I got my first Discovery a few months ago. It’s a ’98 diesel. Anyway, from the day I got it, it has been pulling a bit to the left under heavy braking. Problem is, this doesn’t always happen, sometimes it brakes dead straight. If it helps to know, the steering wheel also pulls left at the same time, but more importantly, when engine braking the car also pulls very slightly to the left. Not as much as when braking, but a little bit still.

More info: While I had it on a lift at a shop the other day, I peeked under it and saw that the pads were very unevenly worn. The right side front, and left side rear pads were almost completely worn. I had the pads changed for me, as I wanted the mechanic to check out this wearing out problem as well.

He loosened up the brake calibers, and changed the pads front and back. It has good braking power now, and more often than before it brakes in a straight line. But this is still often a problem.

Any thoughts?

 

Check the right side rear-link at the frame that the link is tight in the bushing. If it's a little loose the rear axle will shift under breaking and acceleration. Under braking, it will turn left. It's like rear-steer.

The brakes are more likely the cause, but it sounds like you eliminated them as the culprit. So I'd look at loose suspension links, worn bushings in the rear links or front radius arms, or something else that causes misalignment.

 

Thanks for the suggestion, I will check that out I added a bit do my original description of the problem. You may have been writing your reply while I edited, so just in case, this is the update: "...but more importantly, when engine braking the car also pulls very slightly to the left. Not as much as when braking, but a little bit still."

 

Sometimes it's the pistons sticking in the calipers. Might want to either service the calipers front and rear or replace them. Some pistons are hard chromed and they will peel, flake or corrode when fluid picks up moisture (dark). Any leaks?

 

Bushing problem wouldn't cause uneven pad wear. I'm with ihscouts, I would bet you have a sticky caliper about to freeze all the way. If it still works at times, you may be lucky and the bores aren't too hosed yet, and the rotors aren't scored too badly, and might be able to get away with a $50 rebuild kit and a set of pads. Super super easy to rebuild them, just a little messy. Otherwise, you are looking at $350 minimum for calipers, rotors and pads, more like $450 if you don't want to be replacing them again in 18 months.

 

Look to see if there is oil seepage at either end of the front axle ....getting on the brake rotors, especially a leaky power steering hose. That would explain why you experience it sometimes but not always.

Also, I've had it where a rear brake pad was jarred from it's seating position on the caliper to a cockeyed position and the friction material was not making contact. That could cause it too. I've never seen a rear brake pad design like the L/R design with such flimsy mounting.

Good luck!

 

you have a sticking caliper and it is probably on the opposite side that the truck pulls