Focus ST brake pads

Soldato
Joined
31 Jul 2004
Posts
13,659
Location
Surrey
I'm a bit of a noob to this because I've either had company cars or not done the miles to warranty a change before I've changed job and wound up with a company car but..

My 2.5yr ols Focus ST2 apparently needs front pads which doesn't come as a big surprise to me, when it snowed they really didn't want to stop at all.

So.. what do I do? Ford have quoted me £140 fitted?

I kind of promised myself I would upgrade any bits that fell off seeing as I'm keeping this for a good while yet, its a company car but I get an allowance and the value of them is such that I can't see the sense in selling something for £6k or something that cost me £19k and is still completely sound.

I've seen these redstuff/yellowstuff pads, are they good? I fancy something good but not too extreme, I live in this car (65k miles in 2 and a half years) so something where I have to get heat into the discs etc isn't going to cut it but by the same token something with more bite would be nice.

Also, the prices I am seeing, are they for 1 set or a full set of front pads? ie when I see yellowstuff ones for £80 is that for a full front replacement or just 1 side? i would assume you would always get them replaced in pairs?

Sorry for all the questions!
 
since when does brakes not working in the snow indicate the pads need changing?? lol...

well I don't know but particularly through the depths of winter there were a few times where I'd leave my house, get the the end of the road about 200m away and get a bit of a fright when I pressed the brake on not very much happened.

If I drove for about 50m with my brake and accelerator on (brakes only lightly obv) which i assume got a bit of heat into them they worked ok but to me that was a sign they were on their way out.

I didn't think that was such an unreasonable assumption to make? I know a bit of snow isn't going to stop them working, I just didn't bother giving the long version :p
 
i wasnt doubting that they was worn out. you've got good miles out of them. it was just the snow that made tyres slip not lack of brakes.


When was the brake fluid changed last? Maybe get that done at the same time.

mate I know the difference between the wheels locking and the brakes not biting.

It wasn't just when it snowed, it was particularly when it was cold and damp and quite often the brakes just didn't work until they were up to speed. I enjoy driving in the snow and coming from ooop north I'm quite accustomed to it and I have provoked my ABS in various cars partly out of curiosity and partly so I know what to expect when I need it. This was very different, it was apply brake.. loud rumbly noise and not much else.

tbh it was similar to what I've experienced when moving cars that have been sat a good while and had a bit of rust built up on the disc, not what I'd expect from something used extensively every day!
 
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