1993 Pontiac Grand Prix

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN A PANIC SITUATION THERE IS VERY LITTLE STOPPING ACTION. THIS HAPPENS ON A DRY ROAD SURFACE. ON MARCH 27, 1997 VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH BECAUSE OF BRAKING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

MY PROBLEM IS THAT THE BRAKES ON MY CAR DO A SUBSTANDARD, UNSAFE AND UNPREDICTABLE JOB OF STOPPING THE VEHICLE. IN EMERGENCY MANEUVERS, THEY HAVE REPEATEDLY PROVEN THEMSELVES TO BE INADEQUATE, AND I FEEL LIKE I AM DRIVING WITH AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. SOMETIMES, I WILL STAND ON THE BRAKES (TO THE FLOOR), BUT THE CAR IS STOPPING AS IF I HAD BEEN MODERATELY BRAKING. OTHER TIMES, THE BRAKES PULL THE CAR TO ONE SIDE. OF ALL THE CARS THAT I HAVE EVER DRIVEN (INCLUDING MANY GM THAT MY FAMILY OWNED), THIS CAR HAS THE WORST BRAKES, AND BY A FAR MARGIN. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I HAVE HAD MECHANICS INSPECT THE BRAKES (DEALERS AND LOCAL MECHANICS). I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THEM THAT THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO TO IMPROVE MY SITUATION; THAT IT IS JUST A "PROBLEM WITH THE GM W-BODIES." I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THESE BRAKES TO MECHANICS FOR OVER 60,000 MILES, WITH NO HELP (I HAVE DOCUMENTED THIS -- THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY WHEN I STARTED). I HAVE HAD REAR CALIPERS REPLACED, BRAKE PADS REPLACED WITH ONES OF DIFFERENT COMPOUNDS, ROTORS TURNED, ALL TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE HAD FRIENDS DRIVE THE CAR AND TELL ME THEY THOUGHT THE BRAKES WERE BAD. I FEEL THAT I HAVE RUN OUT OF OPTIONS WITH THIS, SHORT OF SELLING THE CAR AND BUYING A NEW ONE (WHICH I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DO FOR THIS).

THIS IS ADDENDUM TO ODI # 700647: ON MAY 14, 1997, I HAD MY BRAKES RELINED AND PAID FOR THE FOLLOWING: REAR PADS, FRONT PADS, BOOT KIT, RETAINERS, CUT ROTORS, SLIDE PINS AND ANTI-RATTLE CLIPS. ON MY WAY HOME, THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE OVERHEATED AND BEGAN SMOKING. I CALLED THE DEALER AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT. AFTER HE WORKED ON THE CAR, I STILL HAD PROBLEMS. I RETURNED AND HE CHARGED ME FOR A NEW CALIPER AND SAID THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIRS INCLUDING TRIAL AND ERROR WAS $369.34. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES AND THE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW BRAKE HOSE AT NO CHARGE. WHEN THE SAME RIGHT REAR LINING WORE OUT PREMATURELY AND BROKE IN HALF, THE DEALER RELINED THE REAR BRAKES AT NO CHARGE, BUT THE BRAKE STILL OVERHEATS ON DAMP DAYS. I CONTACTED PONTIAC AND ASKED THEM TO ASSUME SOME RESPONSIBILITY, BUT THEY REFUSED. THE DEALER ALSO REFUSES TO ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY, BUT ADMITS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY GM AUTOMOBILES--THAT IT'S NOT A GOOD BRAKE SYSTEM.