Here’s another video in the 1998 Ford Contour Fixing it Forward series. In this episode I work to eliminate the brake pulsation this car had. After sitting for a while, brake rotors can get rusty. As a result, it can create a brake pulsation. As long as there’s enough material in the rotor, you can machine out this pulsation. This is what I do in this video.
I also cover the rear brake adjustment. Honestly, I’ve never been a fan of the adjuster set up I encounter on this vehicle. I’ve seen it on some Mazda’s as well. When it works, it works, when it doesn’t, I think the best thing to do is get it working and try and get the brakes to self adjust either by pulling up on the parking brake, or jamming on the brakes while going in reverse. I do both in this video, and it seems to improve the brake pedal feel considerably.
Previous Video in the series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiqTN7o-A5U
Camera: Brian Kast
Thanks for watching!
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If you’re not familiar with the Fixing it Forward series, here’s the introduction video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfBnTwpEBu0
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Discussion about this video: http://www.ericthecarguy.com/kunena/18-The-EricTheCarGuy-Video-Forum/60903-1998-ford-contour-eliminating-brake-pulsations-fif#151997
Tools
Rotor Micrometer: http://www.jbtoolsales.com/fowler-72-234-223-micrometer-disc-brake-w-digital-readout-metric#oid=1002_1
Vampliers: http://www.jbtoolsales.com/vampliers-6-25-screw-extraction-pliers-w-vertical-horizontal-serrations-vt-001#oid=1002_1
Allen Socket Set: http://www.jbtoolsales.com/bondhus-30299-hex-bit-socket-set-9-piece#oid=1002_1
Silicone Paste: http://www.jbtoolsales.com/3m-08946-silicone-paste-8-oz#oid=1002_1
Antisieze: http://www.jbtoolsales.com/loctite-38650-copper-anti-seize-lubricant#oid=1002_1
Related videos
Ranger RL 8500 Brake Lathe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5TZUQR8TnY
How To Diagnose Brake Pulsations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAbET9aKq_g
How To Adjust Rear Brakes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCpCkun2qxA
Disc Brakes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAviOGXzEUk
Useful articles.
Engine overheat: http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/what-to-do-when-your-engine-overheats
No start problems: http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/solving-automotive-no-start-problems
Idle issues: http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/solving-automotive-idle-problems
Performance issues: http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/solving-automotive-performance-issues
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Electrical Problems: http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/solving-automotive-electrical-problems
Brake Issues: http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/solving-brake-problems
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Enclose your Air Compressor, better sound in your video and less noise in the shop.
just think that brake machine does NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH SPIDERS. EACH SPIDER SOLD SEPARATELY LOL")
Ford's use of Torx fasteners in this era of their cars was actually pretty limited. Seats and a couple on the engine, an e-torx stud or two as well.
Why not take 5 minutes and check the lateral runout?
I hate those springs.
Movie Voice Over Guy: In a world where spiders are displaced from there home. One nice guy who is a humble mechanic will battle for control of a car against the spider colonies supreme ruler. Eric The Car Guy is The Spidernator. Coming to a theater near you.
Really cool video
Hi Eric can you make a video about fixing German cars like Mercedes-Benz or BMW?
first job after high 😎
break ✔ ☺☺☺☺☺☺💒⛪💒💒🐣😘☺
You should learn how to adjust rear brakes for this car. Then you have to teach us. Please make a new video for this solution.
allen for brakes cmon ford. why not put a 14mm bolt. cmon
Hi Eric
First I am a big fan of your video’s. Jack Henson
My quest is- Do you have a video on adjusting rear disc brake caliper with E brake. Just watch the “How to Replace Honda Captive Rotors” . I have disc brakes on all four corners of a 53 Ford F 100. Chrysler front and Mercury Monarch 9” on the back. I have replaced the rear pads before, but didn’t to put the slots at 12 noon. Also didn’t know they were adjustable e brake. Someone mentioned it to me. So with that said. Would you please post a video on “How to adjust Ford disc brake Ebrake?”
Thank you
all that crust on the brake calipers and brackets is triggering my OCD, i would have spent all day cleaning and painting that shit if it was my car. lmao. of course, i keep my truck clean so it never needs that much work.
what discs did you use when cleaning off the brake rotors?
God damn that brake lathe is so damn satisfying to watch 😛
You should have some sort of cover on top of the rotor when it is machining. The dust particles are gonna ruin your health if you inhale them in big quantities….just a thought 🙂
15:22 Why not just use your brake lathe assuming there is enough of the drum left?
U should use safety equipment because i want u to make more videos
The quest for the missing brake pedal feel reminds me of the time when I was working on one customer car years back and I hadn't yet tackled with a car with ABS brakes and a completely dry brake fluid system. After bleeding the brakes around a few times and not getting the squishy feeling out from the pedal one older mechanic who was working for me hinted that maybe I should take the car outside and slam the brakes on gravel. Well I did and the pedal was normal. The older mechanic then said that he had the same thing back in his days when working at a GM dealership and couldn't get brake pedal to be normal on one car. Slamming the brakes makes the ABS modulator do it's thing and circulate brake fluid through and thus making the pedal feel normal. He also said that sometimes the brakes need one quick bleeding all around even after this but I was lucky that time. Modern OBD testers have a brake bleed procedure that in conjuction with normal bleeding gets all the air out by opening the small valves and passages inside the ABS modulator and telling you which caliper/cylinder you should bleed next.
if my brake disk have mini thikness 22 can i machine it to these thikness or it has to be more than 22
CV Joints suck and are crap.