YACT: Brake problems

[Avalon]

Just trying to figure out what's going on with my car so I can come to a solution.
1996 Ford Taurus GL Wagon V6

Short story:

Got new brake pads 6 months ago when I purchased my car at a dealership. The brake work was done by the mechanic they had on site.

Just a week ago, I had to take my car into the shop due to grinding noises.
It turns out that my 6 month old rear brake pads were completely shot, and starting to wear down my rear left rotor, which was also "brand new" at the time I bought my car, so I had to replace that as well.

I'm starting to think that the mechanic from the dealership screwed me over and put used brake pads into my car when I first purchased it.

Update:
I finally got some free time and took my car to a friend's garage. He's a pretty decent mechanic, so I had him take a look. He put it up on the lift, gave the tires a spin, did further inspection...after a while he concluded there was nothing wrong with my car and it was in great shape. No locked calipers, no nothing. Back to the drawing board?

 

[TitanDiddly]

4/10

 

[GoingUp]

Im no law expert, but this sounds like a case where you could win in small claims court. I would at the minimum file a complaint with the BBB

 

[Avalon]

No need to rate, I'm just venting to anyone that feels like listening.

 

[Colt45]

oh noes, not a brake job.

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: Colt45
oh noes, not a brake job.

Oh noes, the brake job wasn't the point of frustration, getting ripped off was.

 

[Malak]

Originally posted by: Gobadgrs
Im no law expert, but this sounds like a case where you could win in small claims court. I would at the minimum file a complaint with the BBB

 

[Colt45]

Originally posted by: Avalon

Originally posted by: Colt45
oh noes, not a brake job.

Oh noes, the brake job wasn't the point of frustration, getting ripped off was.

maybe you just rode the brakes for 6 months?

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: Colt45

Originally posted by: Avalon

Originally posted by: Colt45
oh noes, not a brake job.

Oh noes, the brake job wasn't the point of frustration, getting ripped off was.

maybe you just rode the brakes for 6 months?

Maybe

 

[Pepsi90919]

um, maybe you have a seized caliper?

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
um, maybe you have a seized caliper?

Nah. They only replaced the pads and a rotor. Car brakes great now, so it was definitely that.

 

[laurenlex]

1. Stop posting here
2. Start posting at dealership
3. ?????????/
4. Profit

 

[no0b]

Originally posted by: Avalon

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
um, maybe you have a seized caliper?

Nah. They only replaced the pads and a rotor. Car brakes great now, so it was definitely that.

that doesn't mean you do not have a seized caliper

After driving the car for a while put the car on a jackstand so the tire can spin freely.

If you can with minimal effort spin the wheel then the caliper is not seized.

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: laurenlex
1. Stop posting here
2. Start posting at dealership
3. ?????????/
4. Profit

What's step 3?!
I MUST KNOW!

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: no0b

Originally posted by: Avalon

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
um, maybe you have a seized caliper?

Nah. They only replaced the pads and a rotor. Car brakes great now, so it was definitely that.

that doesn't mean you do not have a seized caliper

Wouldn't they (place I took car to) have noticed when they did a full check?
They're usually pretty good.

 

[no0b]

Originally posted by: Avalon

Originally posted by: no0b

Originally posted by: Avalon

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
um, maybe you have a seized caliper?

Nah. They only replaced the pads and a rotor. Car brakes great now, so it was definitely that.

that doesn't mean you do not have a seized caliper

Wouldn't they (place I took car to) have noticed when they did a full check?
They're usually pretty good.

Dunno, but they could have just used a device(the plate and screw thingy) to open the caliper and so they have no idea it was seized.

also check out my edited post.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: Avalon

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
um, maybe you have a seized caliper?

Nah. They only replaced the pads and a rotor. Car brakes great now, so it was definitely that.

of course it will brake great. my 95 taurus did the same thing, the only time it was noticeable was when it was grinding away.

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: no0b

Originally posted by: Avalon

Originally posted by: no0b

Originally posted by: Avalon

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
um, maybe you have a seized caliper?

Nah. They only replaced the pads and a rotor. Car brakes great now, so it was definitely that.

that doesn't mean you do not have a seized caliper

Wouldn't they (place I took car to) have noticed when they did a full check?
They're usually pretty good.

Dunno, but they could have just used a device(the plate and screw thingy) to open the caliper and so they have no idea it was seized.

also check out my edited post.

Thanks, I will try that out Saturday morning. I appreciate it.

 

[Avalon]

Just an observation I made today...
I gave the car its first real drive since I got the new pads and rotor put in.
The car definitely does not feel right. It almost feels like the car is riding the brakes ever so slightly.
Plus, when I got out of the car, I thought I smelt something like hot rubber.

If the problem is a seized caliper, how much do you think it will cost to get it(them) replaced?

 

[DrPizza]

If it's a seized caliper, you can do-it-yourself for under $10, unless you have to replace the caliper, in which case the diy price is <$100, or for a shop to do it, several hundred.

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
If it's a seized caliper, you can do-it-yourself for under $10, unless you have to replace the caliper, in which case the diy price is <$100, or for a shop to do it, several hundred.

:shocked:

I think I will be able to do it myself if I keep that shop price in mind.

 

[farmercal]

If you rebuild or replace the caliper make sure you know how to properly bleed the brake system or you will find the brake pedal has a spongy feel to it when you try to brake.

 

[thomsbrain]

1. take car to different shop
2. ??????
3. profit

 

[TechnoKid]

Care year make and model please. Also 4-wheel disc brakes, or front disc rear drum?


Did you get new pads all the way around initially? Did they resurface the rotors or put in new ones or "just the pads"?

When they fixed the bad pads in the rear and the rotor, did they just resurface the rotors, or did they replace [both] rear rotors? Rotors should be replaced in pairs. Or resurfaced in pairs.

Did the front rotors and pads check ok when you had the rear fixed again?

Do you have a low pedal height?

Is the brake pedal spongy? Hard?

When is the last time you had the brake fluid flushed/changed?

Does one of the wheels smell more than any of the others? Or is hotter?

Does the vehicle pull to one side when braking?

Does the pedal pulsate at all?

Did the shop properly torque the wheel lug nuts/bolts using a torque wrench (NOT "torque sticks")

You say that the brakes feel like they are partially on; i.e are they draging? Can you tell if its the rear brakes or the front brakes? Easy way to tell would be to smell the rear brakes versus the front ones, very hot pads have a distinct smell. If it is the rear brakes that are draging, then I would suspect a misadjusted parking brake system first, not necessarily a stuck caliper piston.

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Care year make and model please. Also 4-wheel disc brakes, or front disc rear drum?


Did you get new pads all the way around initially? Did they resurface the rotors or put in new ones or "just the pads"?

When they fixed the bad pads in the rear and the rotor, did they just resurface the rotors, or did they replace [both] rear rotors? Rotors should be replaced in pairs. Or resurfaced in pairs.

Did the front rotors and pads check ok when you had the rear fixed again?

Do you have a low pedal height?

Is the brake pedal spongy? Hard?

When is the last time you had the brake fluid flushed/changed?

Does one of the wheels smell more than any of the others? Or is hotter?

Does the vehicle pull to one side when braking?

Does the pedal pulsate at all?

Did the shop properly torque the wheel lug nuts/bolts using a torque wrench (NOT "torque sticks")

You say that the brakes feel like they are partially on; i.e are they draging? Can you tell if its the rear brakes or the front brakes? Easy way to tell would be to smell the rear brakes versus the front ones, very hot pads have a distinct smell. If it is the rear brakes that are draging, then I would suspect a misadjusted parking brake system first, not necessarily a stuck caliper piston.

Let me try to take a stab at answering some of those questions.

1996 Ford Taurus GL Wagon, 100k miles. Can't remember if it's 4-wheel, or front disc rear drum. I'll find out.

When I first bought my car, I believe it was only the rear that was bad, so they got new pads and rotors for the rear only. Not positive, I'll have to ask.

When I got my rear pads replaced, I had both rear rotors replaced as well.

Front rotors and pads checked out ok when I had the rear replaced a second time.

Low pedal height? I don't know...seems fine to me. It's not spongy or rough either, and I had the fluid flushed when I first bought the car.

As for the smell of the wheel...I checked for it the next time I drove my car, but did not smell anything, and have not since. I don't know if I was imagining things now because I was annoyed or not. I'm pretty sure I did smell it, though. I'll have to give it a good drive again and report back.

The car does not pull at all when braking, the pedal does not pulsate, and I don't know if they used a torque wrench on the bolts or sticks. I don't see why they wouldn't use a wrench, though, but again, not sure.

When I first got the car back out of the shop, it did seem to feel like the car was riding the brakes ever so slightly. I can't tell entirely though. Like I said, when I give it a good ride in the next couple of days, I will give it a smell test and report back.

If it's possibily a misadjusted parking brake system, what can I do for that?
Thanks for the help!