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My Chevrolet Astro van consistently pulls to the left when braking. Consistently means: always, the amount is proportional to the pressure applied to the pedal. It doesn't pull to the side if braking with the emergency breaks, which only applies the rear drum brakes.

Background: I am an overlander currently travelling through Chile, South America. This includes a lot of bumpy, unpaved roads and highways.

The last brake service for the front brakes was performed 23000km/5 months ago. Only 3000km/4 weeks ago, the rear drum were replaced, and I verified that there is no pull at all.

About 1000km/2 weeks ago I noticed the pull and saw a brake specialist. He adjusted a loose castle nut on the front right wheel, but the pull persisted. He told me to drive on anyway (he thought it wasn't that bad) and told me that the pull would most likely go away over the next 1000km. Otherwise, he could only pull apart everything, but he advised against this, so I went on. It didn't change (not worse, not better).

Today I saw another mechanic. He tells me that basically all he can do is perform a brake service on the front and/or rear wheels (both ~30$), put the car back on the road and see if there's still a pull. He too told me that he'd probably just drive on, without me having demonstrated the problem.

To me as an engineer without much knowledge of cars, this service seems like random fiddling rather than a diagnosis approach. So, finally here's my question:

What are the chances that an ordinary brake service fixes a pull as described?

Should I do a brake service or continue driving? I don't mind spending money on maintenance, but not without reason...

PS: During normal city traffic, I have to steer right about 15° to correct for the pull. On a highway going 100km/h, braking without correction would bring me to a halt about 2 or 3 lanes to the left (I didn't try!)

Update: The mechanic pulled all 4 wheels. Calipers and pistons all work properly, nothing unusual and no leaks of breaking fluid nowhere. With these out of the question, where should I look for?

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  • I assume there is no pull while not actuating the brake? Could you check the tires for uneven wear? Did both rear drums got replaced?
    – Martin
    Oct 19, 2016 at 22:14
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    Sounds like a front caliper isn't working. Pull the right front wheel and see if the caliper slides freely and that the piston moves when collapsed back into the caliper.
    – Ben
    Oct 19, 2016 at 23:43
  • @Myself: No pull without breaking, no noticable uneven wear and yes, both drums replaced.
    – blubb
    Oct 20, 2016 at 12:49
  • Could you give us a photo of both front rotors? For a very rough diagnose you could also do a full braking (with moderate velocity) on a dirt covered area and look at the tire traces in the dirt. If three traces only show "smudged" traces and one trace shows clear tire profile imprints then the respective brake is not working at all
    – Martin
    Oct 21, 2016 at 15:01

1 Answer 1

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Have someone bleed the passenger side caliper. If there is air in the passenger side line, it will delay actuation of that caliper, causing the van to pull left when braking. A deteriorating/swelling brake hose on the passenger side will cause the same issue (but likely to a lesser extent than you describe).

Keep in mind that wear in your tie rods and other steering components will exacerbate any braking issues you have. In fact, if your van is heavily loaded in the rear, a worn idler arm will cause exactly the symptoms you describe.

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