Re: [DML] Front End Alignment & Brakes

[Doug Hornsby <govenorofvirginia@xxxx>]

Responses contained below....

--- Walter <Whalt@xxxx> wrote:
> Doug,
> 
> >#1 - My front end pulls hard to Right. Tire people
> >(with big machines) say the toe and camber are
> fine,
> >wheels are well balanced, but the casters are out.
> >One tire is in front of the other. Techie did not
> see
> >how to adjust this. How do you.
> 
> Does your car pull hard to the right all the time or
> only while you are
> braking?
RESPONSE - Car pulls all the time. Does NOT become
more pronounced while braking.

> From your symptoms, it sounds like you could have
> several separate problems:
> 
> Problem 1: Put the front of your car on jacks and
> see if you can giggle
> your tires forward and backwards. There should be
> no play this direction.
> If the connection is solid, then you might only have
> a bent front lower
> control arm (also called a 'lower link' part #
> 105177 in the parts manual).
> This would explain your caster problem, but I don't
> think it is the reason
> why your car is pulling hard to the right (when
> braking).
> 
> Problem 2: If you get fore & aft movement in either
> tire, then your front
> lower control arm is loose. Then your car could be
> pulling to the right
> (even while not braking) because your toe-in
> alignment is continually
> changing. There are a few things that can cause
> this. It could be the
> pivot bushing at the frame (part # 100154) or the
> anti-roll bar bushing
> (part # 108912). Also, there was a recall
> concerning the nuts that hold the
> anti-roll bar to the front lower control arm. 
> Perhaps the recall wasn't
> performed on your car and this part has loosened up.
> The threads on the
> ends of the anti-roll bar are supposed to be double
> nutted and painted blue
> (to more easily identify the recall). If your car
> is missing this, then
> also suspect that the front crumple tube recall
> wasn't done either. If this
> part comes loose while driving, then it would be
> very dangerous.
> 
> Problem 3: Your car pulling hard to the right (only
> while braking) sounds
> like a brake caliper on the left side is not
> working. Maybe it is leaking,
> seized up, has air in the line, bad fluid, etc. 
> Maybe a brake caliper on
> the right side is dragging to the point of
> overheating the rotor.
> 
> Problem 4: As for your brake pulsing, new pads
> aren't the cure. It sounds
> like you have a warped brake rotor. The way to fix
> it is to have a brake
> shop machine away the unevenness. But this makes it
> thinner and more prone
> to warping a second time. If you feel the pulse
> more in the steering wheel,
> then it is in the front brakes. If you feel it more
> in the body, then it is
> the rear brakes.
RESPONSE - It seems the whole car pulses. We shall
see.
> 
> Well, that used up my 1 hour for the day playing on
> the Internet. Until
> tomorrow...
> 
> Walt Tampa, FL
> 
> 
> 
> 
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