1994 Ford Explorer SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

I DRIVE A 1994 FORD EXPLORER 4X4. MY COMPLAINT IS WITH THE FRONT BRAKES. WHEN THE INNER BRAKE PADS WEAR TO A CERTAIN POINT, THEY FALL OUT OF THE CHANNELS THAT THEY SLIDE IN CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, ALL THAT IS LEFT TO STOP THE VEHICLE IS THE PISTON OF THE BRAKE CALIPER. THERE IS NO WEAR INDICATOR TO WARN THE DRIVER THAT DISC PADS ARE WORN OUT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR

THE BRAKES ARE MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AND LOCKING UP WHEN THEY ARE APPLIED. TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR A CHECK UP, AND RESULTS SHOW THAT THERE IS FLUID LEAKAGE AND BRAKES ARE WORN OUT.*AK

THE BRAKES WERE MAKING NOISE AND LOCKING UP WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR CHECK UP, AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT THEY WERE WORN OUT AND LEAKING FLUID. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY CONSUMER.*AK

THE BRAKES WERE MAKING NOISE AND LOCKING UP WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR CHECK UP, AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT THEY WERE WORN OUT AND LEAKING FLUID. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY CONSUMER.*AK ABS SYSTEM WAS CONTAMINATED. FOUR TIMES IN FEB., 2005 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MIDAS. THE CONSUMER ASKED THE MIDAS MANAGER TO CHECK THE BRAKED BECAUSE HE FELT THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THEM. EACH TIME THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKES WERE FINE. MIDAS AUTO CORP WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS PARKED IN HIS DRIVEWAY AND IN NOT DRIVABLE. *BF *NM

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE AT 10-20 MPH VEHICLE VIBRATED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND DEALER REPLACED BOTH FRONT ROTORS/ REAR DRUMS AND FRONT PADS TWICE, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

WHILE BRAKING PEDAL FELT SPONGY AND STEERING WHEEL TURNED TO LEFT, THEN LOCKED UP. VEHICLE IS AT DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER HAS HAD THE FRONT BRAKE PADS REPLACED 6 DIFFERENT TIMES DUE TO OVERHEATING, AND ALSO THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED, A BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS INSTALLED, THE REAR BRAKES SHOES WERE ADJUSTED AND THE REAR DRUMS WERE RESURFACED, THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS COMING ON DUE TO LOW BRAKE FLUID.*JB *YH

LEFT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER LOCKED UP ON DISC WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'V EXPERIENCED THIS WITH THIS BRAKE SYSTEM. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN 10/98 WITH ONLY 1825 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. AT THAT TIME, THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER LOCKED UP ON THE DISC, BURNING OUT THE PADS, DESTROYING THE DISC AND CALIPER. THE CALIPERS SHOULD NOT BE LOCKING UP LIKE THIS! ON THE CURRENT FAILURE OF THE LEFT CALIPER, THE BRAKES HAD BEEN CHECKED JUST THAT WEEK, AND THE CALIPER SLIDE RAILS CHECKED AND LUBED, WHICH SHOULD HAVE PREVENTEED THE LOCKUP. THERE'S OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM (IT'S ANTI-LOCK) TO BE EXPERIENCING THESE FAILURES ON A CAREFULLY MAINTAINED, EXTREMELY LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE.*AK

FRONT BRAKE PADS BROKE IN HALF ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. EACH TIME DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND REPLACED PADS. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

BRAKE PADS WEAR EXCESSIVELY DUE TO ROTORS. CALIPERS HAD PUSHED PISTONS AGAINST PADS. PISTONS HAD SHATTERED. *AK

BRAKES REPLACED. *SLC

ABS VALVE IS DEFECTIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHEN A QUICK STOP IS NEEDED, MY VEHICLE ENDS UP SLIDING INSTEAD OF STOPPING. FEELS LIKE SOMETHING GETS CAUGHT AND PREVENTS THE BRAKES FROM WORKING, ESPECIALLY BAD ON WET ROADS OR WHEN DRIVING DOWN AN INCLINE.*AK

VEHICLE PURCHASED 12/1996. BRAKES REPLACED FIRST TIME 03/02/1997 AT 66730 MILES. ON 08/31/1997 BRAKE PADS DISSINTEGRATED CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. PADS, ROTORS, AND CALIPERS REPLACED ON 09/02/1997 AT APPROX. 70747 MILES. SAME PROBLEM OCCURS ON 02/02/1998 AT 74095 MILES, 06/11/1999 AT 84823 MILES, 07/13/1999 AT 85493 MILES, 03/16/2000 AT 90037 MILES, AND MOST RECENTLY ON 12/10/2000 AT 96878 MILES. ALL BRAKE PADS WERE RAYBESTOS SILVER INSTALLED BY NATIONAL TIRE AND BATTERY (FORMERLY TIRE AMERICA). MAJORITY OF MILAGE IS CITY. OTHER IS HIGHWAY. THERE ARE NO OFFROAD MILES. VEHICLE IS USED AS A PASSANGER VEHICLE NOT FOR HAULING OR TOWING. FAILURE OCCURS WHEN BRAKE PAD LINING CRACKS, CRUMBLES, AND DISSINTEGRATES LEAVING ONLY BRAKE BACKING AGAINST ROTOR FOR BRAKING. THIS USUALLY HYPER-EXTENDS THE CALLIPER AND SCORES THE ROTOR BEYOND REPAIR (TURNING DOWN) REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE PADS, ROTOR ASSEMBLY, AND CALLIPER ASSEMBLY. WHEN FAILURE OCCURS, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKING ACTION (PEDAL DROPS TO THE FLOOR) UNTIL BRAKE PEDAL IS PUMPED AFTER WHICH A GRINDING NOISE (BRAKE PAD BACKING INTO ROTOR) IS HEARD. FAILURE HAS USUALLY OCCURED AT LOWER SPEEDS WHEN APPROACHING A STOP. *AK

VIBRATION/PULSATION DURING BRAKING AS IF ROTORS WERE WARPED. (THIS IS NOT THE HIGHER FREQUENCY ABS EFFECT WHEN WHEELS ARE SLIPPING.)*AK

ABS LIGHT COMES ON/ DOESN'T GO OFF. STOPPING DISTANCE HAS TO BE INCREASED . VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DIFFERENT MECHANICS WHO CAN'T DETECT THE PROBELM CONSUMER WILL TRY TAKING IT TO A FORD DEALER.*AK

BRAKE EVALUATION REPORTED GOOD. WITHIN 1 MONTH ROTORS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. BRAKES REPORTED GOOD, TWO MONTHS LATER, REAR SHOES REQUIRED REPLACEMENT.

BRAKES FAILED CAUSED CRASH INTO DIRT BANK,SEAT BELT FAILED CAUSED INJURIES TO FACE ARMES LEGS BACK

WHEN BRAKES ARE FIRST USED IN THE MORNING THE BRAKES DONT APPLY EVEN CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE ALSO NOTICE A CLUNKING NOISE FROM BRAKES IN THE MORNING

FRONT DISK PADS CRACKED AND WORN OUT IN ABOUT 11 TO 12 MONTHS THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR THE PAST 6 YEARS. ROTTORS ON BOTH SIDES CRACKED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT BOTH ROTTORS AND PADS SHOW SIGNS OF HEAT DAMAGE

WHILE TRAVELING ON WET ROADS AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY WOULD LOCK UP, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ON TWO OCCASIONS THE BRAKE DRUMS, SHOES AND LININGS IN THE REAR WHEELS DISINTEGRATED CAUSING THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP WHEN APPLIED ON WET OR DRY PAVEMENT. *ET

BREAK PADS WEAR OUT ABOUT EVERY 12,000 TO 20,000 MILES. MUCH LOWER THEN SHOULD. *AK

THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE HUB KIT MALFUNCTIONS DUE TO DEFECT ROTOR FAILURE. YH

BRAKES FAILED. *YC