Front brakes pulling to one side.

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Peeps..On the way home from the fest i had to brake a bit heavy due to some dumbarse pulling in front of me while i was coming through London..The car pulled to the right, I didn't have to fight it but could feel it..Does this mean the left caliper is not working properly..I have a refurbed pair of original calipers but with a spacer so that they will take a vented disc..Now my question is are the vented discs the Granada mk2 estate type that also fit on with the 4-pot princess calipers?..

Also what are the better brake pads...Don't really want something too hard as i can't bear squeaky brakes....Cheers...Ziga

[V8 Fettler]

Check your anti-roll bar bushes and clamps. I 'ad a broken clamp that went through an MOT (so brake force was even), the car would be unruly under heavy braking. The clamp fell off when making good progress so the fault then became obvious.

[KKson]

Mark mine was pulling to right. ARB was fine but one of the pistons in left caliper was indeed seized. A strip , clean and new seals had them sorted. I've fitted Mintex pads which are just brilliant. Cheers.

[GV]

Uneven Tyre Pressures?

[carob]

Might be an idea Mark but probably wrong but you where carrying a fair old load on the way back home on Sunday, could have something to do with it.

Rob

[mrzigazaga]

Cheers chaps...The ARB bushes were okay albeit a bit tired when the steering rack was refurbed..I would of had the new bushes fitted if i hadn't left them all at home...Checked tyre pressure and tried it without too much crape in the car but its still the same..I guess it could be a sticky N/S caliper...I will order up some mintex pads and get the discs and new-ish calipers on...The rears looked ok and had plenty of meat on the pads, The discs looked okay as well...Cheers...Ziga

[V8 Fettler]

mrzigazaga said:

Cheers chaps...The ARB bushes were okay albeit a bit tired when the steering rack was refurbed..I would of had the new bushes fitted if i hadn't left them all at home...Checked tyre pressure and tried it without too much crape in the car but its still the same..I guess it could be a sticky N/S caliper...I will order up some mintex pads and get the discs and new-ish calipers on...The rears looked ok and had plenty of meat on the pads, The discs looked okay as well...Cheers...Ziga

It's the clamp that was the problem Zig, not the bushes

[mrzigazaga]

Hi mate..The clamps were checked also but i will have a look tomorrow..Thanks...Ziga

[superwedge]

yes zig,mk2 granddads disc are the one;s you need, i got the low dust pads in,96mm high

Edited by superwedge on Wednesday 11th June 23:35

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Peeps...Well my front brakes now pull to the left and i have limited braking on the O/S...Im about to order the discs but need a part number for the pads if anyone has one please...I have a pair of refurbed original calipers but with the spacer for the vented disc.
Cheers...Ziga

Are these the right dimensions for the pads?...

Pad Width 98.2
Pad Height 66.1
Pad Thickness 19.5

Edited by mrzigazaga on Tuesday 15th July 08:59

[KKson]

Mark for the standard calipers I did email you the Mintex 1144 part number the other week. Was this not what you were after?

[mrzigazaga]

Ahhh...Thanks for reminding me mate...I did recall someone sending me a part number and i had a look through my emails this morning but obviously couldn't find it....Which reminds me...I need to finish sorting out my email folders...Cheers...Ziga

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Peeps...Well i thought it best to whip the wheel off and check the condition of the pads and disc....What i found has baffled me...I pulled out a small piece of plastic bag that i remember running over..But it has managed to get between the pad face and the disc??...I didn't think it would of been possible..There was a piece at the back of the calliper so it may of entered there...Well i guess the pads are now contaminated so they will get changed, The O/S disc has a deep score in it also so that will get changed...In fact i may as well put the spare calipers on as it was pulling to the right before this...Very strange...Cheers...Ziga

[RCK974X]

Zig,

After finding a piece of plastic, then I wonder if you have a stuck or stiff caliper piston. Probably worth a check, as the seals do tend to harden over time, and that, with the muck that builds up, can cause brakes to pull to one side (The problem will be on the side to which it is NOT pulling, as that side is not doing its job properly.)

It's worth checking that the pistons move (relatively) easily in your spare calipers before fitting them, you should be able to push them back with thumb and fingers (not with all the holes sealed up !!)

I have had calipers refurbed before and the difference in braking response from the pedal can be amazing !!

Edited by RCK974X on Wednesday 16th July 00:15

[mrzigazaga]

RCK974X said:

The problem will be on the side to which it is NOT pulling, as that side is not doing its job properly.

Hi Andy....Originally i thought that the N/S was failing as it was pulling to the O/S..But now it is the total opposite which has confused me a little, I guess it wouldn't hurt to change the calipers...I will check the operation of them pre-fitment...Cheers...Ziga

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Peeps...Well i removed most of the plastic bag last night and took her for a drive today and the brakes are back to normal...There is plenty of meat on the pads and I'm not going to change them as the plastic has come off..It would be different if it was oil!!...However i might change the discs due to the heavy score in the O/S...Cheers...Ziga

[adam quantrill]

To be honest a bit of scoring doesn't matter.