If your vehicle pulls to the left or right when braking, this indicates an imbalance in your brake system that requires diagnosis and repair. The most common cause of brake pull is a stuck or seized brake caliper, which causes one caliper to apply less braking pressure compared to the other. The wheel with greater braking force causes your vehicle to pull in that direction. At Hoover Street Auto Repair, our routine brake service includes thoroughly cleaning and lubricating caliper slide mechanisms to ensure they "float" properly and apply even brake application at each wheel.
Uneven brake pad wear between the left and right sides creates uneven friction, causing the steering to pull. This can result from a sticking caliper, contaminated brake pads (from oil, grease, or brake fluid), or worn caliper mounting hardware. Uneven brake pad wear is the most common indicator of a seized brake caliper.
A collapsed or restricted brake hose can also cause brake pull. The inner lining of the hose detaches, blocking fluid flow in either direction. In one case, the side that prevents hydraulic pressure from reaching that wheel's caliper causes the opposite side to brake more aggressively. In the other case, the hydraulic brake system can force brake fluid through the restricted hose, but the pressure will not be fully released, causing the brake to drag.
For Ann Arbor drivers, warped, unevenly worn, or side-to-side thickness variations in brake rotors can contribute to pulling during braking.
Sometimes brake pull indicates issues beyond just the brake system, problems such as mismatched tire sizes or air pressures, worn suspension components, improper wheel alignment, or even a seized wheel bearing on one side can cause your vehicle to pull when braking.
At Hoover Street Auto Repair in Ann Arbor, our brake technicians perform a comprehensive brake inspection that includes checking caliper operation, measuring brake pad thickness on all wheels, inspecting rotors for warping and uneven wear, examining brake hoses for deterioration, and testing the brake system under controlled conditions to identify the exact cause of pulling. Brake pull is not just an inconvenience; it represents a safety hazard that affects your ability to control your vehicle during emergency stops, so we recommend scheduling an appointment promptly if you experience this symptom.