<VV> Pulls When Braking

[Ramon Rodriguez III]

Bill,

     This is a common symptom.  The first thing to check is brake
adjustment.  The self adjusters might be sticking but in my experience even
when they are working they don't stay as even as I'd like.  Clean and lube
the adjusters if necessary and manually adjust the brakes nice and even
(even drag when turning drum by hand) on each side.  Mostly it's the front
but I do the rear too while I'm at it.

     While you are in there check for any wetness indicating a wheel
cylinder leak.

     Lastly, if your flexible rubber brake lines are old sometimes they get
spongy and will expand more than they should.  I'm told this can also cause
the same symptom.  Usually a careful brake adjustment will make them 100%.

Ray "Grymm" Rodriguez III
Lake Ariel, PA
1966 Corsa 140 coupe (daily driver)
1965 Corsa 180 coupe (under construction)
1965 Corsa 140 coupe (for sale/under construction)
1963 Monza PG coupe (daily driver)
1962 Monza PG coupe (under construction)


On Sat, Dec 10, 2011 at 8:40 PM, Bill H. <gojoe283 at yahoo.com> wrote:

>                                               B"H
>
> Hi all...does anyone have any experience with their Late Corvair pulling
> sharply to the left or right when the brakes are applied?  After she sits
> for more than a few hours and you drive away and apply the brakes, the
> steering wheel SPINS to the left!  You fight the wheel to hold it straight,
> then the pull gets a little better, and sometimes it pulls a bit to the
> right when braking moderately to hard.
>
> When I got the car, I found out it had a bad master cylinder (the '66
> master was upgraded to a dual MC by a previous owner), so I replaced it.  I
> did the best I could to bench bleed the new master, but took it to a local
> Firestone shop to do the job right.  I told them the car is pulling, and
> also asked for a computer 4 wheel alignment.
>
> After 2 days in the shop, I got the car back, brakes were nice and high
> with no "sponginess," but the pull to the left and right continues.
>
> They refused to replace the front control arm bushings that I have because
> thei only use "their own" parts.  I've also noticed that the sway bar
> bushings are also not in good shape.  I think I can do the sway bar
> bushings myself, but the shop manual says the control arm bushings have to
> be done by a special tool to press the old out and the new parts into the
> rod.
>
> The brief check I did on the ball joints seem ok and so do the tierod
> ends.  I repacked the front wheel bearings as well.  the brake linings look
> ok and so do the drums.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> Thanks guys, much appreciated...Bill Hershkowitz 66 Monza Sport Sedan 110
> PG A/C
>
> --