I have drums on all four corners and just about the entire brake system has been replaced with new components. I am getting brake steer to the left every time I use the brakes somewhat 'hard'. I think that it may be caused by the adjusting wheel assembly being installed backwards but am not sure if that is the cause.

I have re-adjusted the front brakes so that they both have the same number of turns 'out' on the adjusting wheel. In other words, they are equally adjusted and the shoes are in excellent condition. On the street (after the adjustment), it works for a few days and goes right back to brake steering again. Any ideas to correct this hickup.

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70' Malibu - 383 Stroker that loves Dental Gas! Chevellz Alwayz!

Usually you can rule out adjustments with this problem. What may have happened is that one of the shoe sets has become contaminated with grease, oil or brake fluid. Identify the culprit brake (usually providing too much grip) by heavy braking that will lock the bad brake. check the inside of the drum for contamination and fix the source. Unfortunately, new linings will be in order for both wheels at that end of the car.

Any possibility one of the wheel cylinder pistons is iced up and stuck? This type of drum brake problem is a real bear to track down sometimes. tom

Thanks for the feedback guys...the shoes are in excellent shape (appear to be anyway) and the drums were turned about 2,000 miles ago so I don't 'think' that is the problem. Also, the wheel cylinders were replaced last year and are not leaking any brake fluid at all.

Essentially, just about every component is new on the front brakes with the exception of the backing plates. I may go ahead and replace all front brake shoes to see if that improves anything - maybe I got a shoddy set of shoes - I just don't know.

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70' Malibu - 383 Stroker that loves Dental Gas! Chevellz Alwayz!

Wes, your front brake hoses are new too right? I have seen old brake hoses collapse and restrict fluid flow which usually causes the oposite brake to grab or pull first. One more thing, Are you using stock wheels or mags or other?.......GT

GT, that is an interesting thought, and no, I did not replace the now 30 year old hoses when I went through the brake system. I think I will go ahead and replace them and see what happens.

When stock rubber brake lines collapse as you said, can you visually inspect them from the outside to see whether or not they have collapsed or would the defect take place inside the hose where it could not be easily seen?

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70' Malibu - 383 Stroker that loves Dental Gas! Chevellz Alwayz!

Forgot to answer your second question: I am using Weld wheels right now but this condition also occured before when I was using the Corvette ralleye wheels. How do you think wheel style would affect this condition?

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70' Malibu - 383 Stroker that loves Dental Gas! Chevellz Alwayz!

Something I have wondered myself. The brake line runs from the drivers side, across the engine bay to the right side. Could the motor or exhaust be heating up the fluid in the line causing the left brake to work better and therefore pull left. My car pulls sometimes too. I have considered using heat shielding on the brake lines.

Just a thought

I had a similar problem with my 68. The culprit was the wheel cylinder. The car had bee driven about 100 miles over the course of two years. Moisture formed in the wheel cylinder and the cylinder piston couldn't expand properly, which made the car pull to the opposite side.

Tires, steering and brakes are three areas that are of utmost importance. I bought brand new wheel cylinders for all four brakes. (If I were to keep the car, I'd convert the front drums to discs.)

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Robert

www.classiccarlot.com (http://www.classiccarlot.com) (15% discount for my fellow Chevelle owners!)

Wes, not too long ago I had a similar problem as yours while working on a 69 Camaro with front drums, the hoses looked ok from the outside but one was blocked inside. And about the wheels, I haven't experienced this problem with a factory wheel but with some of the mag wheels you have to be carefull ,SS Cragars for one, Sometimes magwheel mounting flanges will hit on the drum brake balancing weights not allowing the wheel to sit flatly against the drum. This distorts the drum when you tighten down the lugnuts and causes all kinds of eratic front braking, pulling, shimmy. Doesn't sound like it is your problem though if it did it too with the factory ralleys, but I would at least try replacing those original front hoses, can't hurt, they are due anyway.......GT

Here is another thought???
Based on your comment:"
On the street (after the adjustment), it works for a few days and goes right back to brake steering again."

If the problem goes away after you manually adjust the brakes, then comes back in several days, have you checked the "self adjusters" ??? Sounds like one is working and one is not !!!

Bill

I had a similar problem with my '69 Chevelle. It was the adjusters. They looked okay but something was out of wack and the adjuster allowed the star-wheel to back off, and when you stood on the brakes somewhat hard I could hear the adjuster skipping over the star-wheel! Replaced components and problem was gone. Also, don't overlook slop in the steering (i.e. tie-rods, drag-link, steering box, etc..). When you are running down the road everything kind of finds a happy medium where rolling down the road slack is taken up in the form of 'toe', but when you step on the brakes for that finite amount of time the wheels shift due to that free-play.

Bill, I think you may be on to something there because those little adjusters have not been replaced (yet) and yes the problem does clear up a bit after I re-adjust the brakes but then comes back after maybe 20 or more miles of driving.

Here is a question though...if a self- adjudter say has gone bad (and I do recall some of the teeth on that wheels' adjuster appearing damaged), how exactly does it not do its' job as opposed to working properly?

Hmmm...I think I may have just answered my own question here...does it not adjust to brake wear as it should normally, thereby causing the brake steer condition due to too much play on that particular brake?

As it turns out, the self adjusters and the brake lines have not been replaced so I plan to get new items for both of these - soon.

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70' Malibu - 383 Stroker that loves Dental Gas! Chevellz Alwayz!