Ford Ka Steering Pulls Left + Burning
Discussion
Hi,
My mums 1999 Ford Ka is pulling to the left (i.e. slacken grip on the wheel and it snatches left). There is also a rumbling noise from the left of the car (to my ears anyways) and a burning smell. Took it for a spin today and the brakes are pretty awful - I realise Ka brakes are not meant to be the best but surely they should at least lock the wheels (non ABS car - and I was stamping pretty hard)?! The car has done little over 15k miles...
I think it might be a binding caliper but could it be anything else? Maybe the brakes are so poor through boiling fluid?
Any help, ideas, opinions of all it could be would be appreciated.
Cheers
My mums 1999 Ford Ka is pulling to the left (i.e. slacken grip on the wheel and it snatches left). There is also a rumbling noise from the left of the car (to my ears anyways) and a burning smell. Took it for a spin today and the brakes are pretty awful - I realise Ka brakes are not meant to be the best but surely they should at least lock the wheels (non ABS car - and I was stamping pretty hard)?! The car has done little over 15k miles...
I think it might be a binding caliper but could it be anything else? Maybe the brakes are so poor through boiling fluid?
Any help, ideas, opinions of all it could be would be appreciated.
Cheers
Edited by mark_mcd on Saturday 11th October 15:25
Could be anything, if she's clouted a kerb and knocked the steering alignment out.
The CV joint could be knackered
It might have a plastic bag wrapped around the driveshaft
As for the ABS, it depends how fast you're going, much over 10mph i wouldn't expect to in a crap car.
How old is it, ideally the brake fluid should be changed every 2 years because it's hygroscopic (it absorbs water)
The CV joint could be knackered
It might have a plastic bag wrapped around the driveshaft
As for the ABS, it depends how fast you're going, much over 10mph i wouldn't expect to in a crap car.
How old is it, ideally the brake fluid should be changed every 2 years because it's hygroscopic (it absorbs water)
As I said car has no ABS. Have never driven a car where you cannot lock up the wheels under heavy braking!
Just jacked the car up and the wheel on the 'loud' side spins just a freely as the other wheel. Tyre wear seems slightly uneaven on the outer side of the wheel (no doubt related to the pulling to the left...).
It is just the burning smell that concerns me as I cannot seem to find where it is coming from. Can't find anything stuck under the car i.e. carrier bag etc.
Just jacked the car up and the wheel on the 'loud' side spins just a freely as the other wheel. Tyre wear seems slightly uneaven on the outer side of the wheel (no doubt related to the pulling to the left...).
It is just the burning smell that concerns me as I cannot seem to find where it is coming from. Can't find anything stuck under the car i.e. carrier bag etc.
Drive it around for ten minutes or so and touch your hand on the outside of the wheel (carefully because it might be hot). If the brakes are binding, you'll feel a noticeable difference between the two sides. Binding brakes could ultimately lead to brake fade or complete brake failure so not something to ignore. If it isn't coming from the brakes it's more worrying because the next suspect would be a hose or wire dangling on the exhaust, and that could potentially lead to all sorts of problems including a major fire.
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