Your car should stop in a straight line when you press the brake pedal. If it tugs to the left or right every time you brake, something in your brakes or steering isn’t working evenly from side to side. It’s worth paying attention to, especially as fall rain and wet leaves make the roads slicker.
One of the most common causes is a sticking brake caliper. The caliper is the part that squeezes the brake pads against the rotor. If one side sticks or doesn’t move freely, that wheel either grabs harder or doesn’t grab enough, and the car pulls. A sticking caliper can also make that wheel run hot and wear out its pads quickly.
Uneven brake pads are another cause. If the pads on one side are worn down more, or if brake fluid or oil has gotten onto them, they won’t grip the same way as the other side.
A damaged or collapsed brake hose can cause it too. The hose carries brake fluid to each wheel, and if it breaks down inside, fluid can’t flow properly to that brake.
Sometimes the brakes aren’t the problem at all. Worn steering or suspension parts, an alignment issue or a tire that’s low on air can all show up as a pull that gets worse when you brake.
A pull when braking can catch you off guard in a sudden stop, so it’s worth checking soon rather than living with it. We’ll inspect the brakes on both sides, check the tires and look at the steering and suspension to find out exactly why it’s happening.
If your car has developed a mind of its own when you hit the brakes, bring it in and let us figure it out. Call Home Town Auto Care at (615) 656-8461 or stop by 108 Confederate Dr in Franklin, Monday through Friday from 7 to 5.
