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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 328
CEG\'er
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OP
CEG\'er
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 328 |
I have had brake problems ever since I have owned this car.
Wether its raining and the roads are wet or its a sunny hot day, I have terrible brake fade and it comes on quickly. Did SVT forget to upgrade the brakes to larger calipers and rotors? Last night was the final straw when I was running side by side with a souped up dodge dakota truck at a very high rate of speed(which I won't mention). He was able to stop much quicker than me, while I held the brake pedal to the floor and couldnt stop in time. I ended up having to swerve into the middle divider which is full of gravel and bushes to avoid slamming into the car in front of me. My front valence is all gone to crap now from the rocks and twigs. My rotors were smoking heavily and I could smell that nasty brake smell. I have driven many other vehicles and know they all would have stopped in half the distance it took me to slow down in the tour. My pads were replaced about 5 months ago with a high quality brand name. Do I have a serious problem with my brakes or is this something common with SVT's?
THanks.
1999 CSVT-Black 15.8@89mph
Driver for hire. PM me.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,521
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,521 |
Originally posted by BURNTU2:
Did SVT forget to upgrade the brakes to larger calipers and rotors?
No, rotors are larger than on regular Contours.
Originally posted by BURNTU2:
Last night was the final straw when I was running side by side with a souped up dodge dakota truck at a very high rate of speed(which I won't mention).
Now that wasn't too smart, considering your brakes have been less than par lately. Don't blame the car for your ignorance. Not trying to sound like an ass, but racing is never a good idea when you can't stop.
Originally posted by BURNTU2:
My front valence is all gone to crap now from the rocks and twigs.
That really sucks. Something wrong with a car is never good. Hope you get it fixed and everything gets back to normal.
Originally posted by BURNTU2:
My pads were replaced about 5 months ago with a high quality brand name. Do I have a serious problem with my brakes or is this something common with SVT's?
What brand? It's very possible that the pads you had installed fade easily and that, when the brake work was done, air entered the brake lines....causing mushiness and a lack of pressure under heavy braking. Or there may be a more serious issue, that was not created by the recent brake work. In terms of other SVT Contours having recurring brake issues, I haven't heard of any to date...
Chris G.
~ 98 Mystique LS ATX
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 152
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 152 |
What brand? It's very possible that the pads you had installed fade easily and that, when the brake work was done, air entered the brake lines....causing mushiness and a lack of pressure under heavy braking. Or there may be a more serious issue, that was not created by the recent brake work. In terms of other SVT Contours having recurring brake issues, I haven't heard of any to date...
I'm glad you have become a brake expert, all those phone calls paid off.
Jim
2000 Black Contour SVT...SOLD
2003 Lexus IS300, Silver, 5 Speed
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Joined: Aug 2002
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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Originally posted by 2K SVT:
I'm glad you have become a brake expert, all those phone calls paid off.
That and my recent fun with warpage. Hey, I do what I can. 
So when do you expect to post again? Next year? Maybe I'll have the privilege of you being proud of some spring/strut installation advice I give. 
Chris G.
~ 98 Mystique LS ATX
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 5,810
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
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start with changing the brake fluid. The only fade issue I had was after I had about 2.5 years on my original brake fluid. I flushed it all out and had no more issues with fade. I used the valvoline synplus (whatever its called) in the gold bottle from autozone.
Fluid with moisture in it can cause fade quicker than anything else. The moisture vaporizes under high brake loads and turns to steam, causing the same effect as air in the line only no warning before hand.
Try the fluid and then go to a safe place and do the same kind of stop minus the twigs and sh|t. If that doesn't fix it, change the pads to a better brand. You should reallly change your fluid once every year or so.
warmonger
Former owner of '99 CSVT - Silver #222/2760
356/334 wHP/TQ at 10psi on pump gas!
See My Mods
'05 Volvo S40 Turbo 5 AWD with 6spd, Passion Red
'06 Mazda5 Touring, 5spd,MTX, Black
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 759
Veteran CEG\'er
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Veteran CEG\'er
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There also was an issue with some original 98 SVTs receiving regular Contour front brakes... I remember a few people mentioning it a ways back 
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 337
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Mar 2002
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While good advise, pad fade and fluid fade are completely different.
One hard stop as stated above won't generate fluid fade. Just not enough heat in there yet. If it was an air problem the feel would be bad or soft all the time, even at low speed and modest pressure.
The description sounds much more like pad fade. The pedal was not described as 'mushy' or down to the stop, but the car simply didn't stop.
Sand down the rotors, source some new pads, bleed it completely and see where it takes you.
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Joined: Sep 2000
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"Absolut Rara."
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"Absolut Rara."
Joined: Sep 2000
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yup, sounds like the "high quality brand name" pads that were used are junk.
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 152
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 152 |
Originally posted by Antiramie:
Originally posted by 2K SVT:
I'm glad you have become a brake expert, all those phone calls paid off.
That and my recent fun with warpage. Hey, I do what I can.
So when do you expect to post again? Next year? Maybe I'll have the privilege of you being proud of some spring/strut installation advice I give.
I don't want to over exert myself by posting to often.
Jim
2000 Black Contour SVT...SOLD
2003 Lexus IS300, Silver, 5 Speed
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Joined: Sep 2002
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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Although this probably isnt the problem, are you sure you got the correct pads when they were replaced? Auto parts stores have been known to give out the wrong pads for svts.
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