RE: when applying brakes sterring wheel turns to left
Durbine: your problem is (most likely) the lower control arm bushing on whatever side the car is pulling toward when you hit the brakes. The bushing between the arm and the frame. Replace the entire control arm and the problem will be fixed.
If you want to test the theory, find a friendly oil-change place (with a pit, not a lift). Go down in the pit and have the oil change guy get in your car and move it forward slowly then hit the brakes and repeat while you watch the suspect bushing with a flashlight. ANY play means it's shot. What's happening is when you hit the brakes, the control arm is loaded in compression, the bushing is allowing it to move inward, and your toe is changing, so the car pulls.
I had the same problem on my '94 and '97 Marks.
Ford says the bushing is not serviced seperately. It could be pressed out and replaced, if you can buy a bushing, but it's not much more to just replace the whole arm, since sooner or later the ball joint will take a dump also, and again, Ford says the ball joint is not serviced seperately. When you're changing the control arm, the manual says don't put a wrench on the strut rod near the bend. put the wrench farther up or down on the flat spot, the bend is already a stress concentration point and you don't want to nick it or anything and add another stress riser.