Ford Forums banner

Brake pad replacement

6K views 22 replies 13 participants last post by  AU1SIXA 
#1 ·
Being the wuss that I am, I am taking my baby to get new brake pads. I think I read somewhere that you should change all four sets at the same time. Is this true? and the mechanic reckons I should get some disc machining as well. It does have 90,000 on the odo so maybe it should. what do I know! any tips?

Oh yeh, Anyone know what type of globe goes in the high mount brake light? I have the high arch spoiler with brake light as well but I would like to check it out with the extra light.
Cheers.
 
#2 ·
brake pads

Yes I would reccomend getting new pas all round and yes get your discs machined. It will promoted better stopping and help prevent warping. Also you will get more life out of not only your pads but your discs too. It is a common practice for all brake mechanics.

Enjoy:driver:
 
#3 ·
If your back brakes are fine, (both pads and disks) not worth changing them.

Can you feel vibration thru the brake, especially when lightly applying brakes? are the brake disks scored? if yes to either then a machining is in order.
If no, waste of time and in fact may reduce braking capacoty slightly due to thinner disk heating up quicker.
Any half decent mechanic will lightly sand the disk surfaces to remove glazing.
 
#5 ·
Sure discs will be reduced in there life span over a large ammount of time, but what price would you pay for your life with just chucking in a set of pads with glased over rotors. I find that machining the rotors will give the brakes a greater bite when pulling up. If your on a tight budget you might want to risk it.

Machining a disc will only take as much as it needs to get the surface flat. Maybe 0.1 of a mill to .5 of a mill if its already flat. It may differ from how much the rotor is warped. I guess it just depends on what you want out of your braking system.:mrt:

Myself? Well I would take all pre cautions especially when I've got family in the car.

Why would ABS or Brakepower or places that do brakes have machines to do rotors? A bit of scenery? The machine is there to do a purpose, and if I need to get my brakes machined, I will!

My point is, when a specialist tells you that you need to machine you discs, dont think that he's just there to get every dollar out of ya. Machining only cost about $15 a rotor. Not much for a little piece of mind!

But you will do what ever you want to in the end!

my 2c
 
#6 ·
oh, and dont get perfomax pads from bendix, i'm still awaiting my refund from them, they can only be described as "dangerous"
 
#8 ·
The machines are there for machining warped or more commonly DTV, and it doesn't just cost $15 more/disk, you have to pay for RnR.
Like I said, light sanding of the disk will remove any glazing, no machining needed to remove glazing.
Been doing the sanding thing for years, and yes in family cars, my restored Mustang and I have recognised the need to machine OR in fact junk the disks entirely. Had a machined disk crack on me due the the machiner going undersize and not telling me!!

Also I used to pit crew for a Formula Ford, we used sandpaper to remove any glazing.

There is more info on dba.com.au
 
#9 ·
The reason the machine is there also to make money!!
By putting new rotors in they don't make as much.imo
Also with D.B.A around fitting them is not that much more expensive..You may argue cost.. But as said safety first!!What price life??? Then fit new rotors !!!!
Especially on performance car or driven that way...
 
#10 ·
ebxr8240 said:
You may argue cost.. But as said safety first!!What price life??? Then fit new rotors !!!!
Especially on performance car or driven that way...
Amen to that. A couple of months ago a few of us went on a cruise through some twisties and at the end I almost ran up the date of the guy I was following. When we stopped for a chat we could all smell my pads cooking. I'm sure if it was daytime we would have seen the smoke as well.

At that point I decided new brakes were the go. I got DBA cross drilled and slotted for the front and slotted for the back, with Bendix Ultimates all round.

The rotors and pads cost me ~$640 and fitting them along with new front bearings and a brake fluid flush was another $450 or so. Just over $1,100 all up but worth every penny.

Like ebxr8240 said, what price life?
 
#11 ·
my point exactly 3Toed & ebxr8240! sure go the cheap way if you want to take the risk. Those that value safety can rest easy. Doing it the proper way is in my opinion the best way no matter the cost!
Up to the owner in regards to which mechanic they chose and how far they want to go in the end. Life is too precious to take short cuts!

my 2c
blueoval
 
#12 ·
Sorry its not a short cut, its called replacing what needs replacing your not risking anything by leaving perfectly servicable disks on.

3Toed didn't mention the problems were anything to to do with replacing glazed disks, he simply uprated his braking system from standard - totally different issue.

Sure blindly replacing/doing everything is good for piece of mind but I don't believe in replacing/working a servicable part. I'd consider changing the brake fluid more of a safety concern than machining a glazed disk as you can sand the glazing off easily by hand - this IS the proper way if the disk is otherwise perfect, simple as that, machine it and its money down the drain and a thinner disk more susceptible to heat and therefore brake fade.
 
#13 ·
I would and will only change disks and machine them when they are needed. If i were to machine the disks on my taxi's each time I done the pads (which I only change when needed and not every time the car comes in), I would be buying more disks that is necessary and would cost me fortune!

Like Kieron said, change what needs to be changed, no need to get pedantic about something that isn't saftey related. And again like Koeron said, sandpaper fixed up glassing disks. If it doesn't fix the problem, change the pads your usining!

It is more important to change the fluid more often than machining disks!
 
#15 ·
what ever:wank2:

think what ever you guys want. I could argue over this till I'm blue in the face but :wgaf: .

Ppl can live with the own consequences in the end. Best they find out themselves on an individual basis.

Ha just goes to show why I dont use taxis! They drive like maniacs and charge like a wounded bull!:whip: prefer to push a Holden!:finger1:
 
#17 ·
If you find the truth hard to accept, its of no concequence to me.

You havn't backed your arguments with anything of value. I've been doing this for somehting like 18 years including on the Formula Ford, Alex gave you more real world info from the taxi industry.
 
#18 ·
ALEX AND KIERON I AGREE WITH YOU ON DISC MACHINING.
HAVE BEEN A MECHANIC FOR 23 YEARS WITH 18 YEARS WORKING ON TAXIS AND LIMOS BOTH IN FORD DEALERS AND IN MY OWN BIUSNESS FOR 11 YEARS AND ONLY MACHINE DISC WHEN WARPED AS MACHINING DISC WITH EVERY SET OF PADS WOULD MEAN REPLACING DISC APPROX EVERY THIRD SET.
ALSO THE THINNER THE DISC THE EASIER THEY WRAP UNDER HARD BRAKING WHICH IS MORE DANGOUS THAN NOT MACHING THEM ON PAD REPLACMENT.
 
#19 ·
Just wrote a long reply and then was unable to post !!!!!
I have been in the brake game for 22 years. Used to think that machining was tthe way to go.
Now believe that machining should only be carried out if pads have scored rotor or there is an obvious runout problem.
Fitting quality pads most important, deglaze rotors with emery paper also. This is NOT a dangerous practice. Some of the machining I hace seen IS VERY dangerous. If you must have your rotors machind make sure the mechanis breaks the bead(groove)in the rotor by using emery paper and also gets rid of all residur anf filings. Most important if using Metal Kings
 
#20 ·
I have to agree brake machining is the biggest con job ever pulled.Not needed unless rotors are warped then is only a tempory fix because once they are warped and start to shudder they will do it again between 10,000 and 20,000ks.Best to just replace pads untill rotors give problems and then replace rotors.if you can't afford new rotors get second hand from the wreckers much better than machining.
 
#22 ·
Agree machining disc rotors is a regular con (Like the blokes who insist you need injectors cleaned every 2nd time you go for a service).
A mate of mine until the middle of last year worked for a certain "brake specialist" (green & gold livery) & they were all told in no uncertain terms that they must include disc machining & caliper rebuilds in every quote. It was a part of their sales target.
They rarely mention fluid flush (unless doing a caliper rebuild)as leaving it induces a better chance of the customer having to come back for more repairs.
 
#23 ·
WOAH muther ****ers who who who whoes green and gold around here is it like affilated to any service station etc. whats the go with that shit. Man its so dodgy at least i have a mate next door that own a bridgstone to where i work and i just got my brakes rubbed back with emory paper aswell. Had plenty of meat on the rotors but he said sand them to de glaze em. Not worth machining them basically telling me its a joke but not in so many words.

STeve B
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top