An unexpected brake test

[jorton]

2005 Ford Focus 155,000 miles
I have a quart of brake fluid, planning on a brake fluid flush. Been reading some about brake pads and shoes, rotors and drums. Fronts are 7 year old Advance Auto silvers with 66,000 miles on them and the rears are factory parts. Now after my unexpected brake test I feel all parts are good and I'm no longer looking at getting new parts.

Friday morning driving to work in moderate traffic and light sprinkles I made an emergency stop from 60 mph. The tires skidded the last 10 - 15 feet and we stopped 4 feet from the 2 cars that wrecked in front of us. We were close enough to hear the crunch. After we continued on to work I felt an anxiety attack coming on but I immediately shook it off thank you Taylor Swift!

My question is, Do you think new AAP silvers are the same high quality as my 7 year old AAP silvers? Before the brake test, I was considering getting a new set.

 

[Quest]

brakes mean nothing if your suspension cannot keep your tires firmly on the road.

Given the mileage, check/replace your struts with fresh new ones.

Q.

 

[jorton]

Originally Posted By: Quest
brakes mean nothing if your suspension cannot keep your tires firmly on the road.

Given the mileage, check/replace your struts with fresh new ones.

Q.


There is an occasional crunching sound at very slow speeds. Does that sound like struts or strut mounts?

 

[Lolvoguy]

at your mileage, I wouldn't hesitate to replace everything (shocks, struts and mounts) given the low cost to do everything. Pair that up with a wheel alignment and I'm sure it'll feel like a brand new car!

Mind you, the sounds your hearing could be attributed to bad suspension bushings (control arm bushings maybe?).

 

[901Memphis]

If the tires skid then your tires are the current weak link. Sounds like you could use someone new rubber.

 

[Lubener]

I would go for the Golds. I tried the silver line and they were very noisy. I returned them for the golds. The salesman said the silvers were famous for being noisy due to their construction.I never heard a peep from the golds and I have them on two vehicles.

 

[Jetronic]

if your tyres are skidding the ABS isn't working! get that checked out first.

 

[CharBaby]

The crunching could be anything! I would check into the suspension parts such as shocks/struts and their Mounts! Also, sway bar links and or bushings.

As far as your brakes, it seems as they're still meaty and at least locked up(No ABS?). It was your tires that skidded and maybe you could use a new sets of tires. This doesn't mean your tires are bald, just not doing their job. Rubber get hard as it ages so, skidding is one of the bad things tires do to let you know it's time for another set!

 

[CharBaby]

As tires age but, still have good tread:

*Skidding handling
*Poor braking
*Harsher ride over bumps(regardless of tire PSI)
*Lack of wet traction/hydroplaning

Are ONLY some of the things to look at when thinking about your current tires! Do your current tires exhibit any of these downfalls?

If so, then it's time for new tires for safety purposes!

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: Jetronic
if your tyres are skidding the ABS isn't working! get that checked out first.
Good point. ABS will kick in if tires are bouncing because of bad damping from the struts.

 

[mount]

I don't see any problem here with your car.

 

[jorton]

Originally Posted By: Char Baby
As tires age but, still have good tread:

*Skidding handling
*Poor braking
*Harsher ride over bumps(regardless of tire PSI)
*Lack of wet traction/hydroplaning

Are ONLY some of the things to look at when thinking about your current tires! Do your current tires exhibit any of these downfalls?

If so, then it's time for new tires for safety purposes!

No, These Dunlop Signature tires do not exhibit any of these downfalls. They are not as responsive to steering inputs as the old tires and they are very good on wet roads, and they don't hydroplane.

I think the tires skidded because the car does not have ABS. It is a retired rental.

 

[Yah-Tah-Hey]

Who is Taylor Swift?

 

[CharBaby]

Originally Posted By: HosteenJorje
Who is Taylor Swift?


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_Swift