03 grand am brakes

[wyteboi]

Hi. I bought a used grand am about 3 days ago and i noticed that i have to slam on the brakes pretty good to stop. I went back to the dealer and they looked up on their computer that the brake pads were changed and blead a month prior to me buying it. They also told me that thats how the brakes are on grand ams and im not used to it because im used to driving a dodge and the brakes are different. Can anyone give me some advice. Thanks

[Riley1123d]

I wouldn't settle for that. I've never done my own brakes, but I know theres a way to adjust it to make the pressure from the petal more or less, ya know?

[SE2000]

No car should require a lot of pressure. GA are no different than other GM cars, so test drive some of their other cars and see how hard you have to work the brakes. It should be the same, if not have them fix it or take it back. Do not be intimidated, it will only come out of your pocket

[JoeyK]

Sounds like there may be some air in the line somewhere. But they are not entirely wrong. There are several GM vehicles that totally suck in stopping performance, Grand Am included. If you're used to it then you don't notice but if you drive several vehicles & not just the G.A. daily then you'll surely notice.
But if you're really having to stand on it to get it to stop then I'd say there's a problem somewhere, most likely air in the lines. There is no adjustment to increase & lessen the brake pressure.

[tenspeed]

It depends on how many miles have been driven. The rotors and pads may not have enough miles to be broken in yet. They may also be glazed.

[slowbird]

Drive it for a bi longer and see if it improves.


Maybe even go and test drive another Grand Am somewhere and see how it is.

[JoeyK]

Originally posted by tenspeed
It depends on how many miles have been driven. The rotors and pads may not have enough miles to be broken in yet. They may also be glazed.

- Good call on the glazing. I know mine got noticeably worse at one time & when I pulled the rim I saw that both fronts were glazed pretty bad.

[freekLED]

^ Good advice. If the other GA's brakes are firmer I would go to a brake shop/other dealer and get their opinion. If they feel the brakes are not in order I would go back to the dealer & have them fix it be it pads, rotors, bleed system or complete fluid change.

Having said that, I don't know what size/weight of Dodge you were driving but if it was a Neon it was considerably lighter than a 99+ GA is . Same thing happens to me when I switch cars for winter/summer (Cavy for winter). IIRC the brake system fluid volume is roughly the same for both vehicles but the GA weighs more (500 lbs IIRC) which affects braking (longer stopping distance).

[JoeyK]

Originally posted by freekLED
^ Good advice. If the other GA's brakes are firmer I would go to a brake shop/other dealer and get their opinion. If they feel the brakes are not in order I would go back to the dealer & have them fix it be it pads, rotors, bleed system or complete fluid change.

Having said that, I don't know what size/weight of Dodge you were driving but if it was a Neon it was considerably lighter than a 99+ GA is . Same thing happens to me when I switch cars for winter/summer (Cavy for winter). IIRC the brake system fluid volume is roughly the same for both vehicles but the GA weighs more (500 lbs IIRC) which affects braking (longer stopping distance).


There's alot more to it than weight & fluid volume- not all brakes are alike. My wife's '01 Escape (suv) is alot heavier & will outbreak a GA by a loooong shot. GM's floating caliper design is pi$$ poor, I did just about every brake modification you can to the stock brakes & it still did not get it up to snuff with most of the GA's competitors. Infact, the car I own now is much heavier & the brakes on it will by far outclass those of the Grand Am.
But anyways, I agree about trying another GA though, especially if you're not used to them, you'll have a comparison to go by. Just don't ever expect any stellar braking performance out of that car unless you go with an aftermarket brake replacement kit (Baer big brake kit, etc.)

[Vhrus]

Last weekend I was driving down a hill doing 80kmph with 4 people in the car and I had to slow down to turn into a drive while on the hill. I never realised just how shitty grand am brakes were before this, I had to nearly stand on the brake pedal and even then I wasn't sure if she was going to do it lol. Felt like trying to stop a freight train on a dime.

[wyteboi]

Thanks alot everyone for all the advice. I am glad i joind this site it has really been alot of help.

[SE2000]

My 2 GA stops easily. No harder than any other average car.

[slowbird]

I was thinking the same...probably better than any other GM car I've owned.

[rixGAphx]

JoeyK, se2k, and Vhrus are both right-on.

Vhrus' pre-'99 was like my old '96: Barely adequate brakes, and certainly NOT up to the 'sporty ability' that you'd think the GA would have.
And it requires at least 33% more foot pressure than comparable g-force stopping power in any other car or truck (all else being equalized for camparison).

As you're descending teh hill with 4 passengers and not slowing much, and time seems to stand still; just remember:
*The GA's ABS is superb, and you can STAND ON IT all you want without locking or losing control.
* Every car will slow from 15 mph to ZERO in that last 5 feet just before impact :eek:
(unless the brakes have totally faded from heat :( )

* * *

For years, I drove numerous '99+ GA rentals on business, and I must say their brakes were MARKEDLY better than my old '96.

You say you "..have to slam on the brakes pretty good to stop."
I'm sure we have varying metal pictures of 'slamming' and whether this is a 'casual stop' or an emergency 'don't-hit-that-DOG!' kinda stop.
A petite adult female (yo momma :D ) should be able to apply enough force to the pedal to stop quickly and avoid hitting teh dog.
If your pedal takes more force than that, something is wrong with your brakes

Maybe it is *just* glazing.
Glazing can be removed in 30 seconds with a belt sander, by somebody willing to spend 15 minutes to disassemble the front brakes.

I'll bet you bought your car 'As-Is', and the dealer is making like he's doing you a favor to even check the 'puter and say everything's fine.
NOT.
AZ and your state, CA, both have laws that apply to licensed dealers:
Even if the paperwork clearly says "As-Is - No Warranty", licensed dealers MUST correct defects to safety systems: Exterior lighting, seat belts, airbags, BRAKES, and a few other things.
Check your state's webpage for the exact requirements.

I would forget about getting other opinions from other shops.
Drive another GA to satisy yourself that teh GA should stop as well as a Dodge, albeit needing more foot pressure.

I would complain loudly and NOW to the Dealer, and with a note in writing (or email) to him so you have a papertrail.

Hope this helps,
-Rick

[slowbird]

I'd have to disagree on the ABS being superb.

In Slippery conditions if I go to stop and the ABS kicks in...if I try turning the car will still plow straight unless I realease the brake fully.

The whole purpose of ABS is to stop the wheels from Locking up so that you can maneuver out of harms way and the ABS on the Grand Am doesn't allow me to do that.

When I explained this to my brother and my dad they were confused saying their Protege's have ABS and they can still steer when it's engaged.

[rixGAphx]

Originally posted by slowbird
I'd have to disagree on the ABS being superb.

In Slippery conditions if I go to stop and the ABS kicks in...if I try turning the car will still plow straight unless I realease the brake fully.

The whole purpose of ABS is to stop the wheels from Locking up so that you can maneuver out of harms way and the ABS on the Grand Am doesn't allow me to do that.

When I explained this to my brother and my dad they were confused saying their Protege's have ABS and they can still steer when it's engaged. Ultimately, it's how the rubber meets the road; or in the case of wetness (phoenix, rarely) or ice/snow (Buffalo, often) or mud (Minnesota, always :D ) how much grip the tread can develop relative to gravity.

NO system of ABS can be perfect, when the traction conditions deteriorate to virtually nothing.

There may be many cars that have better ABS than the GA, I dunno.
I sure hope so, as there musta been some advances on planet earth since some Delco engineers designed my '96's system about 14 YEARS ago :roll:

If you expect any system to absolutely save your bacon, while braking hard AND evasive turning WHILE on 'slippery conditions', you're expecting A LOT.
It's gonna be a real crap-shoot between avoidance and contact IMO.

I know that three times, in the dry with good traction, the '96 allowed me to brake HARD!!! and SWERVE 4 feet at the last instant with foot still on the full on teh brake.
I missed the other guy by at least 4 inches :eek:

Would not have been possible without ABS, and I wouldn't have succeeded if the road conditions hadn't been as dry as they were.
Nor would I have been driving as 'close to the edge' if the road conditions had been poorer.

When are they gonna put 'launch control' into an affordable street machine? :D :D

[slowbird]

I agree it depends on road conditions....tires...and the ABS cannot be expected to perform miracles....I was just disagreeing to your original post saying:

Originally posted by rixGAphx
*The GA's ABS is superb, and you can STAND ON IT all you want without locking or losing control.


Which I think we can agree is incorrect.

[rixGAphx]

Originally posted by slowbird
I agree it depends on road conditions....tires...and the ABS cannot be expected to perform miracles....I was just disagreeing to your original post saying:



Which I think we can agree is incorrect. Oh. Okay.