When you press on your brakes, you expect to stop in a straight line. However, sometimes when you press your brakes, your call pulls to one side. During bad weather, it can be blamed on road conditions. Sometimes though, it happens during a perfectly nice day. You brake and suddenly the car is pulling left or right, and you're not sure why. You need to diagnose the problem quickly.
Check the pressure in each of your tires. Each tire should be at the level specified by the illustration on your driver's side door. If the pressure is uneven, it can cause the car to pull when the brakes are applied. Add air if needed.
Rule out alignment and steering as your culprits. Drive down a straight road, and take your hands off the steering wheel for a half second. Determine if it drifts to the right or left without hitting the brake. If so, the brakes are not your problem.
Jack up the car to examine the calipers. If brakes are your problem, this is the most likely culprit. Take off your tire and wheel. Replace your calipers if there are cracks or pieces missing.
Take off the calipers if they seem to be fine. Rarely a defective brake pad or disk can also cause this problem. Replace them if the calipers check out okay.
