turdle Posted April 15, 2007 Report Share Posted April 15, 2007 My GF has been neglecting her brakes for about 6 months now. The other morning when she got home from work she told me,"My brake light and abs light came on and my brakes aren't working so well." Ok, so I was going to do the front pads, rotors and wheel bearings today anyways, but I wanted to know what else I should consider and inspect in light of the brake and abs lights comming on. I have rebuilt the top end of the motor previously, from the block up due to neglect of an overheating condition, but brakes just ain't my thing. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted April 15, 2007 Report Share Posted April 15, 2007 and motor work is your thing???? well, first off i would make sure you have fluid in the reservoir. low fluid should light both the lights. if you are doing the brakes.... it would be a good idea to inspect what you have right now on the car... and as a minimum, new pads. But first (if it is safe enough) take it for a test drive and see what it is doing. If the car has a pulsating vibration as you apply the brakes. you will definitely need rotors... if you hear metal on metal... you need new rotors. when I test a car I even apply the emegency brake, but onlyu enough to create resistance. if the pulsation occurs, the rear brake rotor are warped. If rotors are warped... DISCARD. a turned (resurfaced) warped rotor will only go bad again. as a rule, always replace rotors in pairs on the same axle, otherwise you will may have unequal braking... which is dangerous. best tip... buy a basic service manual for our type of car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1138 Posted April 15, 2007 Report Share Posted April 15, 2007 I know when I neglected my brakes ages ago, and my brake light came on, it was because fluid leaked out of the caliper because the bare metal pad backing wore through the rotor and caused the piston to come out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turdle Posted April 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2007 Thanks for the tips and word up on the service manual. Got 2 or 3 for the W bodies. Engines really ain't my thing either, but I have a lot more experience with em(and the manual ! As far as brakes, I have changed some pads and checked fluid, that is all I have done with em. Just thought that I would get the heads up on any problems that are common from the people who know. Pads ain't got anything left. Gonna change em. The rotors are definately screwed. Gonna change em both up front. The front passenger side wheel bearing is makeing that "whuh whuh whuh" sound at 25-30 mph and just gets faster when you increase the speed. Gonna change em both up front while everything is torn down anyways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runt Posted April 15, 2007 Report Share Posted April 15, 2007 Won't the ABS light come on if it's a Wheel Speed Sensor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonteCarloChick Posted April 15, 2007 Report Share Posted April 15, 2007 Won't the ABS light come on if it's a Wheel Speed Sensor? Yep, that's why mine is on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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