Pulling to the right while braking

Hello first time on Tacoma World. So I had an issue with my truck pulling to the right when I brake. I got it lifted up and noticed there was brake fluid splattered around the caliper area on the drivers side. I replaced the caliper and I still have the pull to the right side. I didn’t know but if one is going out the other isn’t far behind it so I haven’t replaced the passenger side one yet.

I also noticed some rubbing on the brake hose but I’m not noticing any fluid coming from that area but I plan on replacing those soon. Could the brake hose be exposed some way that it’s causing I pull as well? No new fluid that I can see after replacing the old caliper on that side. Is there any suggestions that anyone may have for me? My truck has about 114k miles on it.

 

you put it up on a rack yet to check your alignment yet? Caster being out of wack can cause a pull as well, make sure all front calipers are free and the pins the pads ride on are nice and clean for them to be able to slide. Mine pulls right when braking sometimes but i account my Rf caliper being newer and freer for that one. Im also on my original rotors at 139k so that could be something.

 

Did you also replace the brake pads when you replaced the driver side caliper? I’m sure the pads are shot afrer riding on brake fluids.

 

I just had an alignment a few months ago after new tires. They put in a tie rod to align it. I couldn’t tell to be honest now though. The new caliper is fresh but the old one looks as it should for how old it is. I wonder why it would be pulling to that side still after a new caliper is on the other?

 

Brake pads were replaced probably two months before I started having this issue. They’re still brand new

 

Pads are shot after being soaked and baked in brake fluids - this could be the cause of pull to the other side.

 

First I ever heard of that. How are they shot? What makes them that way when there’s plenty of pad on it? Just wondering

 

Some brake fluids on pads can be cleaned off but once it absorbs into the pad material it can lose its effectiveness.

 

I’m probably going to change some parts around it because they do need to be changed. If it’s still causing me problems, I’ll look into that. I don’t think it was saturated but could very well be the case. Thanks for the advice!

 

Could it possibly be the brake hose? Wondering if it has a crack toward where the clip is causing something to malfunction. I don’t see anymore leaks though.

 

Unless the hose is twisted and kinked then probably not, i agree with replacing the front pads because once its soaked, its done. Got too generous with the PB blaster while lubing my chain one time on my mountain bike and hit the pads. No recovering them after that.

 

Lubricant kills brake pads. They're supposed to grip not slip

 

I assume you bleed all the calipers and wheel cylinders for air bubbles properly after changing out the caliper?


Have you taken a look at the rear breaks with the drums off? while its the front brakes that are the usual culprits in these situations I think, its worth it to inspect and bleed all four brake points maybe?

Best of Luck to you! Brakes that dont work right can be a scary thing.

 

Drums only do 20% braking power here, they are usually a cause for a low brake pedal activation not really a pull, but OP you might as well open them up, brakeleen them down, and readjust them. Ive seen people get 150-200k off factory drums and shoes on our trucks

 

If its pulling only when braking, rotor might be warped as well.

 

This. Brake pads will absorb brake fluid, some claim you can (or could, in the old days, at least) bake it out, but it's not a chance I'm taking. If you catch it right away (like, you get brake fluid on a pad while working on the brakes) and solvent it off right away, sure, but other than that just replace them.

Pulling to the right on braking indicates the right side having more braking force than the left side. The left side pads got brake fluid on them. Sure, it could be something else, but trying to repair it without fixing the obvious first is... silly.

 

could be the rotor is glazed over on the drivers side also. that in conjunction with a oil soaked pad will reduce effectiveness of that side. air in the caliper also may be an issue.

 

Great advice guys. Thank y’all a lot! If it persists going to change it out this weekend.

 

Hello all, for what it’s worth, above very good advice from a „elimination trouble shooting“ approach. I went a similar path and actually replaced rear brake shoes and housing and went as far as new calipers, rotors and pads in the front (were original and wanted to avoid sticky pistons or such) braking wast noticeably improved. But the real issue was the driver side wheel bearing! It had enough play that under braking the truck pulled to the right - which was so annoying and of course unsafe. Glad I found the issue and now with new front wheel bearings (both) and all new brakes around- loving the truck again…