Brakes pulling right badly

[thewrai6th]

I replaced the shoes on all four tires. Every time I have to hit the brakes suddenly, it pulls hard to the right.
The alignment is straight, the tires are new and full.
I have tried bleeding the lines. I have also tried adjusting the left side all the way tight and the right side way loose. Same thing, the right front locks up first no matter what I try.
Any suggestions?

[brichard]

had the same problem once and it was a collapsed hose on the opposite side that it pulled from
if it is pujlling left, check proper fluid flow on the right.
In my case after pulling both right and left hoses I couldnt blow thru the bad one and could the other.

[cdowns]

are you sure you put the shoes on correctly? one short and one long on each corner?

[mrein3]

If the brakes are pulling hard right, take a good look at the left side brakes.
If one or both are hung up, they will be dragging all the time which will cause them to fade. Then when you hit the brakes, you got nothing on the left and a bunch of brake on the right.

[69sixpackbee]

That is correct. The LOOSE side is the one that will grab first. So, if you think you have a pull from the right because the left is loose it is not the case. Loose side pulls.

Bud

[thewrai6th]

Thanks for the advice! I'm going to redo the adjustments tonight. FWIW, it happens the same cold or hot. I'll also check that I have matching pads on both sides. If that doesn't help, ill pull the brake lines and shoot some compressed air through.

[cparman]

Short shoe to the front, long shoe to the rear! I might suggest that while you have the drums off, you check to make sure that BOTH sides of the wheel cylinder are pushing out. I have seen a wheel cylinder with one side of the piston stuck. Brake hoses are also a culprit. Jack up the truck and pull the drums, check to be sure that the shoes are on right, check wheel cylinder operation, and after putting it back together, make sure that they are adjusted equally

[mrein3]

A really quick check would be to CAREFULLY touch the hub and or rim of the side that IS NOT pulling. If it is really hot, it is hung up. Being hung up you got no brake over there which then makes all the stopping on the other side - thus the pull.

Have you pulled the drums? A leaking wheel cylinder or axel seal will kill the brake on that side and make it pull the other way.

[thewrai6th]

Thanks for all the replies. The problem was two long pads on the right and 2 short on the left. No more pulling at all.

[vectorit]

With old drum brakes, I replace the WC's along with the shoes usually. They don't cost to much, and it forces me to tear everything apart and possibly find a busted or weak spring.

Also, like noted above already. Break lines... The rubber hose sections are cheap and easy to find, and really they should be replaced if you can not vouch for their age. (cheap insurance).

If you did all the good boy work of rebuilding the brakes, did you happen to pay attention to the backing plate wear pads for the shoes? If you don't know what they are... They are the raised section of backing plate that the shoe wears on, and over the years if not maintained a sharp step or burr in the metal can develop causing poor brake performance. If there is a step or burr, you can easily bust it off with a grinder or a file to make it smooth again.

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by thewrai6th

Thanks for all the replies. The problem was two long pads on the right and 2 short on the left. No more pulling at all.

I used to run into that on a lot of Nondays after a guy had tried to do his own brakes on Saturday or Sunday when I was doing brakes and front end work in a Firestone store. I usually got the "UH, we replaced the brakes Saturday and now they don't work right, can you fix it?".

Glad to see that you got it squared away ok.