I have a 1986 Dodge W150 with a 318 and I need some help on a brake problem I am having. Hopefully someone can assist me. When stopping, the truck pulls to the right real hard and I can not figure out why it is doing that. Here is what I have attempted so far to fix the problem.
1. Replaced both right and left side rotors.
2. Replaced both calipers.
3. New brake pads.
4. Replaced both right and left brake hoses from caliper to hard lines.
5. made sure hard lines were not clogged or damaged all the way up to the proportioning valve.
6. Bled all four brakes, starting at the passenger side rear, drivers side rear then passenger side front and finally driver side.
7. Installed new brakes on the rear and adjusted them accordingly.
I do not think it is in the brake booster because it is a single line that is then split off to both sides.
Please help if you have any suggestions.
jmg86w150
Chump
04-18-2005, 02:24 AM
Did you rebuild the rear wheel cylinders or replace them?
Also are the rear drums cut oversize and are both sides cut the same amount..may be time for new drums? If the rear drums are cut uneven than one side will grab faster then the other. You also need to go through your front end and check ball joints, tie rod ends, etc, some shops will do this for free, just dont commit to having the work done.
When you replaced the front calipers did you lube all the sliding surfaces with a very thin coating of hi temp disc brake grease and/or did you replace the caliper mounting hardware kits?
Does the red brake warning light come on when you brake?
:)
Banfiadh
04-21-2005, 06:25 PM
This might sound stupid, I know you replaced the calipers, but is one of the pistons in backwards or wedged?
A pull to either side is generally a front brake problem.
jmg86w150
04-21-2005, 11:36 PM
1. I did replace the rear wheel cylinders on the truck.
2. I did hve the rear drums turned, but I have not confirmed that they are the same size. I will check that to see if they are within tollerance.
3. Your right about the ball joints, tie rod ends, etc it is probally tme to go through those as well.
4. I did lube all the sliding parts and also replaced the retaining hardware with the new ones that were supplied with the calipers. The calipers are OEM pieces from dodge and they came with everything I needed.
5. The brake light does not come on when I apply the brakes and they do not feel spongy or anything like that.
Thanks for all the tips. I will let you know what I find.
jmg86w150
Did you rebuild the rear wheel cylinders or replace them?
Also are the rear drums cut oversize and are both sides cut the same amount..may be time for new drums? If the rear drums are cut uneven than one side will grab faster then the other. You also need to go through your front end and check ball joints, tie rod ends, etc, some shops will do this for free, just dont commit to having the work done.
When you replaced the front calipers did you lube all the sliding surfaces with a very thin coating of hi temp disc brake grease and/or did you replace the caliper mounting hardware kits?
Does the red brake warning light come on when you brake?
jmg86w150
04-21-2005, 11:41 PM
I do not believe the caliper piston is jammed or install backwards. I have pressed the brake with the caliper uninstalled and the piston moves freely through it's full travel.
Thanks
This might sound stupid, I know you replaced the calipers, but is one of the pistons in backwards or wedged?
A pull to either side is generally a front brake problem.
ram_225
04-22-2005, 01:45 PM
if the brakes feel spungy and the brake lights dont come on it sounds like u might not have bled the brakes enough, and there could still be an air bubble, im not shure if that would cause ur pull to one side or not though.
jmg86w150
04-23-2005, 03:53 PM
I thought I had bled the brakes enough. I started in the far rear of the truck then moved to the driver side rear then to the passanger front and finally the driverside front. I will run through them again today to see if that helps and clears up the problem. Thanks.
Robbie
04-26-2005, 05:15 PM
Thats a lot of work. I've owned Dodge trucks all my life and have had brake problems, but what you did should have worked.
Check tie rods and drag link also (unlikely steering box) lift front end, center steering wheel turn each back and forth, is the resistence the same? I, at one time had deffective ball joints that made steering sticky in spots but not your problem.
