My Brake Story

[sperold]

My 95 MTX was off its usual game. Not sluggish, but not light and lively either. When I shoved in the clutch while moving, it seemed to coast the predicted amount.

Then my gas mileage took a header into the toilet. I drive 120 miles at a time, so the gas gauge shows me when things are not right.
Could swear I could hear extra noises.... like a tire noise.
Decided to check my rims when I finished one of my treks.... and 2 were hot.
Figured wheel bearings or brakes dragging, dug in deeper.

Took off the calipers and every caliper had one pin stuck so badly, I needed a small pipe wrench to get them rotating and pull them out. Cleaned them up and lubed them and re-installed them and installed new pads
On the back brakes, only 1 side to the disc was working (clean and shiny). Installed new pads on the shiny side and left a thick old pad on the nasty side to see if the disc will clean up. Had to buy a special tool to turn the piston in the caliper of the back brakes. Took a long time, unlike the front.

Check your brakes. Mine performed well enough that I never thought they were having issues. If your car seems off - little sluggish and gas mileage going west, have a look at your brakes. My pads were still allowable, but they were out at the end of the piston travel and I don't think things work as well in that situation.

Car seems OK now and I will know for sure when I do my next 120 miler.

 

[sperold]

Got my latest 120 mile run in. Car seemed light and lively.
Got 28 miles per American gallon on a trip that had more than the usual slow spots, and a few stops in the built up areas. No hot rims when I was done.
Very happy with the outcome.
The rear rotors are not cleaning up and I am going to replace them tomorrow.
My brakes must have been done with absolutely no lubrication on the slide pins. My sliders required a pipe wrench to free them up.

 

[frosho]

Even WITH lubrication, those slider pins can get seized pretty good if neglected long enough. Once they start rusting, they just get worse and worse.

 

[sperold]

A side note.... on my 89, one of the front calipers did not have the hidden Torx stud that sinks out of sight when you tighten it up. It had stainless pins and no rubber boot and sleeve in the caliper itself. The stainless pin went in with ease and you could see a good portion of it sticking out after it was seated. It seemed like a really good design and there was no way it could seize as there was too much side clearance between the stainless pin and the caliper hole.
Does anyone know if these are available now?
Overall, even though it still had the Torx head, the stainless pin on the 89 - 91 style calipers seemed like the best of all worlds. If it would have had the hex head, it would have been fabulous.

 

[sperold]

Changed the rear rotors today.
First issue is I couldn't find my anti-theft key insert for the locking lug nut. Had to buy a self threading "socket" that bites into the outside diameter of the anti theft lug nut and removes it. Had trouble re-using it, as getting the removed lug nut out of the "socket" is a challenge.
Had the overtightened, or stuck bolt issue, on all the bolts that hold on the caliper bracket. Had to use heat on one side, and still took a tremendous amount of force to remove the bolts. I recommend a 6 point socket for this job.
Swapped out the rotors and added the new pads and things are good now.
I am sure I will get 30 MPG in my regular run with this brake issue solved. My last run had some side issues in a tourist area that spoiled my highway mileage. In the past, 24 mpg was a good run, but then again, I had the brakes on the whole time.

 

[kevinspann]

Rust makes things harder than they have to be.


Not sure what pattern your locking lug nut has, but I have a couple of lug nut keys.

Also, hammering a socket over them works in a pinch, or the tool that you used. Really makes the locks useless.

 

[sperold]

I thought about the value of the lug nut keys as I removed the locking lug nut with this special tool. My locking lug nuts are off for good, but thanks for the mention of them being available; if I would have had more time, I would have done it that way.
It would be a pretty pathetic thief that would steal the slicers off of a 15 year old SHO. I figure, if it did happen, he would bring them back in a few days when he realized he couldn't even give them away.