Hey guys. I have a small issue with my car and I was wondering if anyone else is experiencing it. When I get hard on the brakes, with the clutch in or out, the steering wheel pulls hard (and I mean HARD) to either the left or right, but most usually to the right. But it only happens when under hard braking, like when someone pulls out infront of me or something, normal braking doesn't invoke this behavior. Anyone else have this problem, or is it just me? Any ideas on what is causing this, if there's a problem with the rack & pinion or something.

BTW: I have checked tire pressures and they all are within 0.4 psi of each other and within optimal operating range. So that isn't causing it.


Thanks in advance


Dave

 

You could have a sticking caliper or air in one of the lines.

Another possibility is a warped rotor.

Do you notice any pulsating?

 

^^I kinda was thinking that...but it should pull one direction all the time???

Alignment? Tramlining?

 

I doubt it's a sticking caliper beacuse then it wouldn't pull randomly, unless my mc is screwed up? No pulsating, and I just purchased the car, alignment is spot on. When I'm on the highway I can take my hands off the wheel (by the way, not recommending this!!) and it tracks perfectly straight. Any more ideas??

Dave

 

If it pulls to the right and left at different times, it is most likely tramlining. That is, following the irregularities in the road surface. Go the the Tech section of TireRack.com and read about it. Find a parking lot with a smooth service, hit the brakes with your hands off the steering wheel. I bet it doesn't pull under those conditions.

 

You might also have glazed pads on one side of the car, or mismatched tires, or a bad shock on one side. Don't neglect the back wheels either, under hard braking the rear suspension comes into play too. I had a Jeep that would pull hard to one side while braking and it turned out to be a rear wheel cylinder combined with a bad bushing on the front at opposite corners of the car.

 

My guess as well. Especially if you're still on the stock tires at 36000 miles or your pressures are too high.

Then again, it should be noticable driving down the highway without braking. I had to fight to keep my car straight on the highway when the stocks tires had ~ 22000 miles.

 

I'm with Go48 too

It's more noticeable when you're stopping than just cruising on the highway though...don't know why, I've just gotten used to it

 

Had a similar problem, wheel would turn under heavy breaking ... then I was getting a weird thumping sound after driving for some time at high speed. For a while I thought it was a problem with the tires, balance, alignment. It ended up being the caliper sticking. Had it replaced and no more problems =]

 

I got the same problem, but i found out because of the front tire is not balence,as in the US, right coner lot more than left on the street, the left front tire will goes faster, that's why when you hard breaking,it turns a little
change the front tire will help

 

In my experience tramlining is more pronounced under light to moderate braking. Under heavy braking the car hunkers down straight. YMMV but I'd be concerned about the braking system, or DSC/TCS.

 

Here's my suggestion list on possible causes:
1)Balance wheel
2)Alignment check
3)Caliper/rotor/pads
4)broken shock