Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Brakes is this fade? how do I fix?

So I was on this "spirited" drive through some twisties, really getting into it, and when I had to slow down at the end of the twisties for a stop sign, my brakes where barely grabbing. I drove about a mile, then they where fine.

I have OEM pads on the rear, and some "premium" no name pads on the front (I know, what am I expecting?) Was this "fade" from the hard braking through those twisties? I thought newer brake pads wheren't supposed to fade like that?

I've got KVR Carbon Fibers on my wife's LX and they are really grippy, but I haven't pushed them so I don't know how good they are when they really heat up, or the Mintex streat pads... any reveiews/comments on some good pads?

Yes it is fade.

You can get bigger/better rotors, grippier pads, full brake kits (Baer Wilwood), don't bother with x-drilled or slotted. You can get the SVT brakes on the front for fairly cheap as well.

I've heard good things about the EBC greenstuff as well as mintex. I'll be replacing my rotors/pads soon so I've been looking into it. My sticking e-brake has pretty much chewed up the rears .

Oh yeah, almost forgot: don't forget some high quality brake fluid. I've heard good things about Valvoline Synpower dot 4, but I haven't really researched it much yet.

sweet, thanks for the input. I've half-assed researched this before, and I was thinking of doing the SVT sized front rotors (not cross-X or slotted, i've read the discussions a few weeks ago) and the KVR pads on my wife's car seem really grippy. hmmmm, maybe time for a brake job

Biggest bang for the buck would be just upgrading your pads, assuming you have enough disc left.

what kind of pads have you liked?

Check you wifes rear brakes. I found that rear pads didn't wear much over 40k miles until I installed my KVR's up front and now they are toast in about 24k miles.

-Andy

That isn't brake fade. Brake fade is where you almost have no brake action when trying to stop with hot brakes. What you have is brake grab. Either way, the solution is usually the same, better brake pads. With brake fade an additional possible cause is boiling brake fluid so fresh or better fluid is in order if you have had brake fade. Brake fade is something you never want to feel, and once you have, you will never forget it.

I just thought of something else that can cause brake grab, and that is cracked rotors. If the rotor has a lot of hairline cracks, the rotor thickness variation can become much greater when they are hot. Take a good look at your rotors.