left pull when braking

[paulb]

Just noticed a strong left pull when braking. I really feel it with braking above 40mph, much less when slower. Tires are correct pressure, can see nothing on the underside or around wheel well, and hit nothing (oh, and I am ashamed to add, no off road time so that is not a cause). I am less than 3k miles since last major service. Any ideas on what to look for?

[chrisvonc]

Alignment or maybe bad brake pads possibly.

[paulb]

I was thinking brake pads, but could not see anything. NOW, do not laugh but - we are a car short right now and my wife has been using the D-90 for to/from work travel. Round trip 15 miles, highway, no I mean freeway (CA now), travel and swears nothing weird has happened (no potholes, swerves, curbs, etc). Still do not have a repair shop here to take it to... and even tried to follow a red 96/97 hrdtop D-90 to ask where they go. Was on my mtb and lost him. Every light was against me, and my legs too!

[evilfij]

Siezed caliper fix NOW

if it starts to stick, brakes heat up, fluid boils = NO BRAKES

Ron

[TDI Guy]

I would bet on a sticking caliper also..

RAndy

[Mike Hippert]

If it were a sticking caliper, would it also pull to the left when you are not braking? Unless the caliper on one side just did not grab as good as the caliper on the other side because it is dirty?

Also I had a wheel bearing seal go bad in the rear and the grease coated the brake discs causing the pads to wear down to nothing in no time. If this happened in the front I think you would experience what is happening to you (pulling to one side during braking).

[Chris Cox]

Make sure your brake hose(s) on the right side haven't collapsed.

Chris

[paulb]

Jesus, I go out to take a short mtb ride, come back 2 hrs later, log on and get collapsed brakes and siezed caliper. Off to the LR dealer we go. Let y'all know the verdict. Now down down to 1 car.
Good side - it is great to have such a resource to turn to.
Thanks all , Paul

[evilfij]

The way it usually goes is one caliper the pistons sieze (usually both pistons on a given side of a caliper) and don't move---ergo no brakes on that side, then they free themselves up a bit and end up siezed but with a slight amount of pressure that side, that builds heat, fluid boils and no brakes.

Ron

[paulb]

All,
Thanks to all. Still do not have a repair shop, so have the earliest repair appointment at Thousand Oaks L.R. dealership- Tuesday next week. There goes the idea of fun over the long weekend. Post repairs I will let all know what was diagnosed.

[Doug]

Did you ever call British Pacific and ask them for a referral to a mechanic in your area?

Doug

[paulb]

Yes, everything was LA and south.

[mikeslandrover]

My money would be on a stuck piston, rebuilt all the calipers on the 90 last summer, pistons, seals, pads & discs. The improvement was amazing, stopped on the proverbial six pence.

[paulb]

And Mike, that ran about how much $$ ?

[mikeslandrover]

£50 for each pair of discs.
£100 for the pistons and seals
£40 for the pads
stopping smartly - priceless