truck pulling to the left when braking/loose steering

Allright. I have had this issue with my 97 4x4 since the day I bought it. The truck will pull to the left when I am braking. The steering is also a little loose to the left when under way. I have replaced the following parts and had this service performed already:

new calipers and pads in the front.
new shocks and springs for all 4 corners
new rack and pinion
poly urethane bushings in the rack and pinion
Wheel alignment
topped off brake fluid

The truck bounced side to side when I first bought it. The shocks and new rack made a big difference. could a missing bushing in my lower control arm causing the front wheels to shift? the only other thing that I can think of is an issue with my master cylinder? Bad bearing?

The ride is still pretty squirly when I hit a bump on the freeway just right. Thanks for your help.

 

You neglected the rear brakes as a cause. Uneven brake force is a cause of the yaw.

 

Ill check the rear brakes. would a rear brake issue/yaw cause the wheel to turn to one side?

 

The rear brakes shouldn't affect the wheel.
Check your suspension for worn parts and slop. Check your shocks for leaks and corrosion. After you eliminate the brakes from the equation, I would suspect the suspension.
When you stop, does the front end dive evenly, or at an angle?

 

the front end doesn't dive but the wheel will fall to the left. The car will veer slightly to the left when approaching a stop light/sign. The wheel does correct when I accelerate.

I can see the front DS tire turning toward the right from outside my window. I keep thinking this is a control arm issue. the steering wheel used to go limp and fall to the left when I would hit a bouncing patch of road on the freeway.

 

tires psi?

 

Tire pressure doesn't cause that.

Jack up the front end. Pull and push both tires in all directions and look and feel for slop.
I had a mazda that did that. It was the wheel bearings.
Have a buddy move the wheel while you inspect.

 

Good call on the wheel bearings... what about ball joints? Those have a tendency to go and wreak havoc on your handling.

 

Ball joints don't usually cause those symptoms. I'd check them anyways since you are already in that area.

 

Steering rack might be going out. This just happened to my roommate (TW member Timicha)

 

Were the brake lines properly bled after the new calipers?

I almost died years ago when air in my brake lines in a CJ-5 caused only the drivers front tire to get all of the pressure and lock up. It pulled so hard to the left when this happend the giant steering wheel nearly snaped my wrist.

Went home, bled the air out, brakes were fine after.

Moral of the story, bleed the brakes properly.

Your story is also consistant with a bad master-cylendar: the pressure might not be being distributed; the shortest line is to the front left = left brakes the hardest and causes pull.

 

I think there were other factors in play which caused your one wheel lock. Pressure in a hydraulic system is equal on the front wheels, less on the rears (proportioning valve). Air affects the whole system, not just 3/4.