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2004 Sebring 2.4 brake mistery

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Old Jul 10, 2013 | 08:23 PM
  #1  
gotin's Avatar
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Default 2004 Sebring 2.4 brake mistery

Well, I don't know what to do next.
My 04 Sebring started to pull to the left when braking, I noticed it when driving on the highway, when I tried to slow down and tapped on the brakes it almost hit the car to the left.
I replaced the brake pads and the right front caliper just to have the same thing happen again. Then I replaced the right front hose, then the left caliper and hose, then the proportioning valve - with the thing still pulling to the left.
Today I got new calipers from NAPA (the first set was from Autozone, somebody mentioned that they sometimes are not so good), with the same result - when driving down the road and lightly applying the brakes the car veers to the left. I can feel the steering wheel pulling to the left too.
I tried slamming on the brakes to check the tire marks and the left mark was definitely longer than the left one.
So now I don't know what to do next - both front calipers, hoses, brake pads and proportioning valve have been replaced without any improvement.
Since there is a difference in the tire marks after braking I assume it is a brake system-related problem, I just can't figure what to replace next.
Can the hard line going to the right brake go bad? I could not see any apparent dents or any other damage, and it does work somewhat, just slower than the left one.
Any ideas?
 
Old Jul 10, 2013 | 09:38 PM
  #2  
Djinn-n-Tonic's Avatar
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........Turn your attention to the BACK of the car.........
 
Old Jul 10, 2013 | 10:27 PM
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Could also be a bad ball joint or tie rod end.
 
Old Jul 10, 2013 | 11:33 PM
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I was thinking about the ball joint and tie rods, I even replaced the left outer tie rod today without any change in the braking.
Can rear brake problem cause such a big pull to the side? I will check them tomorrow.
 
Old Jul 10, 2013 | 11:42 PM
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check your rear brakes, not sure if you have hydraulic brakes on all 4's, other wise you car has an improper alignment, could be due to a tie rod/end and or a ball joint.
 
Old Jul 11, 2013 | 01:37 AM
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"not sure if you have hydraulic brakes on all 4's"
Really?
 
Old Jul 11, 2013 | 02:47 AM
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LOL...I meant to say disk brakes...when was the last year sebring had rear brake drums
 
Old Jul 11, 2013 | 08:40 AM
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The rear wheels have drum brakes.
I just jacked the car up on stands and checked all wheels and they all have equal drag when the pedal is pushed to the same level, then they all release.
I guess it is a ball joint/tie rod issue.
 
Old Jul 11, 2013 | 08:42 AM
  #9  
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BTW, when I drive down the road the car does not pull to one side, it stays straight when I let go of the wheel. It pulls to the left only when I brake.
 
Old Jul 11, 2013 | 07:23 PM
  #10  
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I am happy to report that it is back to normal again - it was the left ball joint.It took me over 4 hours to replace it, I don`t have strong enough words to express my feelings about the designers at Chrysler Chryslerwho came up with this contraption.
I wanted to replace the right one too, but it is too difficult to do it without a pressing need.
 
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