when braking hard vehicle pulls to left and all brakes are slow to release
2003 ford f150 2wd, Initially I replaced the front brake pads and the right abs sensor, After about two months now if you brake hard it pulls to the left and the brakes are slow to release, So I replace the rotors since I had them turn twice already and replaced the calipers and pads again and flushed the system, no codes. But still have the same issue.
My car has 135000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi there. In most cases, when the car pulls to one side due to braking, it’s caused by a malfunction of the caliper, a warped brake rotor or brake pressure being too high on one side. I can also be caused by brake pad misalignment. The best way to correctly diagnose this problem, you might want to contact a professional mobile mechanic and have them complete a brake system inspection at your location.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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Brakes. If your car pulls to one side when you brake, this is likely to be a problem with the braking system. A sticking caliper or a fault with a wheel cylinder can cause a brake on one side to grab harder than that on the other so that the car veers to one side.
The most common causes of your brakes not releasing is a seized caliper or brake pad. This typically occurs due to rusting or ageing. Typically, you will notice your vehicle pulling to one side when you press down on your brakes.
Worn out or Mismatched Brake Pads. A truck`s brake pads are positioned on the axle and generally wear out simultaneously. However, there are also instances where brake pads wear down at an uneven pace, making some brakes less effective than others. The result is a truck pulling to one side when the brakes are used.
The Air Pressure in Your Tires Is Inconsistent
Tire pressure fluctuates as you drive, and sometimes one tire will have less pressure than the others. If you find your car pulling to one side, the first thing you should do is check your tire pressure and add more if necessary.
Keep in mind that pulls during braking can come from the front brakes, rear brakes, and sometimes, not from the brakes at all! Loose or worn steering or suspension components can also cause a pull. A pull that happens abruptly can be caused by loose suspension components.
The classic symptom of a failing master cylinder is a brake pedal that “dives” or sinks slowly to the floor while pedal pressure is being applied. Another sign to look out for is any leaks around the master cylinder. If a seal is worn out, it may leak past the seal and onto the pushrod that attaches to the brake pedal.
Air in the brake line(s) is the most common cause of a soft/spongy brake pedal. If air gets into the brake lines, it can prevent brake fluid from flowing properly, causing the brake pedal to feel spongy or soft. If the brakes are soft or spongy, this is a good time to change or flush the brake fluid.
There are several other possible causes of a vehicle pulling to the side, including a bad wheel bearing, worn steering linkage, an uncalibrated steering angle sensor, or a worn tie rod — all of which are difficult to diagnose on your own and could be dangerous if left unattended.
One of the most common reasons why your car pulls to the right is the uneven air pressure in your tires. A tire with lower pressure on one side of the vehicle has a different height which causes the wheel alignment to shift. Under-inflated tires have an increased resistance to roll, which amplifies steering pull.
If you are holding your steering wheel straight, yet your 2021 Ford F-150 is pulling to the right or left then you need an alignment. Uneven wear and tear of your tire tread means your 2021 Ford F-150 has an alignment issue.
Fuel injectors may become dirty over time and not be able to provide as much fuel to the cylinder as is needed. Dirty fuel injectors may cause the engine to run lean which will in turn, cause hesitation when accelerating.
Severe, irregular or uneven tire wear can cause a vehicle to pull to one side. If you have a newer tire with more tread on one side, particularly on the front of your vehicle, and an older tire with much less tread on the other side, the tire with the newer tread is going to grip the road better.
In short, no – you cannot continue to drive with a damaged brake caliper. Doing so can be extremely dangerous for both your vehicle and the safety of yourself and other road users. If you choose to continue driving your car, you could cause your brake pads to suffer additional damage.
Corrosion of the guide pins which allow the caliper to move freely as the brakes are applied and released can cause the brake calipers not to release. Another cause of a brake caliper not releasing can be if the caliper housing is not aligned properly.
Problems With Brake Rotors
If your steering wheel shakes a lot while you`re braking, that could mean that your rotors are out of round. In other words, the rotors have started to wear out, lose their shape, and become warped.
The most obvious reason for your steering wheel vibration is warped rotors. When drivers push down on the brake pedal, pieces of metal called brake pads compress against the brake rotors to create friction which will then bring your vehicle to a stop. If you want smooth braking, you need a smooth surface.
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when braking hard vehicle pulls to left and all brakes are slow to release
ANSWER : Hi there. In most cases, when the car pulls to one side due to braking, it’s caused by a malfunction of the caliper, a warped brake rotor or brake pressure being too high on one side. I can also be caused by brake pad misalignment. The best way to correctly diagnose this problem, you might want to contact a professional mobile mechanic and have them complete a brake system inspection at your location.
When I put my foot on the brake my back left brake light goes off, when I take it off the brake the brake light comes on
ANSWER : I would suggest trying to disconnect and reconnect the wiring to the rear lights. I have seen these older Toyota vehicles rear lighting short out on the lights themselves due to the way the light circuit was made on the lamp housing. Look at the housing circuit on the light to see if one is touching another, and that could tell you why it is malfunctioning. There could also be a problem with the brake light switch. If you are not comfortable dealing with wires, I recommend getting in touch with a certified mechanic who can look at your brake light issue for you to see what’s going on.
Pulls left when brake apleyed have replaced ho front brakes calipers and lines still pulls left no air in sistom
ANSWER : I would need to know if the ABS or Check Engine Light is on? If it is, then it needs to be addressed to see if anything is causing the ABS control to engage and cause the pull for some reason.
If no lights are on, then I would say to check when you drive slow and lightly touch the brakes to see if it is pulling to the left. If it pulling during light braking, then you need to have the right front brake caliper and rubber hose checked and the left rear brakes checked for the same thing.
The rubber hose may be damaged internally and little or no pressure can pass to the caliper. This can be checked by bleeding the brakes and if little or no pressure gets through the right caliper then suspect a bad brake line on the passenger side front. A certified mechanic from YourMechanic can diagnose why your car is pulling to the left and make sure that the correct repairs are made.
I replaced the brake light switch. Gear lever unlocked because it had locked. Now the brakes feel hard.
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. You need to check the brake switch install adjustment. You may have the switch adjusted too tight and it is holding the the brake pedal partly down. This will cause the brake master cylinder to not release the brakes when you let off the pedal. Readjust the switch away from the pedal until you feel some free play again in the pedal. This should fix the problem. If you would like help, consider having an expert automotive technician from YourMechanic come to your home or office to inspect and diagnose this issue for you, and make or suggest any repairs as needed.
EPC light on 2004 Jetta. Code said brake switch faulty, but brakes lights worked. Replaced brake switch, now no brake lights.
ANSWER : Hi there. The first thing that pops in my mind beyond of what you have listed is perhaps the electrical harness attached to the brake switch. Perhaps the harness itself is damaged or you have an exposed wire, loose ground wire somewhere. You might want to have a professional mobile mechanic come to your location and complete a brake lights not working inspection to help you diagnose this issue.
Low brake pedal and anti-lock brakes are not kicking in.
ANSWER : The brake pedal is working to stop the vehicle, but there may be air in the controller unit causing the ABS brakes to not function. I recommend bleeding the brake system from the farthest location from the master cylinder to the master cylinder including the ABS unit. If the brakes are still spongy after a full bleed, then the controller will need to be replaced. If you need further assistance with your brake pedal being spongy, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Hard brake pedal and rear brakes locking up.
ANSWER : Hi. I will help you with this issue you are having with your 2001 Durango. Unless you bled the master cylinder, it is possible there is still air in the system. If you car is equipped with ABS, air could have also gotten trapped in the ABS modulator. If ABS equipped, a bi-directional scan tool would be essential to manually activate the ABS system to clear air from that segment of the lines while you are bleeding the system. It is also possible that in all of this work somehow the proportioning valve has been affected causing the desired pressure differential, front versus back, to get out of spec. Using a 2,500 PSI gauge, you can check the pressures at each wheel and that will definitely give you a clue as to which brake circuit is the issue (or both), whether the proportioning valve is working properly and whether the line pressures at each wheel are within spec. Should you need a second opinion, by all means feel free to contact YourMechanic for assistance and we will diagnose and repair the issue for you.
Brake sensor is to sensitive causing brakes to flicker while driving. 2005 Mercury Montego
ANSWER : Hi there – your brake light switch needs a minor adjustment. It is adjusted too "tight" or close to the brake pedal lever, or possibly has failed. Adjusting/replacing it will eliminate this flickering problem. I recommend a brake light isn’t working inspection performed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, and give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.
