Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Brakes new brake probs?

Hey guys, finally got around to putting on my new rotors and pads. Everthing went smooth with the installation, then on the test drive there was a few concerning things I noticed. First of all, I did not open the brake lines so no air should have gotten in, so I didnt bleed the system. The problems I am having are: one; the brake pedal needs to be pressed about half way to the floor to get them to start to grab, where my stock's would be brakeing from a very little touch. My second problem is with the parking brake, I used to only pull it 3 clicks and it would hold the car on even a steep hill, now when I pull it, it comes all the way up before I start to feel it holding, and even then it wont hold it on a steep hill. My questions are; first of all, why is all this happening? and second, do the calipers on the contour adjust themselves as my pads wear down? And would the fact that I adjusted a "screw" type adjustment underneath the inner rear pads all the way in have anything to do with the problem? Please someone help me, cause I need to drive 3 hours home tomorrow for school! Thanks for any help guys!!!! -Nick

If your vehicle is equipped w/ drum rear brakes, you might want to try adjusting them either manually or by doing the drive-in-reverse-&-slamming-on-the-brakes-until-the-pedal-comes-up routine (the self-adjusters operate when in reverse).

It could also be that your self adjusters are not operating at all....that's the only reason I can think of for a front brake pad change to affect pedal actuating point...my $00.02!

I'm finishing my brake job this afternoon. I'm stuck on one of the fronts, because I can't get the caliper spring back on properly.

If those springs aren't re-installed properly, your pedal could go to the floor, nevermind just halfway.

Unfortunately, I have no advice on how to get those springs on properly. I searched the forums exhaustively.

Well, I have all four disc brakes... I will give the reverse brakeing thing today and see if that helps, someone else told me about this and I kinda laughed it off, I mean, why would they self adjust only in reverse? seems stupid to me, but oh well, if thats the way it is, then I will play by their rules and give it a try. Thanks for the help so far, and please keep the responses comming for me!!! Thanks guys! -Nick

NICK good luck kid.....

i hope all works out well for you

i dunno about that reverse braking thing though, ive never heard that one before

Thanks guys, I think I got the parking brake to work right now, and I think the brakes just needed breaking in cause they are grabbing good now... Im going to give it another day and I will give my reports on how it is working... Again, Thanks for all the help!!!! Peace y'all... -Nick

As a further note:

All-disc systems "self-adjust" every time the brake pedal is pressed.

Disc-drum systems adjust one of three ways:

1. You get under the car w/ the tools & adjust the rear brakes per recommended procedure.

2. Depending on vehicle design - self-adjust when brakes are applied while rolling in reverse.

3. Depending on vehicle design - self-adjust for every use/release of the emergency brake.

Check it out!!

I just finished my brakes today. The caliper springs are very difficult to install. I had the same pedal problem , but installing the springs correctly fixed the problem. Correct installation is not obvious.

Also a good brake bleeding is needed.

As a rule of thumb!

Only do one side of the car at a time so you can use the other as a refernce when you go to put them back together! Thats what mechanics do when they are installing brakes for the first time!

-Andy