a look under there the easy way.

For the truck? sure, why not?