Don't you hate it when your car forces your hand? August 08, 2006, 09:06:06 PM Looks like the TC front brake upgrade will be happening sooner, rather than later. I took the 'Bird over to the cottage tonight to retrieve my trailer (Bird has a hitch, Volvo doesn't). I've gotta put new tail lights on the trailer.So coming home I noticed a noise, sounded like a wheel bearing. Didn't concern me much, since the TC brake upgrade is planned anyway. Then I got to the house and went to stop, and the car headed straight for the ditch. I got it straightened out and pulled in the driveway, and immediately smelled that "burned brake" smell. I got out of the car and could see the left rotor glowing through the 10-holes. Literally - it was orange. I ran in to get the camera but by the time I got back outside it had stopped glowing, so no pic.Anyway, long story short: Seized caliper. Looks like the TC brake upgrade has been put on the front burner... Quote Selected
Don't you hate it when your car forces your hand? Reply #1 – August 08, 2006, 09:09:17 PM Today must be a full moon or something, lol. :DBut I know what you mean. Quote Selected
Don't you hate it when your car forces your hand? Reply #2 – August 08, 2006, 09:18:15 PM eh, sometimes they jus wanna get some of your attention! Quote Selected
Don't you hate it when your car forces your hand? Reply #3 – August 08, 2006, 09:22:21 PM We're having to get the brakes done on the Mark, too. Pains me to have to give it to a friend who runs an auto repair shop to do it, but I'm hoping he'll let us pay it in installments because money's really tight right now. Also, if I were to attempt to do it myself in my current condition and with the weather being the way it has been for the past couple weeks, (raining every afternoon, humid as hell, flying insect populations out of control, etc.) the car would be out of action for a week or two, not just a day or two. As it is now the front end is shuddering again on braking and it sounds like something's coming loose when it does.. and the right rear pads and rotor are so bad, there's two trenches dug into the rotor and an almost solid layer of rust on the outside of the wheel from all the metal particles thrown out by the disintegration. ABS relay is also sticking, which just drained my battery to .4v the other day. Hopefully we'll throw that on the tab as well, even though that's an easy replacement.Hopefully we can also get him to deal with the A/C, because it's very weak right now (possible blower motor replacement and system flush/refill) and it's murder inside that car.. dark blue interior and both window motors are dead. I wish cirspoogestances were different and I could do it myself all at once right now.. but at least I've known the guy since high school and I'm reasonably sure he'll do a good job with it. Quote Selected
Don't you hate it when your car forces your hand? Reply #4 – August 08, 2006, 10:09:24 PM ahem.....might be just the right time to do a 5 lug/cobra front and rear brake upgrade/swap.... Quote Selected
Don't you hate it when your car forces your hand? Reply #5 – August 08, 2006, 10:22:59 PM Maybe some day, but I'm one of the few that like snowflakes, and I don't believe five lugs offer any benefit at all, so it's staying four lug for the forseeable future. I would like to upgrade to bigger brakes in the future though - anyone know what the biggest four lug brakes are that will fit inside a 16" snowflake? :DI've also decided that since I'm gonna have the thing apart, it's getting all the front suspension upgrades: New ball joints, struts, strut mounts, poly bushings, TC swaybar, etc. If the thing's forcing me to play my cards, I'm gonna lay 'em all down :DBTW, does anyone know how much of a drop I'd get by installing the TC front springs? I know the 5.0 is heavier than the 2.3t, but I can't see it being that much heavier, and isn't the TC a heavier car than a low-optioned 5.0 car? Quote Selected
Don't you hate it when your car forces your hand? Reply #6 – August 08, 2006, 10:28:28 PM Hey Thunder Chicken, that's weird because I had a caliper sieze today too, except I could still stop...just that whenever I did, the pass. side caliper would lock up bad enough that it took about half throttle to keep the car moving! Quote Selected
Don't you hate it when your car forces your hand? Reply #7 – August 08, 2006, 10:29:19 PM it..... Quote Selected
Don't you hate it when your car forces your hand? Reply #8 – August 08, 2006, 10:30:14 PM Quote from: Thunder ChickenLooks like the TC brake upgrade has been put on the front burner...So to speak... Quote Selected
Don't you hate it when your car forces your hand? Reply #9 – August 08, 2006, 10:32:39 PM Quoteanyone know what the biggest four lug brakes are that will fit inside a 16" snowflake?I believe Baer made a 12" Fox Mustang 4-lug upgrade kit. It was a special setup for autocrossing...in some classes you have to keep the stock rims (and at times, even the tires) and this kit allowed owners to upgrade brakes but still keep in compliance for stock 16" Pony rims. I have no idea if it's still being produced.[cue JeremyB] Quote Selected
Don't you hate it when your car forces your hand? Reply #10 – August 09, 2006, 01:12:57 AM I have a customer with an 88 Sport 5.0 that did the full TC front suspension/brake conversion, and his car dropped just slightly over 1.5" in the nose from stock. He has custom 17" wheels with 235's in the front and 275's in the rear and had no rubbing issues whatsoever. I really wish I could have gotten some pics of that car, it was CHERRY. (New gunmetal paint) Quote Selected
Don't you hate it when your car forces your hand? Reply #11 – August 09, 2006, 01:48:53 AM I guess she is telling you hey I need some attention! Quote Selected
Don't you hate it when your car forces your hand? Reply #12 – August 09, 2006, 06:21:53 PM I know the feeling. Im working on saving up so i can drop 820 bucks on a turbo, 120 on the oil feed and return lines, probably 400 on a header, and *maybe* a tial external wastegate, not sure yet Quote Selected
Don't you hate it when your car forces your hand? Reply #13 – August 13, 2006, 08:45:56 PM I guess I won't see much of a drop at all. I pulled the front suspension from the V8 'Bird today and discovered that both front coil springs have exactly one full coil broken off. The TC's springs aren't broken. I figure the unbroken TC coils will have roughly the same ride height as the broken V8 springs, but it should handle a good deal better :D Quote Selected
Don't you hate it when your car forces your hand? Reply #14 – August 13, 2006, 09:33:01 PM Maybe......Good luck, brakes can suck. Quote Selected