on the pull

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Suzette Bullock

on the pull

Post by Suzette Bullock »

The Capri, not me! It keeps pulling sharply to the right when I brake. I've had the car checked and the callipers are in full working order and it has had new brake pads/discs all round, but continues to pull/judder. Could this be the brake hoses? Can I get them from Joe Bloggs the motor factors or does it need to be a capri specialist?
Suzette Bullock
Noel Reeve

TCA bushes probably

Post by Noel Reeve »

I bet the wandering is caused by the bushes on your Track control arms. If they are worn (as almost all will be on any Capri now, due to their age), then the fron suspension geometry is not maintained when under corning and braking. When braking, the wheels will tend to be pushed backwards, which is usually controlled by the conntection of the anti roll bar to the TCA, but if the bushes are worn this movement will be greater and hence you get the unwanted steering effect.

The bushes are not expensive at all, even if you go for polyeurathane ones (which are firmer than rubber). Removing the anti roll bar to fit the new ones will be a bit tricky, because it's under constant compression. You need a couple of people on the job and a lot of heaving!
guitarswet
Posts: 334
Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:23 pm

on the pull

Post by guitarswet »

I have had this problem in the past and it was corrected by removing the callipers and cleaning them thoroughly with lots of wire wool. The brake dust over the years forms a very hard crust on the metal to the point that your brake pads only just fit in there. Once cleaned, the pads go back in and are actually quite loose! It will surpise you!

A few other suggestions are: always use good quality pads such as Ferodo or Mintex. There is no need to buy 'competition' strength ones as they will simply wear out your discs very quickly. When you reassemble the pads smear copper grease on all moving surfaces tacking care not to get any on the pad iteslf. This will stop the brakes squeeling. You will find replacing the brake hoses with stainless steel braided hoses (from the Capri Club) will improve the 'feel' of braking but I doubt if it will solve your problem.

At the end of the day if your car is pulling hard under braking then one of your brakes is working harder that the other and this is due to either jammed pads or a sticking piston. If you want to test this then drive down a quiet road and brake to a stop. Touch the the front discs and you may find one is significantly hotter than the other. They can start to glow in the dark if it sticking very badly.
Jon B

don't overlook the obvious....

Post by Jon B »

Why don't you go down to one of the "quick fit" garages and get them to give you a free brake check ? Even though you've had new discs put on, you may find that the right hand side disc is warped (if the car pulls to the right) or the person that fitted the disc may not have cleaned the right hand side hub mounting face properly causing excess run-out.
Were the wheel bearings tight when the tracking was set? If not, the tracking may have been set incorrectly, or may be the reason for the vibration.
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