Ford Focus Brakes

George Klisaris · 08-09-2005, 11:53 AM

I have had my Ford Focus for less than 2 years and all 4 brakes need to be replaced including the front Discs.

Has any else experioenced the same proble.

Apparentaly they are a soft compound and both brake pads and Discs ware out at the same time ?????

:

Forest Bear · 08-09-2005, 12:44 PM

Normal for euro cars. My Astra had its front and rear pads and rotors replaced at 38,000. Thats city driving mostly.

My first car was a second hand Ford Meteor. I had for a few years and never replaced any pads or rotors.

whippet_zetec · 08-09-2005, 01:07 PM

dont know if its a common Foci thing bt can tell you my brake pads dust up the rims real quick if I dont wash them at least once every 2 weeks

Parasite · 08-09-2005, 01:14 PM

How many KM you done George?

George Klisaris · 08-09-2005, 01:23 PM

I Have only done 23000kms.

My wife drives the bloody thing around 100km a week

FOCUSonTHIS · 08-09-2005, 04:33 PM

I have had my car for 2 years and already replaced front brake pads and disc, and soon to change rear brake pads....

EA2BA · 08-09-2005, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by George Klisaris

I Have only done 23000kms.

My wife drives the bloody thing around 100km a week

hmmmmmmm, driving style might have something to do with it :eclipsee_

Timmeh · 08-09-2005, 05:19 PM

It's definitely a known Focus issue, in particular for the Zetec trim spec.

If the car is an automatic and spends alot of its time on the brakes, then 20,000kms is conceivable. However, my 2 year old CL with 70 thousand kms on it still has about 50 percent of both pads and discs left. Long live the CL's.

:monkes:

Tim

king_pin · 08-09-2005, 08:38 PM

I had my 45000km service recently and was informed that my rear pads will need changing before the next service. After being quoted $300 for the pads I told them to hold off. I have been shopping around a bit and have found a couple of potential replacements which are cheaper... and most importantly, DUST FREE!!!!! :evil_laug

b2tf · 08-09-2005, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by king_pin

I had my 45000km service recently and was informed that my rear pads will need changing before the next service. After being quoted $300 for the pads I told them to hold off. I have been shopping around a bit and have found a couple of potential replacements which are cheaper... and most importantly, DUST FREE!!!!! :evil_laug

You're kidding - $300 for brake pads.

Mine are fine (auto CL), was only looking at them yesterday. When the time comes for them to be replaced I might look at the aftermarket disc and pad options if the Ford ones are so soft.

chevaps · 08-09-2005, 08:57 PM

Yeh, my car has got 20 000km, and my brakes have heaps of the pad left. I do however notice that the discs are getting a bit of groove, but we're talking along the lines of less than 1mm. Discs seem to be common issue. But as some have already mentioned, its more than likely a driving style issue. Especially with auto, where the only way to brake is by hitting the brake pedal. Manuals can use some engine braking, and i brake relatively easily too.

Tom

Mick K. · 08-09-2005, 09:46 PM

Yep - I got the same message at the 45km service (2 years). All pads and font discs next time. I'm going to do for DBA slotted rotors and EBC greenstuff pads. DBA are Australian made, so maybe they will be more tailored for our conditions?

My wife's JS Vectra V6 needs 4 discs and pads :(

Not a cheap exercise unfortunately.

MK

whippet_zetec · 09-09-2005, 08:53 AM

I think you will find that new pads and discs are becomng the norm of owning a car, I know that Ford Falcon has always been notorious for chewing up pads and discs, BMW can be pretty harsh on them too.

Driving style will affect how your pads and discs deteriorate over time too, best things is to make sure you brake smoothly all the time with no harsh jabbing at them and only use them when you need to (ie dont ride the brakes)

zetec · 09-09-2005, 11:21 AM

I also had 45,000km replacement of all pads plus front discs. Thank god I only pay employee prices... otherwise I'd be moving to EBC greenstuffs, might even do so for the next change. My driving style is hard, so they might have lasted longer, but I'm harder on the eninge if anything and not the brakes. Old man's astra also went pads and front discs at 45,000km. Bloody european cars.

Timmeh · 09-09-2005, 01:25 PM

I'm telling ya, it's how you treat them. 70 thousand kms and going strong!

:Reverend:

p.s. This is just to stir Zetec owners, I do understand that some people are genuinely finding very short life span of brakes on their Focus.

Tim

Fast Eddie · 09-09-2005, 01:46 PM

I've got an LX Auto that's done 25K, and I have always been in the habit of manually changing down gears whenever I can, so hopefully that'll give them a longer life.