Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Bad Brakes

When I bought my used '95 Contour the front brakes were wore slap dab out. Beyond metal to metal, they were gouged and warped all to hell. Back brakes were worn but still servicable. I installed new rotors, drums, pads and shoes and called myself bleeding the brakes (no more air came out). Since then (about 9 mo's) it feels like either the MC is not putting out enough pressure or the brakes aren't clamping with their full force. Try as I might I can't lock up the brakes and in a panic stop they stop very poorly. It has a high firm pedal and pumping has no effect.

I have the feeling that the previous damage to the front rotors was caused by them being overused due to the rear brakes not functioning properly, and following up on that thought that the same malfunction of the rear brakes is also causing my present poor braking ????

Could there be a balance or proportioning valve acting up ? I know about the recall on the '96 models rear proportioning valve but Ford says it doesn't apply to the '95 ? Besides I understand that was for a lockup problem ? BTW, this car has moderate to severe road salt damage to the undercarraige.

Any ideas ?

I put brakes all around on my mystique several months ago, and I had the same problem. I put rotors, pads, rear shoes, rear drums, wheel cylinders, etc. For a few months, and a few thousand miles (can't really remember how long) my brakes were weak. I bled them time and time again, but it didn't help. Then, with time, they got better, and now I've got what I consider to be good brakes. I've got a post on here somewhere talking about that. It would have been maybe 3-6 months ago when I posted. I figured the pads were finally seated, or broken in, or whatever they do.

Ford uses pressure reducing valves on Contiques. Although they may be mounted in different places on different years, all of the later ones are mounted near the rear wheels, in line just before the flex hose.

I have seen some cars (other than Contiques, some Escorts come to mind) with the valves mounted at the master cylinder, but I don't know for sure where they are on a 95 Contique.

The recall was about valves that were or could be damaged by salt on the roads that were mounted near the rear wheels. They were replaced with a revised part. When they acted up (according to the recall information as I best remember) that one rear brake would not properly release.

ABS cars used a different part and were not involved in the recall.

Back to your original question. Make sure your brakes are not badly glazed, especially the fronts. Make sure the rears are properly adjusted. As the above poster noted, sometimes it takes certain brake lining material a long time to bed in and the pedal will not feel quite right until it does.

Did you check if the calipers and wheel cylinders works properly, if they're seize they won't put enough pressure to the brakes.

Nic.

I still haven't been able to fix this problem. I replaced ALL the rear lines from the MC to the rear wheels ( I'd like to meet the SOB that designed that ratf#$%k) and the car still has crappy brakes. In a panic stop the pedal feels like it hits something hard and the car just gradually comes to a stop. Under normal low speed conditions the brakes feel adaquate but if they're "stomped" on they just won't lock the wheels. ???????????
PLEASE SOMEONE.....HHEELLLPPPPP !!!

If your Tour has ABS, check the wheel speed senors to ensure they are not damaged or dirty. You should get 1.5 to 2 volts at the ABS sensor on each wheel.
Also drive the car in reverse at 20 mph and firmly apply the brakes. This will make the self adjusters move the rear shoes up to the drums for good adjustment after service.

No ABS and I set the rear shoes with a shoe gauge on assembly and then worked the adjusters (working the e-brake handle does the same thing as the backing up adjusting), anyway it made no difference.

this happened to me once the brakes wasnt working right and one time i just opened the cap for the brake fluid and put it back onand it worked better after that.

Check master cylinder is holding vacuum. My brakes work bad if the rotors have rusted up from damp conditions. Did you use semi-metallic pads in the front? The pedal should have a firm feel to it, but the harder you press, the quicker the stop.