Brake upgrades

[Duke George V]

I haven't been able to do any sort of real maintenance on the van, since I'm contractually prohibited from working on it on the apartment complex's property. Hell, I'm a couple thousand miles overdue on an oil change, even though I have oil and a filter, for that reason. But anyway...

• Some time last year (2010) I did a pad slap job because I was using it for a roadside assistance gig and needed to be down for as short as possible. I bought Duralast pads, which still have lots of material left. The rotors and calipers need to be replaced, for sure, since the right one seems to be applying more pressure than the left; the pads that came off were worse on the right, and the rotors have a lip that made pad/caliper removal rather awkward.
• The rear brakes keep moving out of adjustment, which is probably due to me using the parking brake all the time. My assigned parking spot is on a slight slope, and I'd rather not break the pawl, ya know?
• The wheel cylinders seem to be fine, since I haven't had the characteristic single rear wheel lock I used to get on the Celebrity.

It could go for a brake fluid flush, too. I'm going to do a fair amount of work on this van once I get some money, probably with a tax refund. All new brakes all around, new struts and shocks, fix the damn doors, sway bar bushings (completely blown out), new tires, all that. I imagine that'll bring braking back into spec.

[Jr's3800]

When you do this look at Rock Auto for some of your parts, could save you a good bit... I also replaced all of the brake hoses on the van when I did the pads... Also when you do get to it, stay away from the duralast, wearever and the like... I do highly recommend Wagner or Bendix, shot for the middle of the road pads at least.. when it comes time I can help you find what you need...

On my van, while the motor was out we decided to replace the master cylinder, what fun that was........ The factory service manual doesn't say a whole lot about the replacement... But with almost 200,000 miles on the body we figured that it was most certainly due...

On another note, I saw you video. The 4T60E is a good transmission, but in the vans depending on how it came from the factory, at times there was not enough cooling and they would overheat.... This is a bad thing for any trans and most of the time this overheating is what would kill a 4T60E.. You would usually see burn bands and clutches when rebuilding.. If you do not already have one, a cooler may be a good idea.. Curious to know if yours has cooler lines on the passenger side of the radiator, or if it has dual coolers( drivers side as well )...

[85_Ciera_Rebuild]

I'm contractually prohibited from working on it on the apartment complex's property

Years ago, between Ft. Collins and Loveland Colorado on Hwy 287, there was a "U-Fix-It" shop where you paid for a slot in a heated garage. They had tools/etc.

But, this was just a private business. I've never seen one since.

Of course, nowdays, fewer kids work on their vehicles...

[Jr's3800]

That was one of the biggest reasons I got away from the apartments... Got tired of that... Right before I moved I was under my hood checking the oil and got a mouthful from the Resident Manager... I told him I was checking the oil... Got another mouth full of his garbage... I told him my car does not leak a drop of anything... I even scrubbed down my parking space when I moved in.. I pointed to the other spaces and said if its such a problem that I might drop a splash of oil on the ground then why aren't you pestering all the other people... I told him to go F*** himself, Evict me for all I care... Pissed me off so bad I was out 3 weeks later...

Looking forward to hearing the OP say... Man these brakes are pretty good....lol

[turbokinetic]

That was one of the biggest reasons I got away from the apartments... Got tired of that... Right before I moved I was under my hood checking the oil and got a mouthful from the Resident Manager... I told him I was checking the oil... Got another mouth full of his garbage... I told him my car does not leak a drop of anything... I even scrubbed down my parking space when I moved in.. I pointed to the other spaces and said if its such a problem that I might drop a splash of oil on the ground then why aren't you pestering all the other people... I told him to go F*** himself, Evict me for all I care... Pissed me off so bad I was out 3 weeks later...

Looking forward to hearing the OP say... Man these brakes are pretty good....lol

Apartments are nearly criminal. A friend of mine pays far more for RENT (never see a penny back) on an apartment (one bedroom) than I pay for loan payment (can get money out of it if I sell) on a 4 acre property with house and barn. He is given a slew of bullshit rules and harassement from the management for many reasons. Their car rules give the management the option to fine or kick out a tennant for:

-Having the hood open more than 5 minutes per day. (yes you read that correctly)
-Having the car jacked up for any reason (including a tire - flat tire = tow truck to the tire store)
-Parking a car with visible body damage of any sort. (even if car still runs and is still daily driven)
-Pushing a car. If you can't get it started and can't reach it with jumper cables - you call a tow truck, not push it out of the spot so the cables can reach.

And that's just the car rules. It goes beyond that.

It would be a COLD DAY IN HELL before I would accept this type treatment for this amount of money.

Sincerely,
David

[Jr's3800]

Yep thats exactly it in a nutshell David...

You have been here before, its quiet... The neighbors don't care that I work on cars( My one neighbor does the same )... No one cares here... I can do what I want... County rules say that 3 of the cars I have sitting here are a no no.... But the county is not going to care as long as the neighbors aren't complaining... 2 of the 3 neighbors have the same thing going on that I do...LOL..

I wish I had a little more land tho, and a shop..

[turbokinetic]

Yep thats exactly it in a nutshell David...

You have been here before, its quiet... The neighbors don't care that I work on cars( My one neighbor does the same )... No one cares here... I can do what I want... County rules say that 3 of the cars I have sitting here are a no no.... But the county is not going to care as long as the neighbors aren't complaining... 2 of the 3 neighbors have the same thing going on that I do...LOL..

I wish I had a little more land tho, and a shop..

Yep you have a good location there. Quiet and peaceful!

It is very sad to see a person "trapped" in an urban area like my friend near DC. I would never even consider that lifestyle. Not. Ever. I've seen many countries around the world and can say..... the urban lifestyle in the northeast USA is possible second only to third world Africa.

[Jr's3800]

I agree David...

Ok getting back to Brakes...lol

I am thinking of doing the brakes on my 95 TS.... Only items that are original at this point are calipers... Thinking of getting some new or reman calipers( wagner or the like ) and then going with a set of slotted rotors...

Thoughts?

[SCREECH]

I am thinking of doing the brakes on my 95 TS...Thinking of getting...a set of slotted rotors...Thoughts?

I've never tried any rotors other than standard style rotors. I would be interested to know how much of a difference upgraded rotors would make.

[Jr's3800]

Not sure... The van does stop good, great really for a van... But I would like to have more bite when I have the clamps to the floor... Rare but it does happen... I have replaced the Master cylinder, Brake Hoses, Wheel cylinder, rear shoes, Drums... Only thing left are the calipers up front...lol Looking at the AC Delco or Rebestos slotted..

[lackneramanda]

Not sure... The van does stop good, great really for a van... But I would like to have more bite when I have the clamps to the floor... Rare but it does happen... I have replaced the Master cylinder, wagner brakes Hoses, Wheel cylinder, rear shoes, Drums... Only thing left are the calipers up front...lol Looking at the AC Delco or Rebestos slotted..

It's that time for new brakes again. What do you think about Wagner rotors and thermoquiet pads? my cousin got them on one of his cars and they seem fine.

[Century7667]

I've been running Wagner since EIS has been out of business. Very good luck with them.

[Jr's3800]

Agreed... I have always used Wagner on every car I have worked on... No complaints or rework for that matter... 2 of my Vehicles are running Wagner pads... Highly recommended...

[Duke George V]

Yeah, I just went with some Pep Boys specials for the front brakes. They feel about the same. I imagine replacing the struts and sway bar bushings will make a bigger difference. I know it did when I did the same on a '92 F150 for a company I worked for a few years ago. Completely redid the brakes front and back, along with the master cylinder. It stopped better, to be sure, but it still lacked something. I then replaced the shocks all around, and it was like night and day.

[Jr's3800]

On my van I replaced the center bar to frame bushings with Moog Bushings... Been several years and they are in great shape... At the time I went with Energy Suspension Ploy bushings for the sway bar to control arm... This made a good difference... Later down the road I added an Addco rear sway bar... That was another leap forward... I was also running 225 60 R 16's ... Later ran 235 60 16's... That was tuff as the Van is not set up to run a 225 or for that matter a 235... I had to use spacers... I ran 5mm with the 225's and 10 mm with the 235's and still had rub... Even the 225's rub at full lock... But I might use a set of Bonneville torque star rims and 225 sumitomo High Performance all seasons... I drove this van from FL to WV and back and was pleased with the ride and handling... Felt very sure footed and more car like then van...