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Josh
Dodge Dakota
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11/19/2008
10:54:25

Subject: 3.9L Dakota Brake Problems
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So, I've had a 3.9L 99' Dakota Sport for a few years now, and a few months ago I replaced the brake pads and rotors for the first time, with the help of my father. Ever since then I have noticed some big issues with them. For instance, at high speeds (60 mph+) I can feel the car shaking a little bit, especially through the steering wheel. When I brake at those speeds the entire truck wants to pull itself very sharply to the left side, like it would literally pull me off the road in about 2 seconds if I didn't compensate for it by keeping straight. It will also pull to the left side just driving straight, without any braking. One other problem is that the parking brake light will stay on sometimes after I disengage the parking brake, or it will sometimes flutter off and on, as if it's trying to decide if it is fully engaged or not.

I honestly am not very mechanically inclined, and I don't do much work on my truck other than basic tune-up stuff, but my father is a mechanical engineer and we figured we could handle it. I took the truck in to a local shop because of that and another issue, and they fixed the other issue, but they told me something about "waiting to fix the brake problem because they didn't know if it was the calipers or something else." I've been driving it around for about 2 months since then, and it hasn't improved at all. The last time we looked at it, I believe the right front brake pad was wearing very unevenly, and like I said, the truck pulls to the left all the time, very sharply, so I don't know if those two are related.

Sorry for the long message, and if it's not a very good description. Like I said, I'm not extremely knowledgeable on auto mechanics. I found a couple other threads here that are related to my problem, but aren't exactly the same, so I thought I'd ask. The best info I have gotten so far is to look at the brake calipers, and I plan on looking at my truck during the Christmas break coming up one more time before having to take it in again. Any help would be greatly appreciated, and I can provide additional info if needed. Thank you.

Josh



daddio
Dodge Dakota
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11/19/2008
13:35:22

RE: 3.9L Dakota Brake Problems
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sounds like you may have a sticking caliper on the left/driver side. here is some good info to read before doing your brake job next time.

http://www.stoptech.com/whitepapers/warped_rotors_myth.htm



ConcertBb
Dodge Dakota
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11/20/2008
07:37:10

RE: 3.9L Dakota Brake Problems
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Replace the guide pins. They're cheap and easy to do. Ususally get rusty and make the calipers hang up.



Josh
Dodge Dakota
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11/20/2008
15:32:58

RE: 3.9L Dakota Brake Problems
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Thanks for the replies. That link is very informative and I will give it a more in-depth look before I take a look at my brakes again. Seems like the calipers are the likely culprit, so now I know what to look at.

Thanks again. I appreciate it.



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