Front Brake Nightmare

SSTEWART78

MEMBER
FORD ESCORT

Hello everyone, I have a 1997 ford escort LX 2.0 that has 40,000 miles on it. Its been a great car, I have done my fair share of garage work on cars, but I am no "mechanic" just handy. I have started taking off the front brakes only to find a different setup then most cars have. I have gotten out one of the rods that hold the brake pads in but the other one closest to that brake line will just not come out. I finally put the tire back on the car, but it is not safe to drive. I sprayed break free on it, but I could not get it to go thru. Is there a tool I can buy? On a seperate note. I am having a single knock noise when I turn the wheel right while driving, it doesnt always do it, only when turning kinda quick while driving. I have taken it to a shop and they tightened the undercarriage bolts to fix it and charged me $20.00 Well its still there and they said it was not a ti-rod or axel. Last thing when should I replace the timing belt?

Tuesday, June 19th, 2007 AT 11:28 PM

3 Replies

SDHEN

MEMBER
15 POSTS

Reconsider the shop. Go to a reputable shop that does this kind of front end work. Yes the brake parts do come off. VERY HARD! Its just a matter of soaking with Rust Off and letting it sit over night, heating, using an impact wrench on low setting to get the vibration, etc. The click upon turning could be a tie rod, ball joint, the U-joints, or even that bad caliper you were working on.

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Saturday, July 7th, 2007 AT 8:53 PM

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
9,123 POSTS

120,000 miles on the timing belt.

Very carefully check the springs, I have seen a ton of them with broken springs, while your at it check the rea ones also even though the noise is not coming from there.

Those front brakes are a hassle. At the very least plan on new hardware, but for $50 you can can a reman caliper with the hardware

I drive the pins out with a thin punch.

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Saturday, July 7th, 2007 AT 10:00 PM

MERLIN2021