93 escort brake problems

[Powerefx]

I started to have problems with my 93 escort wagon brakes the other day. The brakes catch on fine, but i believe the brake pedal is loose. You really have to depress the brake pedal more than necessary so the brakes begin to catch on. ANy idead what can be wrong or what i need to swap? Thnx.

[TheSilentChamber]

Does it make any noise such as a whislting? Does it do it at all rpm ranges, acompanied by anything else such? I may just need bleeding/new fluid. But it could also be the booster or master cylinder.

[curtis73]

Sounds like the master cylinder is going bad. The other possibility is that you have a leak somewhere and all the fluid has leaked out of the reservoir allowing air in one of the chambers rendering either the front or rear brakes useless.

Replacement (rebuilt) master cylinders are cheap and very easy to install. The repair shouldn't cost you much.

[Powerefx]

Well i checked the fluid and it seemed to be fine, it wast the a yellowish color, and not brown and muddy when it get messed up, so im guessing the fluid is good. And as far as i noe ive seen no signs of leaks. Ive also noticed when im backing out of the garage, and once i release the brake for the car to beggin rolling, it makes this wierd noise as if the axle is churning something, cant really explain it and dont noe if its the axle. But anyways, do you guys suggest swapping the master cylinder, and bleeding the brakes myself, i dont think its too difficult, or is it sumthing i should take to the pros?

[curtis73]

If you follow the proper procedures, you can do it yourself pretty easily.

You should also take this time to check and make sure your pads/shoes, and calipers/wheel cylinders are in good condition. Given the inexpensive cost of brake parts for American cars, its hard to argue not doing all of it at once, but that is easy to determine once you have the wheels off and can look at the brakes themselves.

When you go to the parts store, get a master cylinder, a quart of DOT 3/4 brake fluid (synthetic, regular, doesn't matter), about four cans of brake cleaner spray, and make sure you have a set of tube wrenches. You can use plain old end wrenches to get the brake lines off the old MC, but if one is stuck, you'll round it off and make it a PAIN to work with.

The new master cylinder should have directions on how to bench bleed it. There are three types of plunger and three different methods; one uses short strokes, one long, and one requires three hands

Bench bleed the MC, install it, then bleed all four corners starting with the back right, back left, front right, and front left. You should get tea-colored fluid, then a couple tiny bubbles, then clear fluid.

It can be a one man job, but easier with another person (I prefer blondes) running the pedal while you bleed each corner.

[Moppie]

Originally Posted by curtis73

Given the inexpensive cost of brake parts for American cars,

All Escorts are either Japanese (rebadged Mazdas) or British.




A squealing and scraping noise sounds like a completely worn out bad or lining somewhere.

[TheSilentChamber]

I'v had two escorts (still have one... that reminds me... I need to get that thing running...) and neither of them had any mazda parts. As for british.. escorts arnt worth shit so I would assume there not british.

[Moppie]

The British invented the Escort as a replacement for the Anglia in 1968,
The rest is History: http://www.jyanet.com/cap/1129fe1.htm

[curtis73]

True, but they were different critters from the start. The American Escort is as American as it can get. Some were assembled in Mexico, but they got all American parts until about 98. Here's a picture of Powerefx's type of car: http://www.theyeagergroup.com/Sport_...arter_View.jpg

But you're right; they were an European idea first.

[Moppie]

Originally Posted by curtis73

The American Escort is as American as it can get.

They are still rebadged Mazdas
Its becoming quite common in the states now to swap some of the Twincam Turbo engines into the US Escorts, as its an almost bolt in swap.

http://www.answers.com/topic/mazda-323

http://images.google.com/images?sour...23&sa=N&tab=wi

[curtis73]

In 1991, the US Escort and the Mercury Tracer, were replaced by models based on the Mazda B platform also used by the Mazda 323. Ford, which owned a 25 per cent stake in Mazda, already sold a version of the 323 in Asia and Australasia, called the Ford Laser, which replaced the old rear-wheel-drive Escort there.

Well I'll be dipped in caramel. In 91 they went to the Mazda B platform??? Didn't see that one at all.

[TheSilentChamber]

Mm... caramel... They may use the same platform.. but pretty much everything else on it was american (well.. "American")

[Moppie]

Originally Posted by curtis73

In 91 they went to the Mazda B platform??? Didn't see that one at all.

And if you compare photos of the earlier versions of the American Escort its also very clear its based heavily on the Mazda, clearly useing the same platform, and basic body structure.
I have no idea how similar the drivelines are, but I wouldn't be surprised if its all Mazda based.

Originally Posted by TheSilentChamber

but pretty much everything else on it was american (well.. "American")

Its stilll a Mazda

Its like taking 3 91 Toyota Corollas, one made in Japan, one made in South Africa, and one made in New Zealand.
They will all look slightly different, only a limited number of parts will be interchangable, for example all 3 use differnt suspension parts, but the NZ and Jpn cars will use the same body panels while the SA car will look similar, none of the body panels will fit.
They are all still Toyota Corollas, but because they are made in differnt parts of the world on differnt production lines useing differnt mixtures of imported and local produced parts there are strong differnces between the 3.

The American Escort and Mazda 323 are exactly the same, obviously styling changes were made to the Escort to fit the Ford Corperate look and suit American tastes, and I imagine many other changes were made to meet avliablity of parts and for assembly in America.
But its still a Mazda design, and I think you will find shares a lot in comon with the Mazda in other parts of the world.
Its one of Fords first real Global cars.



Of course none of this helps our friend with his brake problems, but it does provide an interesting history to his car.



p.s. I prefer Choclate sauce, unless its Hot Caramel......