Trouble brakes

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oltrsty

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Ok folks help please.I have a 1984 GMC 3/4 ton. Has a new master cylinder, and new calipers on both front wheels. Now the passenger side is grabbing and causing the truck to pull hard right. Any thoughts on a possible cause?
 

Ricko1966

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Probably the brake hoses,they swell shut on the inside. You can generate enough pressure to push fluid through,but the caliper can't push back.
 

Moodyalaskan

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Does the right side brake release when your brakes are released?
If so check to see if the left caliper piston is stuck. Sometimes it pulls in the direction of the brake that applies because the other side is not working.
 

Trucksareforwork

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Pulling hard right when braking or at all
Times? Check hoses. Check and ensure the calipers don’t bind on their pins / slides.
 

oltrsty

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Thanks you have given me lots of things to check.
 

Grit dog

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I’d say brake hose likely culprit as well. But describe the issue better. The info you provided is pretty vague.
 

oltrsty

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I first noticed this problem when braking hard. During hard braking the passenger side front will lock up to the point that it slides. When the brakes are released that side does not release fully. The truck has a new master cylinder and new calipers on the front, and one new wheel cylinder on the passenger side rear. My son and I bled the brakes again this morning and got no air at any of the wheels.
 

Ricko1966

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I first noticed this problem when braking hard. During hard braking the passenger side front will lock up to the point that it slides. When the brakes are released that side does not release fully. The truck has a new master cylinder and new calipers on the front, and one new wheel cylinder on the passenger side rear. My son and I bled the brakes again this morning and got no air at any of the wheels.
And it needs new hoses. You should probably bleed the brakes a couple of more times,change the wiper blades and gas cap lower the rear tire pressure. Then change the brake hoses.
 

oltrsty

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It has a new gas cap too. New brake lines next. Thanks guys.
 

Ricko1966

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It has a new gas cap too. New brake lines next. Thanks guys.
Hoses not lines. I suppose it is possible for a line to become restricted enough,but I've never seen it.
 

Grit dog

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And maybe hoses…lol.
But seriously, what did it do before new calipers?
And did this start right away or shortly after calipers?
How old are the hoses or how old do they “look?”
If it’s is a hose, do the rear hose too and the other wheel cylinder.
You’ll learn that with old cars, if one thing is “bad” the other similar things aren’t far behind. Way easier and sometimes cheaper to do it right rather than twice.
 

oltrsty

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I assume the hoses are original. The grabbing problem started before the new calipers were installed.
 

Sad Sack

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They're cheap enough, measure length, rotor diameter etc. and replace them and report back. If I was replacing calipers, hoses would be mandatory. Lots of variants out there.
 

edgephoto

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Hoses are original. Regardless if this is your problem or not hoses need to be replaced as a maintenance item. 5-10 years is all they are good for at best.

Never hang the caliper by the hose. Use a bungee or wire to hold it.
 

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