pulling to the left

When i first got my series 3 it pulled to the left when breaking - the harder the breaking the more severe the swing to the left.

Its now had new cylinders, shoes, etc - in fact a complete overhaul - and all seems to be rosy with regards lack of leaks and fluid levels, but it still pulls to the left when breaking.

Is this normal on these yokes? If not, any suggestions?

Have developed the habit of compensating by steering to the right when breaking - 'spect i'll be doing it in my wifes car by the end of the week, which should be interesting!

No, they should pull up square, although series brakes can take a lot of maintenance to keep them right.
Usual cause is brakes, so the first question has to be, what do you mean by a complete overhaul. The flexipipes can become internally restricted, or even blocked.
Just a thought, have you got the right cylinders in the right place. If you have single leading shoe brakes (one double ended cylinder on each wheel) the front and rear cylinders are externally conventicle, but have different diameter bores. If you have a front and rear mixed on the same axle, it will never pull up straight.
Next to look at are tyre pressures and then wheel bearings.
Then steering, tracking and swivel preloads.
Then we come onto the frightening things, bent axles, even bent chassis.
We are getting more and more unlikely, but you have to ask yourself, why was it sold in the first place?

Hi Dave,

everythng was renewed - including flexi-pipe, cylinders and shoes. The chassis is galvanised, straight and in perfect condition (part of the reason i bought the thing in the first place - guy who sold it to me had it sitting for a year and wanted the space).

I'm going to ask one of the mechanics here at work to have a look at it for me. Hopeful;ly it will be something simple.

Thanks for the response - gives me a good few things to look. More for the ever growing list!!

I would check in the drums first, to ensure that shoes are matched correctly , re leading /trailing edge on shoe position, and that both are set to same clearance . The hydraulic side of things being the cause is a lot less likely. Check spring bushes on front of springs if these are flogged then axle will steer under braking .

Cheers.

thats my starting point.

Thanks for the replies.

I have the same problem, please post the solution you find, if you do

Just changed the shoes and springs on mine, fine before, now pulls to the right and squeals like a pig..

Stripped em down twice, adjusted em 3 times, chamfered leading edges of the shoes and still no difference, yet they were spot on before?????

Looooong time coming, but it was finally resolved. there were two issues at play here - first was a hub seal leak that allowed oil onto the brake pad, and second was incorrect adjustment (read none wotsoever).

Adjusters were seized into position, so chap who 'renewed' it all for me didn't bother his a*se setting 'em up right in the first place.

All sorted out now, and brakes will be adjusted again in a couple of weeks once they have bedded in. Apparently they need this to allow for irregularities in the shoe!!!!

Now pulls up straight, so no more potential fatalities on the pavement.