About David Scott Expertise Questions or advice regarding Suzuki 4wd vehicles as regards repair or modifications for offroad use.
Experience Been a professional mechanic over 30 yrs I've owned and modified 2 Sidekicks, and 3 Samurais, one of which I still have, and ocasionally drive, when my kids let me.
Expert: David Scott Date: 11/25/2003 Subject: Brakes
Question I just took my 2WD 95 GEO Tracker (Suzuki)into a Firestone Dealer for new brake pads on the front. When I went in the brakes were squealing a little. Looked at the rotors and they were no scarred, just a little rough. No other indication of brake problems.
Picked it up and have very little brake pedal. Told them I had problems and they said what they did had no affect on the brake pedal travel or sponginess of the pedal.
All I know is that when I took it in, I had plenty of pedal, now it almost hits the floor and I the brakes won't lock at 35 mph. I think it is dangerous.
They did say my fluid was dirty and needed to be flushed. I thought they just wanted more money.
What's up?
Answer They may have introduced a bubble in flushing, and as a certified and multiple manufacturer trained professional technician with more than 30 years experience, I can authoritatively state that they should, as professionals, bleed your system to see if they can solve the problem (this is usually done at no charge, especially if it solves the problem).
There is one thing they may have had happen that would not be their fault. That would be the possibility that in flushing the fluid, they may have disturbed an already quite worn set of seals in the brake master cylinder. Anyone with any level of skill can detect this. If the pedal is pressed very quickly and forcefully, it usually "grabs" high up, and then sinks slowly to a lower position.
Dirty fluid is NOT a sufficient reason for a knowledgable and skilled professional to flush the brake fluid. There are a number of methods avaliable in the field to measure fluid deterioration, and visual criteria are NOT valid.
I suggest that if you can get no satisfaction, you seek a skilled and truly competent and ethical technician through the IATN.NET website shopfinder. You can find the assistance you need.
I do not believe you can gain access to skilled and knowledgeable personnel at any of the mass merchandisers. They are set up first as profit centers, whose primary emphasis is on the "upsell". The kind of financial compensation packages they offer are not something that could attract or retain a top level technician with the kind of knowledge to deal with and understand the kind of problem you describe.
Contact me again as necessary
