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MG MGF Technical - Uneven braking

My 1997 VVC, when braking, has started pulling to the left. (When braking hard it stops in a straight line). I'd be grateful for ideas of possible reasons for this and remedies
Ron

Check obvious things like tyre pressures, tyre condition specially inside tread.

Mechanical things could be warped discs, wheel bearing going. tracking could be out due to ride height which could be worth check the car sits level.

The other answer could be different road conditions.

Hope this helps but am sure someone for technical will reply.

Tom
Tom Randell

Thanks Tom, tyre pressures etc are ok. I probably only use my car once or twice a week for short journeys and garage it for the rest of the week. I was wondering whether it could be anything to do with the brake calipers ceasing or something along that line?
Ron

I initailly thought that my brakes were pulling to the left but it turned out to be the power steering pulling to the left at a slow speed (when the assistnace is gratest). To see if this is the problem, on a flat car park, let the car slow down to a stop without touching the brakes and see if it's pulling to the left.









keith

Ron, your seizure hypothesis is a good one - and certainly ought to be investigated. The rear calipers are the ones most prone to this.

Also check out pad and disc rotor wear.

Other areas to look at are patterns of tyre wear - which may point to problems in the geometry set up.

What tyres are you using?
Rob Bell

I suffered from a seized rear caliper earlier this year. I do about 18000 miles a year and read in the archives that it's often because of drivers being easy on the brakes.
I do tend to use gearchanges and engine braking to slow down and tut to meself about other drivers that slam their brakes on or control their descent down a hill by keeping their foot on the brake but I'm wondering... all that kinetic energy has to go somewhere. Any thoughts on which should be the preferred style?
Steve Madden

Steve

Apologies for going a bit off thread.

It depends on who tought you to drive. At one time the preferred method was to brake on the engine because it was thought to save wear and tear, but current thinking taught by the IAM is you slow down on the brakes then change into the appropriate gear for your new speed. The preferred method for going down hills is to slow down on the brakes, then change into a low enough gear so that engine braking keeps you just within the speed limit, It's any comfort, similar arguments rage over whether to change down through all the gears and the use of "push-pull steering when correcting a skid.

I can't recall anyone ever advocating slamming on the brakes at the last minute, or even keeping yone's foot on the brakes at traffic lights, which are my pet hates.

Chris
Chris

Chris, when driving an Automatic, it is advisable to keep your foot on the brakes at traffic lights.
Mike.
Mike (Mersea Office)

"when braking, has started pulling to the left. (When braking hard it stops in a straight line)."
This is usually caused by brake pads not moving freely in the caliper, remove pads and clean debris check there is free movement of the pad in the caliper, remove any burrs on the locating lugs of the pads. HTH
mike

Cheers Mike, I spoke to a mechanic over the weekend and what he advised coincides with your theory
Ron

This thread was discussed between 12/11/2004 and 22/11/2004

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