There was a set of standard semi metallic pads in a box in the back of my car when I got it. The car sat at least a year, maybe upto three before I brought it back to life. The car was from FL. If the pads sat in the car for at least a year could they go bad? I put them on my car to save money for other parts at the time. I cannot get my fronts or rears to lock up and I know the rears are due to a standard problem with rear disk, but the fronts have me puzzled. They have been bled several times, I have Earl's lines, a new bench bled master and new rotors. My Calipers collapsed just fine when I changed the pads. My peddle isn't sluggish or sloppy and it really isn't low, the car stops ok but I would expect a little more from the fronts. The fronts will not lock and if they get hot they get scary.

I know the rears will grip then back off when on stands. The rears won't even hold the car at idle when on stands, the ebrake will. They were new pads though. I have tried the adjustment article on the board and it didn't work for the rears.

Any ideas? I am out of them. I have a LS1 Master to go in but that will only look better in the car.

 

pads don't go bad, at least I hope not. if they do I'm in big trouble. the glue that holds the pads might get weaker, but I'm guessing that would take quite a few more years, and even then you still could be ok. maybe you should just take it apart this weekend or something and see if you can find something wrong. its gotta be something.

 

Or maybe they're just cheap, crappy pads.

 

if the system is bled properly and no air is left in the lines and you are still having low brake performance, it might be brake fade. I see this alot when people dont clean the oil off of new rotors when the put them on. Same goes for any other grease or fluid not meant to touch brake pads. Once they have been saturated they are toast. Usually brake fade is characterized by poor braking that gets worse the hotter the brakes get. Also because of the excessive friction the brakes will overheat quicker. Hot spots, blued areas etc.

Other than air and fade, (i didnt read about what rear brakes you have) you may have the rear brakes out of adjustment (drum type). Also the brake control system could theoretically be at fault, however i have rarely seen this occur (combo valves etc.) I dont think we can fault the calipers as you said they are new and usually one caliper will fail at a time which will cause a pull. I would check for a fade condition and if so clean and score the rotors and replace the pads and recheck. Id also check rear brake adjustment for good measure. good luck

 

Thanks for the responses. I am going to try some Hawk Ferro Carbon pads and see if that helps the front, definitely won't hurt. As far as the rears, the car is rear disk, I am going to try to bleed and adjust again, maybe rebuild the rear calipers and se ewhat happens. I will post my results, probably next month.