93 Sierra 1500 pulls left when braking

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swapdip

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Hey guys I got my Sierra about a week ago, and I have been chasing down a brake problem ever since. About the truck, it is the 5spd 2wd 4.3 engine with a 3 inch lift and new 235 tires from the PO. It pulls to the left when braking to the point that I need to compensate with the wheel every time I brake a little, or a lot. Also my pedal is a little mushy. Here is how I have been chasing it:

Bled brakes on passenger side front and rear, no effect
Inspected front brakes. Pads are good, caliper boots present and intact, caliper is not hung up, no scouring or warpage to the rotor
Inspected rear brakes. Pads are good. Blown brake cylinder! Replaced that, but no effect. Made sure to fill brake cylinder before installation, bled everything really well, no effect.
Went for a short drive and took the temperature of each front brake caliper, found that the front passenger side was about 10 degrees F cooler than the driver side. Rear brake drums were approximately equal, maybe 1 degree difference.

One other note, when I brake the rear driver side will stop REALLY well and screetch, not sure if that is b/c the rear passenger side is not stopping as well, or maybe just because the bed is empty, or what...

I feel like I am getting conflicting information here. The driver rear will lock up easily but produces about the same heat as its counterpart, while the front passenger is cooler than the front driver, altho nothing is hung up there and it seriously looks like a perfectly clean and functioning caliper. I don't think I have ever owned a caliper so clean.

So what do you guys think I am missing here? I assume there is some mechanical adjustment for the rear drums, and on the off-chance that the rear driver side is overtightened or whatever, wouldn't I feel it dragging or squealing while coasting? Truck drives straight down the road and does not pull when not braking.

Thanks in advance
 
you wrote "Bled brakes on passenger side front and rear, no effect". I'm not trying to poke fun but when you bleed brakes you start furthest from the master cylinder and work to the closest. In other words start at the Pass. rear, then Driver rear, then Pass. front and finally driver front. I sish I could help you more, but brakes are not a strong point for me and i'm sure someone here knows alot more about them than me. Good Luck
 
Thanks for the input I usually do bleed closest to furthest, however my suspicions were that there was a bubble in the caliper itself or the brake cylinder on the right side. Since the left side was functioning fine, bleeding that side would have done no good. Youre right when you change a master cyl or have other brake failure further up in the line you bleed near to far, however for localized problems I have always bled locally. At least, that's my understanding.

I think this weekend I am going to flush the brake system and then I will bleed it near to far, perhaps there is a piece of gunk or something in the line. I'm out of ideas tho besides that.
 
ok you could have a # of diffent problems.
Left caliper over working or right caliper under working. Brake pads frozen in caliper mount not allowing caliper to apply brake presure. Frozen caliper sildes.
Bad brake hose on right or left.

Suguest taking front brakes apart and make sure every thing slides free and lube parts as needed.

then if you still have problem check front end a really bad ball joint will cause same problem.
Now if all above is good go by a caliper i would start with a left but it's a 50 50 chance. Then if needed by a right one. good luck

ok as far as rear brake locking up (left rear) bad wheel cylinder (frozen on one side?) can do this. oil or brake fluid on thje shoes. Or e brake not letting shoes sit corectly on backing plate. Or brake adjustment to tight or to louse.

Good luck
 
Thanks great advice I took both calipers apart and they slide perfectly, clean pads, I am pretty sure the left drivers side is adjusted too tight I am going to dig into it when it stops raining, check out the ebrake too.

Thanks again
 
I'm thinking you're on track pulling the rear drum. It should have an auto adjuster. Occasionally the adjuster over-tightens the shoes.
 
brakes

I'm supposing you have rear drum brakes and am thinking you're on track pulling the rear drum. It should have an auto adjuster. Occasionally the adjuster over-tightens the shoes.
 
Don't discount a bad tire as the reason for pull. Swap tires front to rear and see if the problem is still there.

I seen this on a HD truck once, when braking it would pull to the right. Rotated the front tires to rear and the pull was gone. Checked the tires and discovered the customer was sold 3 load range E tires and one load range C tire and that tire was on the front.
 
Thanks guys turns out the PO over adjusted the drivers side brake cyl, it was a bear to get the drum off but I got it right and we are stopping good now.
 
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