... and boy was it nice! For a little bit.

Some of you may remember that I put the GTA away when I bought a Durango. Since my wife's Focus was a lease and it wasn't due until this June we were stuck with it. So I stored the GTA at my parents and drove the Focus.

Except 3 months is long enough and I definately wasn't gonna make it to June. So yesterday I went to my parents and swapped cars.

It was great! Millions of times better than the Ford (like I had to say that).

But there was 1 major problem. The brakes aren't very good. I dont' remember them being this bad, and they definately don't feel as good as on the Focus. That thing stops when I tell it to and the brake pedal feels firm. On the GTA I have to push the pedal down quite a bit. Overall it feels like the car is way too heavy for the brakes.

I don't remember the last time the brakes got done, so maybe its time now. Any other thoughts on this? A quick search brings up the topic of stainless lines. Worth it?

Alas, it wasn't to be. I had to leave work to get my kid and on the way over I got a check engine light. Since I didn't have time to diagnose it (and the Focus still has a couple of months left in the lease) I reluctantly went back to my parents to swap cars yet again. I'll have to deal with the check engine light and the brakes before I can take it back again.

 

The stock 10.5" discs are pretty bad no matter what you do with them. Half the time I can't tell if I'm coming or going. 12" 1LEs will fix that!

 

Sometimes getting a better brake pad can help a bit, its no replacement for a good set of rotors, but it does help braking.

This'll sound really bad all things considered. But when I finally went from driving my Escort to driving my GTA I felt that the GTA stopped WAY faster than the Escort. Brake feel was a big improvment.

Now, if the brakes on the 3rd gens are bad, and I'm complimenting them what does that say about the Escorts brakes....

 

I'd love a 1LE setup, but don't have much cash right now.

Guess I'll have to settle for a regular brake job.

 

brakes are one of the easiest things to do in. although i wouldnt do someone elses brakes if they gave me a million dollars. i would feel bad if their car all of a sudden did not stop. anyway, bearing grease is like 5 dollars(repacking the bearing everytime you do the brakes is well worth it) and the brake pads are like 25 dollars, brake fluid 3 dollars. repack the bearings, slap new pads on(dont forget the monkey grease so they dont squeal) and bleed the brakes if they need it.

 

o ya if you wonder what im trying to suggest...do the brakes yourself.