Mushy Brakes

Got3Fords · #1 08-29-2005, 09:14 AM

I have a 2001 Taurus and the brakes feel mushy. I have never even opened a brake line. I have had to replace the rotors twice and they are a little shaky now and could stand to be trued again. It has 48,000 miles on it.

KimMG · #2 08-30-2005, 04:09 AM

Try bleeding the brake system and see if there is an improvement.

Got3Fords · #3 08-30-2005, 08:59 AM

Why is Brembo adverising here? They don't even have a link to Ford's in "shop by make"!!

drdisque · #4 08-31-2005, 11:47 AM

Brembo makes OEM replacement rotors for the taurus

mr_tw · #5 08-31-2005, 12:39 PM

it could be possible that the rotos you have are a cheap set (happened to me as well) and then they tend to warp easy, if you have 4 wheel discs then it's really easy to replace them, just go out and buy an expensive set of rotors, (around 100 a pair) and that could solve your problem

Got3Fords · #6 09-01-2005, 08:40 AM

Yep, I need to do that. I have been rotating the stock rotors with a cheap set from Advance Auto Part Failure.

joe92k1500 · #7 09-01-2005, 01:19 PM

Check the rear drums, and make sure the self adjusters are adjusting correctly. Check for loose or broken springs, or bad wheel cyl. If the adjusters arent working it will cause your pedal to get mushy due to the increased shoe travel. When i bought my truck the prev. owner put them on wrong and they wernt adjusting. Put them all back together and instant firm pedal.

TomV · #8 09-01-2005, 04:52 PM

You must do a lot of braking to have gone through 2 sets of rotors in less than 50 ,000 miles. My wife has done that with her cars, but I am able to do more than twice that on a set.

I would not recommend turning the rotors since you are removing a lot of material when you do that. In my experience the chattering comes back very soon. I would invest the money in new rotors instead since you can get them for a reasonable cost. I have read (and experienced) where the chatter coming from your brakes is often not the result of warping but of material transfer from the pads to the rotor surface. The metal from the pads gets welded onto the rotor surface and creates high spots. You can spot this effect by seeing what appears to be an image of the brake pad on the rotor surface. A fine emery cloth can remove some of this material. I think it is rather difficult to warp the rotors, though not impossible.

Got3Fords · #9 09-02-2005, 09:03 AM

Well I never mentioned chattering. The car shakes when the brakes are applied, plus there is a little shimmy in steering wheel just cruising. I think I will invest in new high quality rotors and pads.

I found a place on the web that has supposedly some of the best rotors. www.frozenrotors.com The prices are very reasonable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomV

In my experience the chattering comes back very soon. I would invest the money in new rotors instead since you can get them for a reasonable cost. I have read (and experienced) where the chatter coming from your brakes is often not the result of warping but of material transfer from the pads to the rotor surface. The metal from the pads gets welded onto the rotor surface and creates high spots. You can spot this effect by seeing what appears to be an image of the brake pad on the rotor surface. A fine emery cloth can remove some of this material. I think it is rather difficult to warp the rotors, though not impossible.

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