Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting BRAKES POP AFTER I RELEASE MY FOOT

I'm just wondering if anyone can pinpoint the cause of this problem. Fixes are helpful, but knowing what causes the problem is also helpful.

Could be trouble with the hydraulics or pedal linkage. I suspect the master cylinder and calipers are getting gummy. Try a brake system purge. While doing that, check the movement of the various pistons for sticking, including the master cylinder. If you have an MTX, check the clutch hydraulics, too. They're fed by the brake master cylinder.

Is this happening after every time you stop, or only when you first start the car and start rolling in the morning? The latter would be the pads actually sticking (via slight oxidation) to the rotors. You actually have to break them loose. I've had my pads changed to Motorcrafts with a lower metal content, and they no longer weld themselves to the rotors, and (knock on wood) I haven't warped my rotors since the change.

Now, not having any vehicle info or history here, it sounds like you have something rusty or pitted, e.g., caliper slide pins, that are preventing your pads and/or shoes from moving freely when you release the brake pedal. If things are bound up, releasing the brake pedal would result in everything "popping" back into place instead of sliding.

Not much substitute for getting the car on a lift and taking the wheels off. A brake inspection by a competent shop should do the trick.


Good luck!

I can't speak for the others with this problem, but in my case...here is what happens:

E-brake has been set overnight. Clutch in, start the engine, shift to neutral, clutch out. Let the engine warm up. Clutch in, shift into 1st, release e-brake, let clutch out. POP!

The sound never occurs in the course of normal driving - only when the car has been sitting for an extended period of time - say more than 6-8 hours or so - and when the e-brake has been set, and when it does happen, it is a singular occurrence only. The problem is especially evident when it has either been raining or has been very damp out while the car has been sitting.

I like the theory of a bit of oxidation "welding" the pads to the rotors; I'm surprised that more others haven't experienced the same problem, though.

I have the same problem. In the morning almost everytime. I looked at the level of the brake pads and they are really low. I would also think that there could be something else too like garrick mentioned. Right now there is more brake pad material left on the front brake system then the back and I notice some pulsing coming from the front end. It seems that the back end is not doing its work. I will be bringing it in for a check up. Car - contour v6 mtx 1996-1997.
Had the hand brake kit done, and it saved me like twice in fuel. After a year of this, I was mad. Went through two sets of rotors in one year too.
Anyways, if you don't have the upgraded hand brake kit, I definitely recommend it.
Up here, there is salt as well, so I am checking the cable for stickiness.
Your not the only one that has this problem.

Oh forgot to mention when I back the car up, and turn it sometimes(once in a blue moon) lets a huge sound out. HONNNNGNN, then dies, because I usually stop and go forward. This is problem related to the brake pads still in sticky mode, and going against the opposite direction.

FYI, I had all of these problems intermittently on my '96 with 4 wheel disc brakes. The brakes would pop and bang after being left overnight and would moan when cold, especially in humid weather. When they wore out, I replaced my brakes with carbon fiber pads and drilled brembo rotors in front. No brake wierdness problems since and ZERO fade. These brakes take a LONG time to break in and don't stop well until they are warm so they may not be for everyone, but they are great hiway brakes. Just my 2 cents.