Car pulls to right under heavy breaking

Ok, so this past weekend at STPR, the rally bug was pulling hard to the right under heavy breaking. It wasn't too noticeable on gravel (except for one turn) but was very noticeable on pavement.

What should I be looking for?

I do have some brake pressure gauges I can screw into my bleed screws to check to see that they are equal, but it seems odd to me that one side would be getting less pressure than the other.

Could one caliper be sticking?
Rotor glazed?
Pads?

sumpin bent

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Suspension wise? Like a front Torsion Arm?

Car drives straight.

Suspension alignment issue, more contact patch on one side possible. Something bent as JV said. Usually it is from one side not working as well, caliper slides maybe. Rubber hoses can collapse inside , don't know about the braided kind. Does it dart left at all when the brake is released?

No, doesn't dart when brake is released. Just goes straight again.

Caliper is a 4-pot, no slides. I will probably take the calipers off and investigate.

Quote
johnhuebbe
Suspension wise? Like a front Torsion Arm?

Car drives straight.

John, when I've assembled customer cars (Saab 96s with good double A arm and 2.2 turns rack and pinion steering) after stitch welding and new arms and bushes and ball joints and set the toe by cross-eyed eye,

I've had cars be off--like to out---by 2" and way spastic camber/castor


And drive STRAIGHT>

Buit I've had bent or worse a little teeeeeeenie bit of sop in A arm mount and the fuckers would PULL.

Specially when its one side..

Brakes are powerful. Shit shows up under braking....

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

I'll look over everything.

Car 242? Saw a Beetle rally car heading I-271 south on Sunday.

If it's 4-pots it COULD be brakes if one of the pistons is stuck or sticking.

---

Pete Remner
Cleveland, Ohio

1984 RX-7 (rallycross thing)
1978
Silence is golden, but duct tape is silver.

Yes, 242. That's me.

Only rally bug I know of currently

Just did a brake job on my sisters 71 bus. Under braking it pulled hard left. Turns out the right caliper was stuck on and the line had collapsed. This caused only the left caliper to do anything. I was impressed the bus was able to do 50 with the brakes stuck on
It made for a few interesting moments while on a gravel road. It would almost pitch the van sideways the moment I stepped on the brakes, on pavement it had only a slight pull.

Are you running McPherson struts up front or the trailing arm torsion thingies?

Ball joint front end w/torsion arms

Get it off the ground on a hoist or on stands real good.

Grab a front wheel down on the bottom..... Put your weight into it... Side to side.... Do the same at 3:00 and 9:00..... Find what is loose. You should be able to feel the slop. If not have an assistant do the shaking while you watch. Something is moving.... is loose, bent or worn out. It is a rallycar... It all happens.

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JohnLane

Overkill is consistently more fun

Having worked on a 1/2 dozen Bugs, most of them off road cars, my guess is going to be one of the brakes on the left side, most likely the front caliper. It's probably sticking. Another clue might be seen with a temp gun, drive around a bit, get the brakes warmed up, then get out and see which corner isn't doing it's job, it'll be substantially cooler. Or, the right side is sticking a bit and when you apply the brakes, it's grabbing a whole lot harder than the left side. On a Bug, being so light, these type of issues get exaggerated.

-Jon

I remember when I first bought my Civic it pulled to the left under heavy braking. Turns out the idiot I bought the car from had a larger rotor installed from a Civic Si (10.3" on the left and a standard (9.5" on the right.

Not that that would be your problem, nor did what I say ad any help. Just wanted to share my story.

Quote
BillyElliot
I remember when I first bought my Civic it pulled to the left under heavy braking. Turns out the idiot I bought the car from had a larger rotor installed from a Civic Si (10.3" on the left and a standard (9.5" on the right.

Not that that would be your problem, nor did what I say ad any help. Just wanted to share my story.

thats pretty awesome.