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I've had this weird issue that has started happening since I switched back to summer tires this weekend that wasn't there last summer/winter. My car fights back when braking, but appears to pick a random side. I drove on the same road and braked at the same-ish spot and my car decided to tug in both directions.

At first, I thought this would be tire pressure, but when it happened to tug on the other side, I was convinced it wasn't. (After checking pressure, it wasn't)

Could this be my alignment or balancing? These are brand new tires on brand new wheels. It's also the transition between seasons which means there's a bit of sand on the road from the winter.

Otherwise I believe this leaves the brakes/calipers malfunctioning but I'm at a loss on how to diagnose this. Especially since the only variable changed are my wheels and tires.

Yousend
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3 Answers3

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What you are most likely experiencing is the pull from tires when breaking on uneven surface or road with grooves from heavy vehicles.

If you have rather wide, sticky, square tires, this is what it would be.

Notice how water stands in sort of lines, that's where the grooves are formed from vehicles. Depending on if you are closer to the right side of the grooves or left side, your direction of pull will be different:

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Alexus
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If you have worn out steering parts, these can cause your issue, worn parts cause slack in the steering, when you brake it will pull to the side which has the most slack at the time.

You can test for steering slack by starting the car, leave it park, set the brake and roll down the drivers window, get out and reach inside the window and rock the steering wheel left and right about 3" each direction while watching the front wheel, if there is slack you will see the wheel does not move at some point and the steering wheel is.

Another cause is front suspension problems, wheel bearings, ball joints or bushings have severe wear, take it to an alignment shop for a full diagnosis.

It is not safe to operate the car in this condition, get it to a shop soon.

Moab
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I disagree that this is a wheel alignment issue, as the car is pulling randomly to either side - I'd expect alignment to either show no pulling, just tire wear, or to pull consistently to one side.

I suggest you take the car to a mechanic you trust, and get them to check out the calipers - sounds like they may be sticking randomly. You don't say how old the car is, but this is more likely on older cars where the brakes have been worked on and the mechanic hasn't been greasing the slidepins.

PeteCon
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