Brake problems ?

[blueranger99]

I just did a brake inspestion on a family member's 02 Escape (v6 - 4x4) and was wondering if anyone knows of any issues on these Escapes' brakes that I should watch for ?

[Skweeker]

The stock front rotors are soft compared to the stock pads. The rotors wear out fast ie you'll see a nice deep edge on the outside of the rotor where the pads do not touch.

I've installed front rotors twice on my wifes 2003 Escape 3.0L 4X4. The replacements are not stock and even they wear down quickly. She is hard on the fronts. Car is close to 70,000 miles and she has owned the vehicle since new.

She has drums on the rear and I have yet to see the rear brake cylinders leaking fluid. When the brakes are inspected I check all 4 wheels. When I get to the rear I use a small pocket screwdriver and pull the dust boots back on the rear cylinders exposing the interior of the boot and the piston. If I see a puddle of brake fluid I will replace the cylinders. The shoes were at 3/32 to 4/32 thick when checked during safety inspection last April or May so I'll get to check them all again soon.

Now, my 2004 Super Duty 6.0L Power Stoke went 100,000+ on the front pads. I really did not need to change them just yet (had 4/32 to 5/32 material left) but I figured since the truck was in for safety inspection I would just change them. I drive real conservative and most of the miles have been highway droning with cruise set.

[tcesni]

Other than the front rotors typically not thick enough to be turned and therefore needing replacement when the pads wear out, Escape brakes seem pretty reliable. You will read about complaints regarding the amount of dust off the stock front pads and how dirty they make the wheels. Wear rate is tied to driving style. My '02 has 140,000 miles and just recently had the rear liners replaced for the first time. The fronts have been done twice at 60k and 120k.

[5_labsownus]

My 02 Escape needs rotors and pads at 125K. As stated before the OEM rotors are soft and the pads are harder and that wears the rotors faster but you don't get the brake dust that cheap pads leave.
My 99 Sable has (for the most part) the same set-up as the Escape and I replaced the pad with ceramic and used slotted cyro rotors and have had very good luck out of them.
No or little dust, rotor wear, pad wear and have good stopping power.
At this point it looks like I will more than double the replacement interval between replacements.
The cost of the pads and rotors is more than OEM replacements but it looks as if I will come out better in the end with fewer changes and down time.

[blueranger99]

Thanks for the replys and advice.