Need help in alignment and braking problem.

[timfromme]

Hi people.
I had to replace my lower right ball joint on my 73 Plymouth Scamp to pass state inspection. She used to drive straight and brake straight. After replacing the ball joint, it now brakes a hard left and when driving it pulls to the right. The shop here where I live don't have the specs to do a front end alignment for their machine. I did my best at adjusting the star wheels on all four drum brakes and backing up and stopping at least 20 times for the self adjusters. It still pulls to the left at braking and still pulls to the right when driving. I have seen a spec chart somewhere for the front end alignment. Does anyone know so I can pass it along to the alignment guys? They can manually input the info on their alignment machine. I don't know what to do about the brakes. Help! Thanks, Tim

 

[69signetv8]

Hope this helps 71-73 Dodge/Plymouth

Your Brakes...Are they new? If not get them checked for ware. Sometimes even the rubber brake line hoses bubble so one brakes grabs more then the other. If new, raise the front and adjust the star adjuster so both just slightly grab the same.

Good Luck.

 

[Mike Z]

Thats a good one. Do you have power or manual steering? That will make a difference on the caster. If the Car is pulling right it means you need more caster on the right or less on the left and or less camber on the right. Caster is the main cause of a pull on rear wheel drive but camber can also effect. Also check the ride hight while in the alignment turn plates the lower side can cause a lead. I checked spec the other day on a I think 72 duster with power steering. caster was .5 - 1.5+. I had a bad bad brake pull left on my Duster also once. I had a badly cracked lf strut rod bushing inside of the K frame The wheel would move on brake apply. As said by 69signetv8 a internal calapsing brake hose surely can do that will get worse with heat once being driven. My Friend with a 68 Valiant had a bad brake pull. We found the issue to be a internally restricted prop valve.