ALT-1 Potential Repairs Needed if the Car Brakes Pull to one Side
There is nothing quite as scary as driving along on the highway and finding out that you don’t have any brakes, or that they are not working to their full potential. When driving and applying the car’s brakes, if the car pulls to one side, then there could be a few minor, or even major problems with the car’s front end, the tires, the suspension or the brakes, or any combination of them. For any problem involving a car’s brakes, that car should be serviced by a professional mechanic, at a reputable service center.Even if a car’s brakes appear to be working fine, they should be inspected by a reputable mechanic at least twice a year. This can be done while the car is having it’s twice-a-year oil and filter change, as a braking system inspection is usually included with the servicing of the car’s oil, steering, transmission and other fluid systems. It is a very inexpensive method to give the driver peace of mind that their brakes are working properly and to their utmost performance.When applying a car’s brakes, and the car pulls to one side, the potential problems and required fixes could be, but are not limited to;· Tire inflation. One of the more common problems that makes a car pull to one side, while driving, when applying the brakes or not, is having tires inflated to different pressures. Proper tire inflation is extremely important for driving, especially for highway driving, as the faster a car is driven, the more extreme the problem will appear, and the more important it becomes to have properly working brakes. Having one front tire inflated less than the other front tire could easily cause a car to pull to one side when the brakes are applied. In order to fix this problem, check the PSI (pounds per square inch) pressure in all tires. The proper tire inflation pressure should be listed on each tire, and on the car’s front door sticker.· Leaking fluids. When a brake gets wet from a brake fluid leak, the pads, or the discs (dependant upon the type of brakes on the car) will not apply as much stopping power to the car’s tires. The wet pads (or drums) will slip against the rotor, and the opposite side’s tire will apply full pressure to that brake, causing the car to veer to the side that has the corrupt brake.If a car veers to one side or the other when applying the brakes, it is extremely important to have that car serviced by a mechanic at a reputable garage, as it could lead to complete brake failure. If there is a leak from the brake fluid causing the car to pull to one side when the brakes are applied, then the brake lines are corrupted, through rust or other damage, and need to be replaced.· Bad, broken or corrupted brake pads. When a brake pad is broken, the pad will grind against the rotor, causing that side to pull heavily on the car’s trajectory. If there is a shaking feeling when applying the brakes as well as the problem of the car pulling to one side, then the brake pads need to be replaced.Brake pads should be replaced at least once a year, and more if the car is driven frequently. It is relatively inexpensive to have brake pads replaced, and, when doing so, a complete inspection of the car’s braking system will be performed, assuring that the brakes will work properly and fully when applied.· Bad rotors. When rotors are rusted, or have any surface problems like pitting, the brake pads will not apply the proper pressure to that side’s tire, and the car can pull to that side. Again, have the brake pads replaced at a reputable garage. When the brake pads are being replaced, and the inspection is performed, the rotors are one of the first things that the mechanic will look at. Purchasing premium rotors will make for a much better braking system, and ensure that the car’s brakes will work for a much longer time between servicing.
