Possible brake issue?

[chooch]

HELP anyone, I just picked up my turbo 2 days ago and I think I have some problems already.

1 - after about 100km the steering wheel started tilting to the right so it seems that it needs a wheel alignment already. Is this covered by warranty as the car has only done 100km?

2 - when I braked for the first time......I couldnt beleive it, THE BRAKES WERE CRAP. Im not really used to good brakes on other cars but these brakes are worse than my dads escourt panel van. If a child ran out in front of the car no way could I stop in time. I did some playing around and found that when comming to say a stop sign if I press the brakes with firm pressure I only slow down slighty....if I quickly take the pressure off the brakes only for a microsecond when I reapply the same pressure straight away it brakes really hard. Does anyone have any ideas whats going on. being a Sunday I cant ring ford, I will do that tomorrow.

3 - Not sure if this is a issue......but when I rev it to about 4000 revs and then change gears (manual) I can here the turbo making a clicking/knocking noise. This noise can only be heard when I change gears and the engine is over 4000 revs. I have been told this is normal because there is no blow off valve. Is this true?

Thanks for any info, Im not really mechanically minded so any help would be great.

GO FORD (as I shake my mullet hair cut) :hiwelcome:

[Guest Scootre]

Congrats about the purchase. What colour, what options? How about some :hiwelcome:

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1 - after about 100km the steering wheel started tilting to the right so it seems that it needs a wheel alignment already. Is this covered by warranty as the car has only done 100km?

Back to the dealer mate... especially if it has "just started doing it". There's a thread here at the moment where the dealer for some guy hasn't been able to fix the steering wheel's 'dead centre'. Give the dealer a chance. If they can't fix it, take it to a reputable wheel alignment shop and get the dealer to pick up the tab.

  Quote

2 - when I braked for the first time......I couldnt beleive it, THE BRAKES WERE CRAP. Im not really used to good brakes on other cars but

If the car is only new, give the brakes time to "bed in". They will feel spongy for a while. Take it gentle for about 500 k's and they will give you good, long life.

  Quote

3 - Not sure if this is a issue......but when I rev it to about 4000

Intending on keeping your new car for only 6 months are you?

Grab a coffee and do a search here on the forums about "running in". Be nice to it for at least 1000 k's before you hit 4000. But read what others say about it. You will, of course find some who say that you should "drive it like you stole it" (and one who claims he never said that :lol: ) but the general thought is that you shouldtake things easy when the engine is still tight and you will get better life and lower oil consumption.

[KrasH]

  chooch said:

HELP anyone, I just picked up my turbo 2 days ago and I think I have some problems already.

1 - after about 100km the steering wheel started tilting to the right so it seems that it needs a wheel alignment already. Is this covered by warranty as the car has only done 100km?

2 - when I braked for the first time......I couldnt beleive it, THE BRAKES WERE CRAP. Im not really used to good brakes on other cars but these brakes are worse than my dads escourt panel van. If a child ran out in front of the car no way could I stop in time. I did some playing around and found that when comming to say a stop sign if I press the brakes with firm pressure I only slow down slighty....if I quickly take the pressure off the brakes only for a microsecond when I reapply the same pressure straight away it brakes really hard. Does anyone have any ideas whats going on. being a Sunday I cant ring ford, I will do that tomorrow.

3 - Not sure if this is a issue......but when I rev it to about 4000 revs and then change gears (manual) I can here the turbo making a clicking/knocking noise. This noise can only be heard when I change gears and the engine is over 4000 revs. I have been told this is normal because there is no blow off valve. Is this true?

Thanks for any info, Im not really mechanically minded so any help would be great.

GO FORD (as I shake my mullet hair cut) :hiwelcome:

Hello there,

1 - Take it to the dealer. This should be covered by warrenty. The steering should be straight. Mine is still dead straight after 18,500km.

2 - On the brake issue, I'm assuming you have the standard brakes. If so, then it is common knowledge that the standard brakes are just too "small" for the car so to speak. Take it to the dealer if you aren't happy. If they say this is common/normal "force" them to let you take a car with the standard brakes for a drive to compare. I have premium brakes and I can't fault them at all. The best. BTW, my dads mazda E2000 truck has some pretty decent brakes. I guess they have to be to handle 1,500kg loads on top of the 1400kg wieght of the truck.

3 - You sure it isn't the gear change itself making the noise. I freaked out when I heard how loud a gear change was from outside the car at lower revs. At higher revs the engine and the turbo whistle tend to hid the noise . Was told this was normal. Other than that, just take it to the dealer if it is a worry.

[mattson]

there is a BOV in the car.. albeit small and average.. but it's there

if your talking about the flutter noise on gear changes this is most likely the wastegate flutter and very normally on turbo cars, particulary those with big turbos (GT 40 falls into this catergory)

brakes seem fine for me, mine creak a bit first use of the day if cold and I need to brake hard.. but once warm they seem very good for the bulk of the car.

4000revs.. Run In.. geez I hit 4grand leaving the showroom

running in is a thing of the past.. go hard or go home!

hehe I'm sure others have different opinions!

[Venom XR6]

  chooch said:

2 - when I braked for the first time......I couldnt beleive it, THE BRAKES WERE CRAP. Im not really used to good brakes on other cars but these brakes are worse than my dads escourt panel van. If a child ran out in front of the car no way could I stop in time. I did some playing around and found that when comming to say a stop sign if I press the brakes with firm pressure I only slow down slighty....if I quickly take the pressure off the brakes only for a microsecond when I reapply the same pressure straight away it brakes really hard. Does anyone have any ideas whats going on. being a Sunday I cant ring ford, I will do that tomorrow.

This is only a recent problem that appears only on cars built from very late last year that have been built with the redesigned calliper. It has totally stuffed up brake pedal feel and makes the brakes seem very weak. It was implemented to get rid of brake shudder but is a totally piss weak effort by Ford. They will get a bit better over time but they suck compared to the earlier Falcon brakes. I've just bought my second XR8 and the difference between early builds and recent builds in terms of brake pedal feel and power is like chalk and cheese. Its all about saving money on warranty claims. Its a disgrace.

[Guest rodxr6t]

The brake thing is a real pain, I've got two XR's (one work supplied car Nov02 build, non turbo) and one turbo Jan04 build. I'd agreee totally with Venom, the old calliper design (before about oct03) are vastly superior in feel and braking action as compared with the new caliper design. The new caliper design feels like there is nothing happening until you really lean on the brakes and in fact don't feel as good as my Hyundai Getz, Ford should get a rocket over this as its almost an unsafe situation. I believe that what you are experiencing with the two applications of the pedal is that the first application moves the pads close to rotors and then your second application really applies the brakes as they should work (mine do exactly the same thing).

Good luck in sorting it out I"ve been back to the dealer with this problem and been told that the pedal feel is "normal" for the new caliper design.

[OwnaXR6T]

I think you should change the word "possible" to definate!

[eXtreme]

Yeah, in regards to this brake issue ours is the same, it is a Aug03 build and when you put the brakes on it feels like the car doesn't react.

What I tried when the car was off was to push the brakes to the floor (really soft), then the second push they were rock solid and barely moved at all, I assume that was because when the car is off the power assistance was off, but I haven't tried that routine with the car running, leading me to my question is the thread poster experiencing that same problem?

Paul

[ducatijb]

It sounds like you would be better off asking Ford not to put brakes on the car at all when you initially buy it Then go to an aftermarket dealer and put decent stoppers on it Can just see the look on their faces now

[chooch]

UPDATE...........

My brakes are getting a little better as the car is run in some more, but I found that they still work ok when you apply more pressure than usual. So I guess there like some sort of progressive brake thingy. Im not really worried anymore because I tested them last night and there ok, I just have to apply a little more pressure to what Im used, but when I get my next falcon definately premium brakes.

GO AMBROSE......poor Expensive Daewoo fans