QUESTION
[dropcap]D[/dropcap]ear Editor,
I am a regular reader of Motoring World International. My car is Honda Pilot that I bought four years ago. Problem I noticed recently is that whenever I am driving and I step on the brake, the car pulls to the right, although the brake works.
What can I do to correct this? Thanks for your help.
Mrs.Joyce Amoabeng
ANSWER
Dear Mrs Amoabeng,
A number of factors could cause the problem.
Unequal tyres on left and right tyres: Check your tyres, making sure that you did not fit different sizes of tyres on left and right wheel. If you have done so, the car will pull to the sibe with smaller tyre size, whenever you apply brake. Solution is simple. Replace the wrong size with the right size meant for your car.
It could even be unequal inflation, which will make one tyre bigger than the other. Also check your tyres for uneven tread wear, which can be done, when the car is safely jerked up.
Brake pad contamination: Your car will pull to right side if brake pad on the left side is contaminated, I mean, having oil on its surface. Oily brake pad will be too slippery to be effective. It is like driving through a flooded road and you realise that your brake system has sudden ly become ineffective. Yes it will be, because of water on the surface of the pad. If you refer to our raining season motoring edition of 2016, you will learn more about what to do after driving through a flooded road.
Back to the problem at hand, what you should do, if you are ready TO GET YOUR HANDS dirty, is to inspect the brake rotors. In case of front wheel drive (FW) car, check the CV boot. If it has torn, it will allow grease to contact the brake rotors.
Worn brake pads: You might experience one-sided pull, if your brake side is excessively won on one side more than the other. If that is the case, replace the excessively worn pad. I will advise you replace both, for brake is the most essential part oc a car. Do not joke with it.
Sticking Brake calliper: Your brake piston might stick, causing your brake calliper to slide or maintain a braking force on the calliper. In case of FWD, jack up the car and rest it on jack stand. Leave you transmission on neutral. Engage your hand brake. Rotate the wheels by hand. On front wheel drive vehicles. Left and right wheel should have equal rotation force. Any of the wheels that requires more force to rotate more than the other should be checked.
Collapsed brake line: This problem will lead to expansion under pressure, giving room for brake fluid to get into the calliper. Check the brake hoses.
If you are not conversant with automobile do-it-yourself, my advice is that you take it to a workshop for sorting out. Although, uneven tyre wear, uequal inflation, tyres of different sizes are what you can sort out yourself. But when it comes to collapse brake line, sticking brake calliper or worn brake pads, I advise you take the car to a repair workshop for correction. There an expert will be able to inspect the rubber brake hose connection to the calliper and correct collapse brake line.
This is how far we shall go on today’s edition of Auto Clinic, brought to you weekly only on Motoring World International.
Next week, I shall shed more light on brake problems, symptoms and solutions.
As a reminder, dear motorists, have you experienced any intractable motoring problem from your automobile? For an explanation, solution or guide, send me an email, indicating the brand, model and manufacturing year of the vehicle. Please give as much explanation as you can about the problem.
And before you leave your home in the morning or embark on any long distance trip, check your tyres, ensuring there is no over-inflation or under-inflation. And also ensure you are not driving on expired tyres.
Be safety conscious.
AUTOMAN
Send your mails to: [email protected]
©Copyright MOTORING WORLD INTERNATIONAL.
All rights reserved. Materials, photographs, illustrations and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior written permission from Motoring World International
Contact: editor.motoringworldng@gmail.com
