Hey guys, I've got some troubles with my 92 runner. Everytime I push in the brakes, she lurches hard to the right. A friend of mine said the cam bolts just need to be tightened, and an alignment, but I'm not sure if there is something else going on. The guy that had my truck before me screwed up the brakes, and the inside of the right rotor has some major grooves in it. I'm hoping someone on here has some ideas on what is going on, and if an alignment is really all that I need, or something else.

Please help, Thanks

 

Sounds like the left front brake isn't doing much work. Could be a bad caliper, or just air in the lines.

 

If the vehicle is driving straight (no brake applied) and does not pull to either side, your alignment is fine. Sounds like you just have some messed up brakes. You can go somewhere like Napa or O'Reilly and have the rotor/s resurfaced. But, yours may be too damaged to stay within allowed tolerances. They can tell you.

Also, you might go to a brake/alignment shop and have them inspect everything. With a messed up rotor like that, who knows what else the person fubar'd. Like eric said, you might just have air in the lines, or even a bad caliper, or the pads are wearing rapidly causing the pulling from the uneven brake surface. Anyway, have a GOOD shop look at them......that is, if you don't know what you're doing.

BTW, if the cam adjusters were stripped (I find it unlikely as they have nothing to do with braking) the vehicle will cannot be aligned nor will it hold one.

 

Thanks for your guys' help, I really don't know what i'm doing and appreciate your opinions rather than certain shops that give les for more.

 

Check the soft lines and your calipers. We just replaced all that on my truck due to a stuck caliper. Pulled pretty hard to the right.

 

x2... sounds like either a stuck caliper or a colapsed brake hose

 

You speak of air in the lines. What othe symptoms occure with air in the lines?. My 1996 4 runner vibrates when brakes are applied. Every thing has been changed & checked. I started having problems when Brakes where done 2 years ago. I was getting some brake pulling to the left.

 

vibration is usually a warped rotor.is ur 96 an auto (mark cia)more so the auto is more likely to warp the rotors from lack of compression braking.also with it pulling to one side or another check the bolts that hold on ur a arms.if the bolts r loose the holes may be wallowed letting ur tire turn when the brakes r applied.its rare but i have seen it before in the shop.

 

check your lugs for proper torque, over tightening alloys can lead to warped rotors leading to vibration while braking.

lee

 

First off, if you have grooved rotors they need to be replaced. It is highly unlikely after removing enough material to relieve the grooves the rotor will be within spec.

Check your tire pressure.

Check your alignment here... http://www.sdori.com/SDORI_Alignment.htm

When you have the calipers off you can see if pistons are in fact stuck. If they are just get new calipers, both. They are likely original. Actually, if I were you I'd be inclined to just replace pads, calipers, and rotors and be done with it. You might even do wheel bearings if they are original too.

Frank