Help! Rotors or Pads?

[redoctober2]

I have had a somewhat ongoing problem with my front brakes on my 2001 4X4 Ranger Edge. The brakes pull badly to the left especially when applied quickly. I almost had a head on with another car when a large doe ran in front of me when I was going 60. I hit the brakes and was pulled into the opposite lane. The pads are new and were replaced hoping that would fix the problem with it appear it hasn't. I believe it is the rotor on the left side as my aluminum wheel is always black with what I believe to be brake pad. Sound correct? and if so, should I replace just the left side or both? thanks~

 

[97ranger4x4]

You should replace both sides at the same time. Even if the right rotor looks good, always replace both. That way, they should wear evenly

 

[3 of 7]

It may be time to check out your callipers, the one on the other side may be seized and not working...
They are pretty cheap to replace.

 

[SoLongStang9499]

Chances are your front passenger caliper is seized, and the front braking is all going to the left side ( most likely why its pulling to the left). With that said, 85+% of your braking is done in the front, where the weight is, so id get it fixed, because theres a good chance you have compromised brakes.

 

[thegoat4]

A bad tire can cause the same kind of hard pull when braking. Swap your front tires right to left and left to right. If you then pull the other way, you need tires. Or just rotate them to the rear and see if that settles it down enough.

 

[valleyvinyl84]

I gotta say ditto on the caliper. It's not like it's a rare problem.

 

[cocoasranger]

It's very common that when new pads are installed on old calipers there may be one or both seizing up shortly. This is because when the caliper pistons are retracted to make room for the new thicker pads, the piston is forced back into the part of the bore which is corroded and gunked up from not having the piston moving over it since it was new.

That's why when I ran a brake shop I always recommended calipers, rotors, pads, and hardware when doing brakes. It virtually eliminates comebacks and is what I do for my own vehicle.If you have a crash due to faulty brakes, the money you saved by swapping pads only suddenly does not seem as important.

 

[Earl43P]

It can also be a bad flex line, acting like a check valve - not releasing pressure. If so, that side will be hotter in the center of the hub than the other side after a drive (yes, a bad caliper will have the same result).

I'd see how hard that side is clamped to the rotor when you try to remove the caliper. Was that side harder to push the piston back in? Did you clean and grease the slider pins under those rubber boots?

I'm just posting because I've seen a few calipers replaced that turned out to be bad flexlines. I would NEVER replace a caliper without installing a new flex line.

 

[97ranger4x4]

how is the best way to test for calipers going bad? my truck pulls a little to the left when I brake but only on certain occasions. I think it has more to do with the surface of the road than the calipers, but If I can check easily then why not?

I replaced my rotors and pads last Spring. I have never done anything to the rear brakes

 

[redoctober2]

Thanks folks, I was kinda leaning towards the caliper to begin with and it makes sense. A quick check of prices shows that I can replace my calipers and rotors for roughly $200. This baby has 163, 000 miles on her and she has served me well. I need to take good care of her so I'm gonna do both sides.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

The caliper itself is seized or the slide pins are seized in the caliper brackets.

 

[TechmanDan]

Brakes and dust

All this talk about brake problems leads me to a question:
I want to get better braking power out of my brakes without having to do major upgrades.
It's getting close to time for me to change the front pads, and maybe the rotors; What type of pads should I get? I've heard things about semi-metallic, full metal, and something to do with resin, and while I understand this refers to the materials in the pad, which one gives better stopping power?

Also, what can be done about lessening brake dust??

As for the sudden pulling to the left, if it were my truck (and i'm VERY particular about my Ranger) I would carefully inspect the tire, the pads, the rotor, the caliper, the lines, and the connection from the master cylinder to the distribution block to the wheel.

Thanks!
-Daniel

 

[thegoat4]

I have yet to find anything that's appreciably better than Ford pads. One overlooked thing that improves braking is changing all of your brake fluid if it's old and discolored. Siphon out the reservoir, the refill it and bleed each corner until you get clean fluid.

On my truck it made an immediate improvement. But that fluid was OLD. Like, nine years old.

And adjust your rears. Almost nobody does that and it'll kill your braking power while also wearing the front pads way too fast.

 

[TechmanDan]

You say to adjust your rears; forgive the obviously stupid question, but what specifically do I adjust?

 

[3 of 7]

If your emergency brake is functional and you use it from time to time, they should be at adjustment already.