Symptoms:

I brake hard and the car pulls sometimes (to both left and right) while other times it stops properly.

I would normally say get alignment and call it a day...BUT I have a problem:

1) I let the car sit for 6 weeks while I waited for tires. I noticed the brakes were hotter on one side after initial drive. I got on the brakes hard a few times to loosen up the brakes and they now feel the same

2) I put in new sway bars while the car was down...could this affect the steering issue?

3) I know my front tires are toed OUT (this is why I need alignment..)


What do you guys think? I was thinking of getting alignment in a day or two, but also was wondering if I should check on how the sway bars are installed. I noticed the OEM bars have "stops" on either side of where the bushing will sit to keep it straight while the non-OEM bars dont. I assumed the bars would "move themselves" straight since they only sit within rubber bushings, but now I'm wondering if this might be exacerbating the alignment issue I know I have (toe out...crooked steering wheel)

thanks!

oh, also..tire pressures are good.

 

you should check to see if your calipers have a torn boot.. you might have to rebuild/replace your current ones

 

theres no brake fluid leakage anywhere...but I will check for a torn boot.

 

Is it not tramlining?
The toe-out is not helping either.

Can you drive at highway speeds for a while and then get to a parking lot (rest stop) without braking at all?
Just downshifting & engine braking.
Check if all rotors & calipers are cold.

I know you said they all feel the same but is that hot or cold?
The difference between cold or a little warm is easy to tell, between warm and a little warmer isn't IMO.

My manual says to pre-load the suspension after re-installing sway bars and tighten the endlinks with the suspension pre-loaded.
I've tried but did not really see what the benefit was (as one can clearly see with suspension arms / bushings)

 

The brakes are hot vs. @#$@#burn-my-finger-hot so I know the front left is braking harder, it also feels a little spongy so I'm hoping its just a little air in the system, and will be bleeding it tonight. I'll try the engine braking from highway tonight..

I didnt preload the suspension while installing the sway bars...and I wasnt quite sure how to line up the sway bars since there were no collars to hold the mounts in place (aftermarket)? I sort of eyeballed them so Im worried it might be causing somthing weird. Possible?

Thanks!

 

Hey finally good news! Bled the brakes out....and now the car stops the way it should! Now, on to get alignment!

Thanks spitfire (as always)