NHTSA Complaint #744869 — 1999 GMC SUBURBAN

SUBURBAN PURCHASED AND DRIVEN WITHOUT TROUBLE UNTIL 4-99. TAKEN TO RAY SKILLMAN DEALERSHIP WITH NOTATION THAT THE VEHICLE PULLS RIGHT WHEN BRAKING. DEALER REPLACED BOTH FRONT ROTORS AND BOTH FRONT BRAKE PADS. CAR INITIALLY IMPROVED BUT WITH PROGRESSIVE RETURN OF PROBLEM. TAKEN TO BILL ESTES DEALERSHIP, 4105 WEST 96TH STREET, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, 46268 (PHONE 317-872-3315) THE NEXT FIVE TIMES FOR REPAIR OF PROBLEM. ON 6 OCT 2000, WITH 50,299 MILES (STILL UNDER EXTENDED FACTORY WARANTY), THE ESTES SHOP DOCUMENTED THE BRAKE PROBLEM. THE CAR WOULD, AND STILL DOES, CHANGE LANES TO THE RIGHT--ONE LANE IN 3 SECONDS AT MILD TO MODERATE BRAKING AT 50 MPH. ESTES R&R BOTH FRONT CALIPER ASSEMBLIES, BRAKE FLUID, CALIPER ASSEMBLIES, AND HOSES. DIDN'T WORK. TAKEN BACK TO ESTES ON 27 OCTOBER 2000. PROBLEM AGAIN DOCUMENTED. ESTES REPLACED BRKE VALVE COMBINATION. DIDN'T WORK. TAKEN BACK TO ESTES 11 DECEMBER 2000. PROBLEM AGAIN DOCUMENTED BY SHOP. ESTES REPLACED BOTH ROTORS AND PADS. DIDN'T WORK. CAR NEXT TAKEN TO ESTES ON 7 MARCH 2001 (58,231 MILES) AND PROBLEM AGAIN DOCUMENTED BY REPAIR SHOP. ESTES REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS ON THE FRONT. DIDN'T WORK. CAR TAKEN BACK FOR REPAIR OF THE SAME ONGOING PROBLEM ON 16 MARCH 2001 WITH 58,514 MILES. PROBLEM AGAIN DOCUMENTED BY REPAIR SHOP. ESTES R&R FRONT RIGHT CALIPER ASSEMBLY. "CALIPER BOOT SPLIT SEE PAT ON TIME TO BE FLAGGED FOR 304 BLED 4WAL ABS BRAKES RESURFACED REAR DRUMS, SANDED & SERVICED. REAR SHOES CORRECTED . CALIPER TO KNUCKLE CLEARANCE REPLACED. RIGHT FRONT CALIPER SWATTED. PADS LT TO RT SIDES. DIDN'T WORK. CAR STILL PULLS TO RIGHT WITH BRAKING, BUT WORSE NOW. CAR TAKEN INTO ESTES ON 18 APRIL 2001 WITH 60,005 MILES (HAD LESS THAN 60,000 OF COURSE WHEN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE, BUT DELAYED). ESTES DOCUMENTED BRAKE PULL. NO CHARGE. BRAKES AND FRONT SUSPENSION. VEG HAS BRAKE DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. KARL HAS TALK TO CUST AND EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM. I AM THE CUSTOMER AND KARL SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE .*AK