Brakes Overheating...What to Do???

[rpr]

I have always had excessive nose dive when braking. My front rims fill up with brake dust within one month (I'm talking blackness here, not a light coating). However, now that I am driving my Explorer in some more mountaneous areas, I'm noticing that my brakes overheat and my pedal becomes very mushy. Same thing happens around town if I drive it hard during stop and go driving. This almost caused an accident, I could not stop even though I was standing on my mushy pedal. I'm not talking about drag racing the local kids when I say driving hard around town.

I have all new pads all around, and the rotars were resurfaced and are still within spec.

What should I do? Have the brakes bled? Different type of pad?

 

[jimmiecakes]

First thing is to make sure that the brakes aren't dragging. Sticking or dirty caliper guides, restricted hoses/lines, or even mistakenly adding oil instead of brake fluid can all cause this type of problem. A maladjusted pushrod in the brake booster is another possibility.

Whatever you find, I'd flush the brake system with new brake fluid.

 

[go off road]

Stop rideing your brakes shift out of over drive or into 2nd if your on your brakes all the time then yes they will get hot and you will loose your brakes this is normall

 

[mrboyle]

Have the fluid changed. Brake fluid absorbs water. As the fluid absorbs water the boiling piont of the fluid drops. The older the fluid the faster it boils. Once the fluid starts to boil it develops gas (air) in the system and causes the pedal to fade (get spongy). Another way to prevent brake fade it to go easier on the brakes, antisipate when you will need to use them and brake early.

 

[Big E]

I would also have the rotors measured again. I know when I turn rotors at work they get VEAR close to the "throw-a-way" point. Some techs leave them on the vehicle. I don't. Maybe the rotors are not thick enoguh to disapate the heat. And if you are running bigger tires you might want to look at a slotted rotor. But I would first start were Mrboyle suggested with the brake fluid. I have done this on my own vehicle and notice great results!


Eric

 

[rpr]

Tx for the tips. Any recommendations on a decent place to get the brake fluid changed? I was thinking Jiffy Lube could do it but apparently they don't do this service. I really don't have any local shops I trust around here (Long Island). Tx.

 

[oahrens]

I had by caliper lock up from not greasing to guide pins.
MAKE SURE this is done!!!

 

[rpr]

Anyone have any experience with AutoSpa? They just quoted me $84 to "powerbleed" my brake system which they said replaces 100% of the brake fluid.

 

[Stephen]

The Explorer is very heavy, with reltively small brakes on cheap Ford rotors (dont let Ford do a brake job or you'll get cheap Ford pads too), thats why the front rotors warp so fast. I have slotted rotors on mine and have noticed a dramatic improvement since I've had them (about 2 years) never warped, and they never fade in the mountains. I got mine from Performance Products.

As for the powerbleeding, I'm sure thats one of these "flush" deals everyone is so into now. They flush the engine, the transmission, the intake, and now probably the brakes. I'm not at all conviced of the effectiveness.

 

[Big E]

I have flushed my own brakes before. And if you think about it, it makes sence to fulsh your brakes. Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air. When is absorbs moisture the brake fluid and the moisture mix. Water compresses more than brake fluid. In hence will give you a soft or mushy peadal feel. I have done this on vehicles with 200k on them and restore the firm pedal feel. Beleive what you want. I would do it if you have alot of miles.

As far as Autospa. I have never heard of them. They are not around my area. But I don't think 84 is a bad price.


Just my two cents.


Eric

 

[Stephen]

I've never had the brake flush done, I have had them bled, but I have had the engine and the intake flushed and never notied a difference between routine cleaning and oil changes.

You'd know better than me though!

 

[rpr]

I'm probably going to have the power flush done at a local Midas shop. $54 before a $10 coupon on their web site. I figure its worth a shot for $44.

I'll post my observations.

 

[Big E]

I think you will notice a diffrence. You can do the same thing by bleeding your brakes too. Not sure if you are able to do that, but that might save some money.


Eric

 

[beavis195]

Midas does a good job with flushing brakes, but insist that they lubricate the caliper slide pins, and if you have them redo your brakes, insist they put the backing plate on the pad. They didn't do either my X and many others and the brakes wear ultra fast. I also need new calipers. They try to get away with as little as possible to keep ya coming back I guess. Just insist they do these things and I even watched them do it to make sure it was done.

 

[Stephen]

Hell, for $44 its worth a shot for sure.

 

[2001gtboy]

could it be that the ABS isn't doing its job?

 

[PghBill]

One Brake Overheating!

Originally posted by oahrens
I had by caliper lock up from not greasing to guide pins.
MAKE SURE this is done!!!

Just noticed it today! The rear passenger side rotor was hotter than . . . Well, my finger tip still smarts!

Ambient outside air temp was about 28 deg F. All other rotors just slightly warm. The X has 70,600 miles. Dealer said he 'did a brake job' at 56K miles when I bought it.

What are some possile causes? Caliper lock-up? Its going to the shop tomorrow! Should I get all 4 wheels serviced? Can any of you Explorers share your expertise? Thank you!

P.S. One dubious benefit of smoking (yeah, I know! ). . . I keep the rear windows cracked about an inch to vent the smoke. When next to something that could reflect sound, I could hear an intermittent "squeak" that wasn't there yesterday. That prompted me to investigate!

 

[yob_yeknom]

Originally posted by Big E
Water compresses more than brake fluid.

You're on the right track, but water doesn't compress. Read up a few posts and you'll see what actually happens that makes the pedal feel soft.

 

[410Fortune]

Not on person suggest that the quality of the pads could be the culprit????

Black dust = cheap ass brake pads.

Do yourself a favor and learn how to do your own brakes, use the premium carbon metallic pads from AutoZone (lifetime warranty)

Once you learn how to do the front brakes on a Ford you will kick yourself for EVER paying a single penny to have them done........

All those other suggestions are great too.
Explorer's are very hard on brakes indeed, you would be surprised to know that pads need to be replaced just about every year........

How many miles are on that thing?

 

[PghBill]

Not the Brakes!

Turns out my overheating was not due to the disc brakes but the emergency brake! (See my post above) Somehow, the passenger side shoes were expanded out. They wore down to metal on metal! Had to replace the shoes and the rotor! But now its A-OK!

Funny thing - it wasn't a frozen or stuck cable but somehow the shoes were adjusted all the way out.