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Ford Fusion - Rear brakes locked at test drive - leave alone?

  • 09-05-2011 4:05pm
    #1
    masterj
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12 ✭


    Hi,

    Was looking at a ford fusion over the weekend and before going for the test drive the car had to be driven forward and backward a few times to get the rear wheels unlocked.

    Sales guy said it happens regularly when the car has been lying up for a while (apart from the obvious question around how long the car was lying up) - should this be an issue to worry about if buying it.

    I read this:

    http://autos.dir.groups.yahoo.com/group/fordfusion/message/4102

    and it seems to indicate there could be rusting in the pistons in the brake, any way for an ordinary joe soap to know whether that is the case or not.

    Cheers,

    masterj.


Comments

  • #2
    Buffman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,875 ✭✭✭Buffman


    This is a sign that the car was left lying up for a good while with the handbrake on. Nothing to be overly concerned about.

    The brakes will start to rust if the car isn't in use. This is to be expected if it's left lying up. The brakes will sound 'rough' for a few minutes of driving, but it'll ware off.

    All this is within reason of course, you shouldn't just hop into a car and drive off after it's being lying up for a long time. The basics will need to be checked.

    FYI, if you move to a 'smart' meter electricity plan, you CAN'T move back to a non-smart plan.

    You don't have to take a 'smart' meter if you don't want one, opt-out is available.

    Buy drinks in 3L or bigger plastic bottles or glass bottles or cartons to avoid the DRS fee.



  • #3
    jimbooth
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 335 ✭✭jimbooth


    this happened my fiesta regularly if left parked with handbrake on even for a couple of days:mad:
    if you are genuinley interested in the car get him to change the back brakes as part of sale to show some good faith


  • #4
    bazz26
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 51,360 ✭✭✭✭bazz26


    It's most likely the rear drum brakes stuck a little due to the car not been driven and contributed by the current wet weather. Had the same problem sometimes on my old Focus, PITA and disappointing that Ford still fit rear drum brakes on some of their cars.


  • #5
    slinky2000
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,287 ✭✭✭slinky2000


    A mates old megane used to do this every few days. He ended upcarrying around a rubber mallet in the car incase he got stuck somewhere, he could then give the drums a good wack!


  • #6
    Henry Ford III
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 17,852 Mod ✭✭✭✭Henry Ford III


    bazz26 wrote: »
    It's most likely the rear drum brakes stuck a little due to the car not been driven and contributed by the current wet weather. Had the same problem sometimes on my old Focus, PITA and disappointing that Ford still fit rear drum brakes on some of their cars.

    The cars/models where drums are fitted don't need rear discs. Braking performance in those cars is plenty good enough.


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  • #7
    bazz26
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 51,360 ✭✭✭✭bazz26


    Henry Ford III wrote: »
    The cars/models where drums are fitted don't need rear discs. Braking performance in those cars is plenty good enough.

    Well of all the cars I've owned over the years the brakes on my Focus felt the least effective. It does ask the question why do most other manufacturers go to the trouble of fitting more expensive discs all round if rear drums are sufficent?


  • #8
    Nissan doctor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,223 ✭✭✭Nissan doctor


    bazz26 wrote: »
    Well of all the cars I've owned over the years the brakes on my Focus felt the least effective. It does ask the question why do most other manufacturers go to the trouble of fitting more expensive discs all round if rear drums are sufficent?


    The main reason, aside from the obvious increase in weight and performance, that so many modern cars have disks all around is that drum brakes cannot be used with the latest electronic stability systems, so any car that has these, has to have an all disk set up.

    The wifes Toyota IQ only weighs 800kgs but has disks all round for this very reason.


    With regards to the OP, its normal for drum brakes to stick when they've been left unused for a while. The drums on most cars a pretty trouble free untill they have racked up high miles or age so its very unlikely that there is any brake issue with the car your looking at.


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