Braking performance dismal; serious issue [Archive] - GrandAmGT.com Forum

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Vintalage
08-17-2006, 03:54 PM
Several months back, I created a thread concerning my newly installed Powerslot rotors and hawk pads not returning the braking performance that they should. I received some responses, but none of them helped me with my problem.

Currently, I have my car in for service for the second time at a different dealership concerning the same issue with the braking performance. The service advisor informed me that the technician doesn't notice anything wrong with the braking power. This is the second time I’ve heard that crap. It is somewhat surprising because I let my step brother drive my car with me in it and when he was approaching upcoming traffic, he pressed the brakes at around 55mph expecting the car to slow down quickly enough but it didn't. Thankfully, he didn't hit the car in front, but my car came pretty close. What he said was that he didn't know my brakes were like that and his mother's Navigator stops faster and with more force. I have driven his mother's Navigator many times and he is absolutely right. Something is clearly wrong when my relatively new aftermarket quality brakes are outperformed by an '03 Navigator with stock rotors and pads. Due to this unsafe incident, I decided to take the car in for service.

Just to make it clear, my braking distance is extremely long on 5 month old rotors and pads. It feels like the pads don't grab hard enough until the speed reaches approximately 20mph at which point the braking performance is increased marginally. I've driven many other vehicles and the brakes grab with force at any speed. It is obvious that my problem involves the braking system and not the rotors/pads.

Can someone tell me what is going on here? I believe I was having this issue with my factory units (in addition to warped rotors) before I replaced them. Am I to believe that the stock brake lines should be replaced with braided lines? Should the master cylinder be considered as well? I can not continue to drive this vehicle in such a condition. It is putting me and other people at risk

mfuller
08-17-2006, 05:31 PM
Did you bed in the pads and season the rotors? Have you ever replaced your brake fluid or bled your brakes?
FWIW, Hawk HPS pads do need a bit of heat before they start to grab.

Vintalage
08-17-2006, 05:55 PM
Bed in the pads and season rotors? I'm not familar with those terms. Fill me in.

As far as I know, the brake fluid has been flushed and the brakes have been bled when the front rotors/pads were being put on.

MMGT1
08-17-2006, 06:49 PM
I have the same set up. Those are road course brakes! Takes a few stops to heat em up. Drive hard for a little bit(BE CAREFUL!!!!!) and then bite down on your fillings because that baby gonna' stop!!!!

Vintalage
08-17-2006, 08:33 PM
I have the same set up. Those are road course brakes! Takes a few stops to heat em up. Drive hard for a little bit(BE CAREFUL!!!!!) and then bite down on your fillings because that baby gonna' stop!!!!

I do and it doesn't.

Wallflower
08-17-2006, 09:10 PM
If you still have the box, or perhaps the reciept for the purchase of your pads, make sure the part number has an 'F' in there. This indicates the OEM replacement level pad in the Hawk line. I am running the F-pad on AutoZone lifetime rotors and find the performance above OEM.

You need to take into consideration that the stock braking system on the 99+ GA just sucks in general. I think the best options if you are unhappy with things as they are, would be to upgrade to a Baer or SSBC kit, or try the Corvette swap.

lone_wolf025
08-17-2006, 09:31 PM
No other issues like a spongy pedal or sinking pedal right?

Vintalage
08-17-2006, 09:59 PM
No other issues like a spongy pedal or sinking pedal right?

My pedal sinks when additional braking power becomes available around 20mph ---> 0.

Vintalage
08-17-2006, 10:00 PM
You need to take into consideration that the stock braking system on the 99+ GA just sucks in general. I think the best options if you are unhappy with things as they are, would be to upgrade to a Baer or SSBC kit, or try the Corvette swap.

Ack!!! I'd rather buy a new car then.

lone_wolf025
08-17-2006, 10:06 PM
My pedal sinks when additional braking power becomes available around 20mph ---> 0.

Hmm... First off I'm going to concede the fact that I don't have experience in beyond stock brakes, BUT a sinking pedal during braking don't sound right. Two things immediately come to mind: Master cylinder and possibly boiling fluid. More than likely though I would check all your lines to ensure there are no leaks anywhere in the system.

Sprucegagt
08-18-2006, 08:04 AM
Have the brakes bled again and be sure that they include the ABS module. If that doesn't fix it then the master cylinder may be bad.