About Ron Cris Expertise I welcome all questions about basic automotive repair..Brakes..Front End and Engine rebuilding..I am especially trained in rebuilding Chevrolet v8 Engines.
Experience I have 25 yrs experience a a journeyman mechanic
Question Hi there.. I bought a 2002 GMC Yukon Denali XL with about 80K miles.. It's in great shape over all and no real problems from the beginning. However, I noticed that the Brake Rotors, mostly all the way around the vehicle, were slightly pitted up and since the pads were getting low I decided to do a brake job. The brakes were working FINE, actually very well, but i knew there wasn't much life left in them. Both the front and the rear rotors were VERY close to spec so I decided to replace them all. On the front I put a new set of Slotted and Drilled rotors, on the rear I put a set of standard replacement rotors. I purchased Carbon Metallic pads for all 4 wheels. I did a standard brake job other than that. When I test drove the vehicle after all the new parts were installed I was shocked to find that the brakes were Not any better.. Actually, they were considerably WORSE than before the brake job was done. I've brought the truck to 4 different mechanics ( 2 - firestone, 2 - independants) and no one can tell me whats wrong with the brakes.. Actually, only ONE of the mechanics would admit that he felt something WAS wrong.. the other three claimed they worked fine.. Trust me.. In an emergency situation, where you must perform a panic stop, you are in Big TROUBLE cuase that truck is NOT going to stop.. normal city driving, ok, no big deal.. Going from 70 to Zero, REAL QUICKLY, is NOT going to happen.. Someone is gonna eat your Grill ! Do you have any idea what could be wrong? As I said, the brakes were fine before the job was done and I thought with the BEST Carbon Metallic pads, Slotted and Drilled rotors and new rotors on the back also, I thought the truck would stop on a DIME.. NOT the case.. Help!!
Answer First try bleeding all the old brake fluid out...that might make a difference..ALSO....sometimes a hard brake pad like that will not stop well unless they are very hot..like in a race car..
try some semi meatalic or ceramic pads..see if that helps..
good luck..
rc
