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07QCSLT Dodge Dakota JOIN HERE
10/04/2007 15:29:49
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Subject: Brake pulls to the left IP: Logged
Message: I posted this topic on another Message Board but found this site while searching for answers and your Site seems to be more specific to Dakotas... I just copied and pasted, please forgive me for my laziness.
Hello Everyone -
I recently purchased an 07 QC V6 6-Speed Dakota Rear ABS only. I do like the truck and I am happy with my Purchase (Ford guy but didn’t like the Ranger) but I seem to have a problem with the Brakes. Since day 1 it has had a slight pull to the Left when braking and pulls harder the hotter the brakes get and the harder you stop. I’ve brought it in to the purchasing dealer 3 times, the 1st time they told me it was the caliper and greased the caliper rails. I let this go and thought it wasn’t too bad so I would just ignore it, but after it rained and I tried to stop I found the Front left tire would lock up prematurely when breaking hard.
I brought the truck back to the dealer and they ordered some new Pads and told me it was fixed again. I think they put in softer pads or adjusted my brakes somehow as the brake pedal feels softer. But the original issue of the brakes pulling to the left when stopping still occurred.
I just got the truck back from the Dealer after 3 days of them looking at it and the answer to my problem now is "they all do it". They test drove some other 07s on the lot and they also pulled to the left. The reason for this is the brake line for the drivers side tire is shorter than the passengers side thus causing the drivers side brake to pull. They are calling the Dodge rep to see if he knows of anything to try.
I guess my question is, for anyone that has a new Dakota (prob Gen 3) does your truck pull to the left slightly when braking and get worse as they heat up and/or apply heavy braking? Its not so bad that I fear for my life when braking but it does pull more than I think it should.
I should let everyone know I have no problems with the Dealership and I cant see why they would lie to me about anything as I bought the truck from them. I believe they get paid for any warranty work done so trying to save money cant be it… any thoughts?
Thank you
John
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daddio Dodge Dakota JOIN HERE ![Email](http://www.dodgedakota.net/amb/icons/email.gif)
10/04/2007 15:49:52
| RE: Brake pulls to the left IP: Logged
Message: i believe that dealer is either:
1) incompetent- by not being able to find the problem.
2) giving you a line of bull. they cannot "ALL" do that. this is a common line used when they can't figure out the problem. this, "because the brake line is shorter on the driver side" is really bull. if that was the case every vehicle ever made would do it.
at least they said they would call the rep. i would say they need to change the whole caliper out.
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Kowalski GenIII
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10/04/2007 17:12:32
| RE: Brake pulls to the left IP: Logged
Message: daddio is dead on. Hydralic systems, such as your brakes don't vary significantly in line pressure over that length of line. If anything, most vehicles pull to the right slightly when braking; due to the crown in most roads. I wouldn't be at all happy with a service department that was incompetent or BSing me. I'd start looking at some different dealers for my warranty service. Third try on the same repair without fixing it and they'd be eating the vehicle with the lemmon law in my state.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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07QCSLT Dodge Dakota JOIN HERE
10/04/2007 17:40:38
| RE: Brake pulls to the left IP: Logged
Message: In MN I believe its 4 times or 30 days out of service within 2 years of the original reported incident or something like that. I hope they didn’t give me the last response because they didn’t want to fail to fix my problem 3 times in a row…. I would just like the truck fixed as otherwise I do like it.
I may try to find another dealer to bring my truck to.
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Dan M Dodge Dakota JOIN HERE ![Email](http://www.dodgedakota.net/amb/icons/email.gif)
10/04/2007 18:23:46
| RE: Brake pulls to the left IP: Logged
Message: I would not accept that. There's no reason why a truck will pull to one side when braking. I've only seen vehicles do this when the calipers were bad or they had alignment/suspension problems. How are your tires wearing? Any noticable difference between left and right side front tires?
Try another dealer and/or call Chrysler customer service and file a complaint.
Have you test drove other 07 dakotas? It's really scary they test drove others and saw that and think that it's acceptable.
- Dan M
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searay245se Dodge Dakota JOIN HERE ![Email](http://www.dodgedakota.net/amb/icons/email.gif)
10/04/2007 19:04:37
| RE: Brake pulls to the left IP: Logged
Message: it may also be that the right front brake is stuck and not working at all making the left one do all the work
jeff searay245se
99 dak slt cc 3.9 auto 4x4 60k
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07QCSLT Dodge Dakota JOIN HERE
10/05/2007 09:46:30
| RE: Brake pulls to the left IP: Logged
Message: They did an alignment the first time I brought the truck in. At that time it had about 100 miles on it and you would need to keep the steering wheel a little off center to the right to keep it straight on the road. They did a front end alignment that took care of that issue but the slight pulling to the left while braking that also had been there has not gone away.
I’ve got about 1200 miles on the truck now and I will keep an eye on the tires to make sure they don’t cup or start to wear funny.
As to brining it to another dealer,. that is definitely a possibility. I think Ill drive it for another 1000 miles and see if it gets worse or (as the other poster mentioned) the tires star to look funny.
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daddio Dodge Dakota JOIN HERE ![Email](http://www.dodgedakota.net/amb/icons/email.gif)
10/05/2007 09:57:02
| RE: Brake pulls to the left IP: Logged
Message: i would definitely try another, hopefully more competent dealer. there is something wrong somewhere. i've got almost 80k on my '00 and have never had an alignment, just changed the front pads and don't have any steering or braking issues.
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