Car Question: Brakes

[Pathogen03]

Heya,


I drive a 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis, yes, the pimp car for the aspiring 18 year old.

I dont put much mileage on it at all, less than 50 miles a week(thank god it, gets about 13mpg city) but im about to go on a 700 mile trip, and the car has had an odd sound/feeling coming from it

Sometimes when I press the brakes down lightly at lower speeds (only time I notice it maybe?) the resistance on the petal increases, it makes a vibrating, slightly clunky sound and sometimes squeals a bit, im assuming this means I have ground the brake pad into about nothingness and it needs replacing.

My only question concerning it was: shouldnt that happen every time I press the brakes then? So im at a bit of a loss.


If it is brake pads, I hear this is something I can do myself.. I'm not very handy personally, but if I need a jack I would need a friends help who does a lot of car work, but is currently not avaliable so I would need to postpone the trip.

Anyone have any rough figures for how much it would cost to have the problem fixed?

 

[Pathogen03]

If anyone cares, the car is black and has leather seats

 

[thomsbrain]

if you are feeling a steady vibration in the pedal and it seems a little dependant on speed, it may be warped rotors, which isn't something you really need to worry about before your trip, though you'll want to get them turned or replaced eventually. if it feels like metal on metal grinding, then you probably still need new rotors and pads, but need to get it done before you leave.

 

[FoBoT]

taking the tires off and visually inspecting the drums/rotors/pads is easy
post some pics

 

[Merlyn3D]

Take it to a goodyear gemini station, they've always been reasonable with prices with me, and quoted me at lower than any other place I take my car to. Sounds like you need new pads at least, and maybe need to remachine the rotors. Brake work is always good to get professionally done when you have little or no experience doing it, b/c if you do something wrong, you're screwed.

 

[Ramma2]

Take the wheel off and just finger check the rotor. If its smooth on both sides then you're good. If its rough or has trenches ground in it, time for new pads and rotors/remachine old rotors.

You might not hear it every time depending on how you stop. Speed and quickness of stop and transfer the majority of brake work from the front to rear or rear to front, so they wouldn't grind as much.

 

[compnovice]

It might be the CV joint too, in that case be ready to shell out some dough...

 

[C'DaleRider]

Originally posted by: compnovice
It might be the CV joint too, in that case be ready to shell out some dough...

Dude, a '96 Grand Marquis ain't no FWD car......totally RWD all the way. Now, it has U-joints in the driveline, but no CV joints.

 

[compnovice]

Originally posted by: C'DaleRider

Originally posted by: compnovice
It might be the CV joint too, in that case be ready to shell out some dough...

Dude, a '96 Grand Marquis ain't no FWD car......totally RWD all the way. Now, it has U-joints in the driveline, but no CV joints.

Whoa didnt know about thr RWD.... Had the same problem in my Camry and the mechanic said it was the CV joints. Havent got them repiared till date though...

 

[Pathogen03]

I have NO car maintinence experience, honestly I dont even know how to use a jack. I can however probably take the tire off tomorrow (daylight) after class (5pm EST) and try to finger-test the rotor and take pictures for you guys..


Its a vibration that also increases the resistance of the brake pedal, doesnt seem to affect braking much, so im leaning towards your rotor suggestions..

So if the rotor is smooth, im set, it means its either fine or warped, if its ground or has any marks dug into it, get it replaced by a mechanic along with the pads.. ?






On a side note, any idea what a mechanic would charge to first off just look at the car and tell me whats wrong ?

 

[Pathogen03]

and any idea how to isolate it to a wheel? the problem sort of sounds like its in the front (dont hold me to that) and the only vibration I feel is really in the pedal..

 

[Ornery]

Pads are $20.00 and rotors are $25.00 each at Advance Auto Parts, so just figure on replacing both. If you don't own the tools to do the job, it's about time you bought them. They'll practically pay for themselves the first time they're used!

BTW, you'll probably use the brakes less on the trip than you do around town, so there's not really a big hurry. If the pads have worn into the rotors, they're cooked anyway. And, for $25.00 who cares?

My son's boat...

 

[Pathogen03]

Mine is black and has a black canvas hardtop, and god yes its a boat

Well, I am a college student so $25 is still rough, especially with trip expenses.

Ah well im going to see if I cant pay a friend who is at UMD to come take a look at it... I dont have a jack or any tools to remove car parts.. all my screwdrivers are for PC case sized screws


Happy to hear its not super-expensive though

 

[Ornery]

1. Actually, it's a midsize. You have no idea what a boat is!

I hope you look over his shoulder while he does it. This is one of the few repairs a do-it-yourselfer can do on cars anymore, but can save you hundreds everytime.

 

[Pathogen03]

Just took the car for a spin with my father, and his opinion is the ABS is shot, had me test HARD braking, it never engaged, and lo and behold, the ABS light was on. (Damn digital dashboard, wheel blocks it perfectly, couldnt see it from drivers seat)


So his opinion is its an ABS problem, drive carefully in rain, but no rush to fix.


We could only reproduce the vibration very lightly, and only shortly after the car was started up, and the second he felt it, he said it was the abs, and I realized thats what it feels like


But im assuming the ABS is malfunctioning, even though its supposed to just disable while malfunctioning
and enabling at random braking

 

[Ornery]

Oh Gawd, you must have an LS package. Your cheap fix cost probably just jumped through the stratosphere. Gotta love this high tech crap, eh? I dread paying for the repair of the ABS on my car. Come to think of it, my wife has an LS, and it doesn't have ABS. Damn, I can't believe people actually choose to pay for that option!

 

[thomsbrain]

edit: new info while i was posting