any time you step on the brakes and it pulls hard to one side, it has to do with the brakes, but what is the mystery you can explore next, Most good brake and alignment shops will do a free inspection, and since you are admittedly not as proficient with cars, start asking questions, I would get a front end inspection, and have the front brakes inspected too here is why. I think there may more than one issue.
A front end shop will put the front end in the air, and shake the crap out of it, it looks like it is random , but they are looking for excessive play, watch what they do, even if you have to stand away a little watch and ask questions this is how to learn more, also if you have tires that have worn unevenly, this can cause a problem, and keep in mind driving down the road, that places where the road has been broken down by heavy trucks and traffic, the road looks kind of bowed up in the middle, but it is really mashed down on both sides from excess weight moving slow. especially near red lights, stop signs and steep up hill climbs where the trucks all grind slowly up a hill. If the drum brakes on the front are not perfectly adjusted, or the amount of brake shoe is about the same thickness or less than the backing plate it sits on( this is how to tell if shoes are worn) then it is time to replace the brake shoes, If you choose to do this your self pay attention to how the brake shoes sit on before you take them apart, it is possible to put shoes on backwards, and it does not work right, also leave one side put together, and then you can refer to it if you have a problem.it is always a good idea to change the wheel cylinders too,and you should buy a spring kit for each wheel, not every one changes the springs, but I do because you are supposed to. Buy a repair manual online for that car, this is the best investment to make on an old car, that 69 is one of the best years in my opinion, and it is well on its way to being a collector car, in the next 10 oe 20 years, that car will be worth a down payment on a house, the big money right now is a big block, it adds 70 percent to the value, so if there is a 350 in it now great, find a nice tall deck 454 out of a motor home and build a bad ass big block to drop in that nova, when you decide to sell, it will be outrageously rare, and they are paying big bucks now for crap sitting in mud in fields if they can find one, so hang onto that dream car, and in 20 years it will be a diamond for sure!! good luck
