my brakes suck!
 

Hello, new to the protege world with a 93 escort GT I recently aquired from my sister. It has 4 wheel discs but the pedal is squishy and even under VERY heavy pressure I can't even get any wheel to lock up, maybe barely the last 3 feet or so. I'm a toyota tech so all the basics are covered, do the stock pads (or who knows whats on there) suck that bad? What kind of brake pads would you guys recommed. On my MX-6 I used EBC green stuff and I liked them except for the 10K mile life. Are the front rotors turnable? On my MX-6 they are not supposed to be turned.
Still, being new to the Protege there is some stuff I'm still learning, nice fun car though. I already put on a pacesetter header (stock downpipe was split) and a RX-7 airmeter. I put it on the alignment rack and was a little disappointed in the cheapo rear toe setting procedure, especially since the left rear was .22 degrees out, to get the total toe within specs it wanted the right rear to toe in .22 degrees, since thats the only way to adjust it. Is there anything out there I could buy to adjust both sides toe instead of only total toe? I'd like a little toe in front and rear to get the ass end to rotate around, but with thr rear the way it is that isn't going to happen.

I dunno if it's much help, but have you tried using Semi-Metallic pads? From all the Mazda dealers I went to the First gen Pro didn't have good stopping power under Organic pads so SM's were recommended...

How far can you depress your brake pedal for stopping? I just had new rotors and discs installed but it still feels squishy. Most new cars you can just depress slightly before locking up but I feel I'm pushing farther. Does it just need to be rebled?

stainless steel brake lines firm up the otherwise'squishy' brake feel....i noticed a big difference after putting them on.

I've got EBC Green pads in my car, along with Goodridge lines, and the pedal was nice and firm for a while, but has been getting soft lately. My guess in my car (and maybe yours, too) is the master cylinder seals starting to leak a little. It's common on older cars. If you replace the lines and pads and flush out all the old brake fluid, and that doesn't cure it, try a new master cylinder.

tom

I don't have squishy brake feel, but they lock up so often. I have so many close calls (and one rear-ending) that I never had w/ my junky Nissan pickup truck. Is it bad brakes or crappy wheels? I had assumed it was the wheels...

Thanks,
DC

the brakes on my 91 Escort are rather sucky too. feels as tho there is a lack of power assist.. got better once i repaired the rear drum self adjusters..but i think my wheel cylinders might beleaking too.