Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Brakes got a question..help

My svt just rolled over to 30,000 miles... yeah she's getting to be a real old maid =).. but anyways I have noticed in the past day or two my brakes feel like the are rough, and not stopping as well as the used to, also the break light keeps coming on.. I'm just wondring what it should be time to replace.. I need something i should be able to get Locally as in a big chain autoparts store.. Got any sugestions? IM driving my girlfriends car right now but she gets back in 3 days so i need to have mine back on it's feet asap... any help would be great.. Thanks

The red brake light on the dash comes on from either or both of two things. The park brake switch indicates that the park brake is not fully released or that the brake fluid is low. The brake fluid can be low from worn pads causing a need for more fluid to reside in the calipers.

Your brake roughness is very likely from rotors that are starting to warp. It can also be from brake caliper slide pins that are sticking and in need of lubrication or replacement.

In short, you are in need of a brake inspection. It is very likely that you are close to needing brakes. Probably just front brakes but they need to be looked at to know for certain. It is not uncommon to need to replace the rotors due to wear on the first brake job.

My guess is that you need front brake pads and that the front rotors can be machined so they won't need to be replaced. Let us know what you find out.