Having a sudden brake issue on my 1998 B1500. When I to come to a stop, it pulls hard to the left,. I observed this about 2 miles after driving down a rough dirt road with some soft muddy spots (Was testing the front shocks installation). Earlier in the day I drove it on a road trip and the brakes felt fine, and stopped straight. I'm wondering if some mud has the caliper hung up so it won't fully release? Once I got home I could really smell that the LF was dragging.

Any thoughts will be appreciated

 

A hard pull to the left more often than not indicates a brake failure on the right side. A moderate pull usually means the rear failed, while a hard pull means the front failed.

 

It's possible your RIGHT front brake flex hose has failed. This will put all the front pressure to the left front caliper. Inspect the rubber flex hoses. If they have any dry rot cracks, replace them all. It can be worse. They will sometimes let pressure in but not out and your caliper locks up.

 

Jack up the front, (both tires.) give 'em a spin, do they both turn easily? Stomp the brakes a couple times, spin 'em again, same, or different?

 

I did not see any dry rot cracks on either hose, I wiped off the LF hose and could see markings, appearing to be a replacement

 

I would replace the hoses just to be sure. Have had this happen on trucks and motorcycles. Have alot of old stuff. I didn't replace with more rubber stuff though, I used braided stainless brake lines.

 

Both sides spun 2 complete revolutions, no sign of any binding

 

In the WTF department, I took my van for a drive around town this afternoon, where I could make several firm brake applications. The brakes did not pull to the left as they did last night,it stopped straight as normal. I went down a couple hills and let it coast, no sign of any dragging or hot brake smell. So I don't know what caused it, but it seems fine now

 

Since your original post said it happened after going down a muddy road, you may have just had mud on the right side. Possibly the rear since the front discs are self cleaning Drums in back have to expel the mud.

 

I was thinking that as well, since it happened about a couple blocks away, when I pulled up to a stop sign.First time I've had this sort of thing happen after driving thru mud