Intermittent HARD pull left when braking

[Slippery]

2002 7.3 4x4 Ltd w/ 125k

Hard pull left after brakes get hot. Seems to do it after moderate to heavy usage, in other words, no problem pulling off the hwy after 1 hour, but bad when red light to red light driving, and shows up worse when towing. If rolling 10mph up to a light, and I remove my hands and apply brakes, the steering wheel will make more than a half turn left before coming to a stop. Quite concerning if an emergency braking situation thrusts me into oncoming traffic.

I have read the Ford service bulletin that recommends springs after calipers, pads etc. I don';t see that this applies as it is intermittent.

Recent brake fluid flush and replace, turned rotors, new pads, new front calipers all to try and remedy the problem. $$$

Could a rotor be bad and change when its hot?
Brake line?
Is there an equalizer valve?

Thanks in advance for the help!

[thecaptin]

I would check the Calipers. sounds like they are not sliding. Just did brakes on my 04. both front calipers had stuck slides. PITA to remove slides(bolts), cleaned up with brakleen and scotch brite, lubed em up and been good to go since. no pull.

Edit: specifically your left front.

[Slippery]

Originally Posted by thecaptin

I would check the Calipers. sounds like they are not sliding. Just did brakes on my 04. both front calipers had stuck slides. PITA to remove slides(bolts), cleaned up with brakleen and scotch brite, lubed em up and been good to go since. no pull.

Edit: specifically your left front.

As noted above, I just replaced BOTH calipers with brand new OEM calipers. Pins are sliding well.

[dannanw]

I think he is speaking of the slide pins. they aren't usually replaced in a normal beake job. and to make sure they are lubed like they should be.

[thecaptin]

I missed the lower half

A rotor would be noticeable in the wheel as a shimmy/shake. not a pull. Im guessing a shop performed the work? I would be intrigued about possible air in the line going to the RF caliper(expands and makes RF not grab due to air compression).

Calipers installed correctly with the bleeder pointing up?(kinda stupid Q. but my friend who has done multiple brake jobs just did this two weeks ago on his dads E-350)

[Slippery]

Thanks.

Sorry, to me a caliper replacement includes new or lubing the pins" and the calipers are installed correctl, and the lines were flushed and bled thourougly

This problem was occurring before the calipers and pads and continues, but seems to only occur after enough usage to heat the brakes up.

[bigbugman]

i have heard of having problems with the abs system causing a pull like that, and also sometimes you need to actuate the abs system to properly bleed it.

[Slippery]

Originally Posted by bigbugman

i have heard of having problems with the abs system causing a pull like that, and also sometimes you need to actuate the abs system to properly bleed it.

Hmmm. Possible cause. How do I actuate the ABS while bleeding the line?

[bigbugman]

you have to have a scan tool capable of actuating the abs system, might have to take it to a shop.

[veach3]

My 04 pulled hard when i first got it replaced wheel sensor and that cured it. Not sure if that your problem but it's a thought.