2012 Ford Fusion Repeat Rear Brake Problems
Hello,
We have replaced the rear brake pads, rotors for the 4th time. We have replaced the both rear calipers two to three times already due to failure and one time due to external leaks. Yesterday we replaced the pads (excess wear), rotors (due to excess rust), right rear caliper (failed - outboard pad 0mm) and both rear brake hoses. The left rear pads were 5mm, right rear pads 0mm. I took it on a test drive and the brakes felt fine. Upon return to the shop, I found the left rear rotor measured approx 300F (and smelled hot). The other three rotors were approx. half the temperature. Are there caliper problems on this vehicle? Do I need to use a different supplier for reman. calipers? Thanks
Hello Christopher, I recommend World Pac or top line NAPA Gold parts, Ultimately the dealer, but they are usually higher. This could be an ABS controller issue as well. When test driving, do a few low speed (safe) panic stops to see how the ABS responds. At this age it is not unreasonable to find a bad master cylinder and the secondary piston for the rear brakes is sticking, no amount of…
Were both RR pads at 0, or just the outer? You stated it both ways. You are not giving us much info here, maybe because the focus has been replacing parts instead of evaluation. Have you verified that the brake cable is releasing correctly, at the caliper? Have you checked for application and drag variation between wheels? What do you mean by “failure” and “failed”? What brand calipers have…
Make sure the front brakes are doing their fair share of the work.
So you’ve replaced the rear rotors 4 times due to rust?
Hi chris, is the driver an aggressive driver? Excess rust I usually find when brakes are really hot regularly they do develope serious rust issues, they would have slightly glow in the dark , that would be hot enough to cause problems with calipers, what is the chance that of a problem in the abs module or some other part causing slow release of fluid,
We are having the same problem with replacement parts. Ford Taurus, Mercury Sable and Buick Lucerne. Calipers for the rear keep failing. The parts are junk. 6-10 months they come back. We make the PS supply new parts/ Calipers, Pads and Rotors and do the jobs for free, It's getting old.
I suggest that you at least TRY to get … parts.
I checked the car later today to do some simple checks. When I jacked up the right rear and I could rotate the wheel easily. I applied the brake with a pedal depressor and the right rear wheel locked up. I removed the pedal depressor and the right rear wheel rotated easily again. I lowered the right rear and jacked up the left rear. The left rear would not rotate as easily as the right rear, but…
Did you open the bleeder and see if pressure was holding the brake on. if it was released when the bleeder was opened you have a hydraulic problem.
…, you are doing some actual testing. It is better to do this with the vehicle lifted, so that you can compare the drag difference between sides simultaneously; you can apply or release the pedal depressor, then check both sides. Now that you know there is a problem with release, you need to determine what the fault is. It might be a sticking piston, sticking slide, a cable that isn't fully…
Are you replacing the brake hoses with the calipers? I always make it a rule to replace the hoses with the calipers and i have been using Napa and advanced calipers and i have never had one back or leak. I have installed so many the last few years I lost count. the hoses can cause the fluid to stay pressurized in the caliper and cause premature ware and excessive heat.
The left rear caliper piston was no good. I had the tech check for a stuck/binding parking brake cable, open the bleeder screw, check for sticking/binding caliper slides and the wheel still did not move. He installed another caliper and tested it again. It worked correctly. I asked him to take a good test drive and check all brake rotor temps. The rear rotor temps are equal, both both front…
Hi Christopher, Hopefully this one will stay fixed this time. I will say in defense of AutoZone, they usually have new calipers along with reman. available. AutoZone is just the vendor, not the builder. With the current events of Covid going on, anyone is fortunate to get anything, but I think parts stocks are depleting quickly and there will be an increase of bad parts returns being resold…