[Augusto]

the brakes in my 97 expedition were somewhat bad so I changed the pads both front and rear, also turned the rotors, cleaned everything with ABRO brake cleaner, and also bleeded all 4 corners, the problem is now the truck won't brake, when I push hard, I can't even make the tires squeal, I push the pedal with both feet and the truck slows down very lazzy, the pedal feels OK, maybe just but almost not spongy, it has good heigth and feels rigth, but the tires don't stop hard, at 20 mph it takes about half a block to stop.

please help since this is safety issue.

Thanks

Augusto.

[helrazr3]

do you have anti lock brakes? make sure all ther sensors and wires are connected if you do.

also make sure you didn't twist the brake hoses when you moved the calipers you may have colapsed the lines thus preventing the fluid from getting to the pistons

[Augusto]

all wires and sensors are OK, so are the brake lines, also I tested the calipers, the pistons move freely.

Thanks.

Augusto.

[helrazr3]

re bleed the brakes and make sure you start with the wheel farthest from the master cylander. did you top off with the correct brake fluid? you might have to bleed the master cyl. too.

[Augusto]

I drained the fluid from the reservoir then filled it up with blue ATE DOT3 fluid, then bled from RR to LF until blue fluid came out.

I can't remember what car was not supposed to be bled pushing the pedal all the way in, a stop had to be used under the pedal so the master cylinder don't hit the bottom, could this truck be something like that?

I plan on bleeding again, but want to make sure I'm doing it rigth.

Augusto.

[helrazr3]

im not sure about that, try and get hold of a repair manual for the truck and see what it says about bleeding the brakes. also im sure someone here will know its just late so you may have to wait till tomorrow for some good answers. i'm not familiar with your truck specifically i'm just going with common brake knowlege.

[HalfOunce]

Why did you "drain the fluid" in the first place? and what were the brakes like prior to ever working on it???? besides wore pads i assume.....

[dinger]

Did you bleed the master cylinder when you refilled it? Also, did you adjust the rear brakes, assuming you have drum brakes on the rear? You may have to bleed the brakes more than once if you didn't bleed the master cylinder.

[37 plymouth coupe]

if you don't have a pressure bleeder (as most of us don't) try gravity bleeding the system. Quick and easy..

[Augusto]

I drained the reservoir because I wanted a complete flush of the brake system, I didn't drain it so low that air could get in, I left about 1/2 inch of fluid, then topped it off with fresh fluid, then bled all wheels until new fresh fluid came out.

I'm a certified mechanic and didn't make any mistakes, but this time I'ts winning me.

The truck has four wheel disc brakes.

ABS works fine and no trouble codes.

Bled again and no change, hoses OK, no restrictions, no kinks, everything seems rigth.

Still have to use both feet to bring the truck to a stop, it's very dangerous.

Is there any chance that MOTORCRAFT pads are not good? I bougth them from the largest Ford dealer here, I'm sure they are not counterfeit as happened in the past in USA, I read it in a '80's magazine.

They look genuine, quality is easy to spot.

I use Motorcraft pads in my 99 explorer and they work great.

Please think of what could be wrong.

Augusto.

[techron]

i dont think its a bleeding issue because you said the pedal felt like it did before, if you had a fluid problem the pedal would be lower/ spongy if all you did was replace the pads i would think that is the source of the problem. did they get contaminated with somthing ? are they making full contact with the rotors? id pull them out and check them. also look at the rotor surfaces, you said they were turned, are they smooth on the serface or rough? they might have been turned wrong. they do rough cuts to true them up then a fine cut to get the right finish and they have to have a sharp bit in the lathe.

[Augusto]

the rotors were turned in an exelent machine and a good machinist did the job, have a very nice finish and are true, checked with micrometer and dial indicator, I washed them with brake cleaner made by ABRO (is this good stuff? I only use 3M but didn't find it this time), it dried well leaving no residue, I also washed the pads and sanded them a bit to remove the glaze, everyting seems rigth, but is wrong, it's driving me crazy.

Augusto.

[techron]

never heard of abro but i assume its brake cleaner, i think you said you are an ase tech so i am sure the work is correct, i think you need to pull the pads and inspect them, i would think not getting correct/full contact or defective lining material.

[Augusto]

I already did, it's fine, I also suspect of the pads, but how not to trust genuine ford stuff from a very reputable ford dealer?????

Augusto.

[techron]

might also be a brake booster issue although i dont know why if you didnt touch it and it would obvious if you had a vacuum leak. i reread your first post and you said you had to stand on the pedal with both feet to get it to stop. sounds like a bad brake booster, if the pads look good id start looking at the booster