This is my first set of pads to be replaced on my 01 protege 1.6L. I was toldm that my disks are done. I feel absolutly no pulsing. How can the disks/rotors be done on the first brake pad change? ~85000kms. Anybody have the rotors wear that quick. All other cars I have owned, rotors gone by 2nd set of pads!!!!

Does anybody have that front brake pad procedure saved or have done the pads recently. I have the 8mm allen key, C-clamps for the brake pistons. I just don't want to loosen the wrong thing up. I think it should be easy enough, but... Somebody here had wrote up a nice procedure for front pad / disk replace.

 

Holy crap!!! You're pads lasted 85000 kms??!?!?!? WOW. You must drive slower than my grandma.

 

lol, ive gone thru 3 sets of pads and 2 sets of rotors on mine at 60,000 miles

 

I have no pulsations whatsoever and no real issues braking other then lack of brakepad material. I would think that the rotors would warp very easy if they were too thin. Should I just get the pads replaced. What are the negative effect of changiong only the pads and not the rotors??

 

get a micrometer and measure rotor runout...if its below the minimum level, they need to be replaced

 

GEE , I am now discovering the 97 escort that was traded in on the pro might be a mistake . the escort was based on the 323.the 110 hp sohc 8 vavle engine was just as quick(not) as a 03 pro.The only repair needed was a new rad at 115,000. YES,YES YES--AT 116,000 IT STILL HAD THE ORIG. BRAKES(FRONT AND REAR) BATTERY,PLUGS AND WIRES AND CLUTCH. IT DID 0-60 IN ABOUT 9 SEC AND GOT 42 MPG!! ON THE HWAY AND 35 AROUND TOWN. TOTAL REPAIRS--EXCLUDING TIRES AND OIL CHANGES WAS 360.00 DOLLARS--$200 FOR THE RAD AND $ 160 FOR TIMING BELT(AT101,000) ACCESSORY BELT(ONLY 1 BELT) AND TWO BULBS(TAIL,LIC. PLATE) AND ONE CLUTCH PEDAL PAD--WHICH IS THE SAME AS A PRO-GO TO FORD IF YOU WEAR OUT THE CLUTCH OR BRAKE PEDAL PAD AND SAVE MONEY. LOOKS LIKE THE BEST MAZDA IS A FORD!--ESCORT THAT IS.

 

lol, keep your ford propaganda off the board..ford doesnt know how to make a 4cyl engine to save their lives, which is why they have given that job to mazda.trust me i know, i work for ford,yet i own 2 mazda's.and i seriously doubt that claim of 42mpg...and the mazda engine was the bp in the egt, not the 8 valve ford pos

 

If I have calipers at work which we use for substrate and wafer/packaging, can I simply measure the thickness of the rotors all around. Is there a certain thickness minimum for the 01 1.6 pro? Thanks again for any info.

 

THANKS MACDADDYSLOMO-It is always refreshing to find someone who can put mods on their car and still know nothing about cars. The 110 hp 8 valve engine is made by ford and MAYBE it is not as good as a mazda powerplant, but I know a number of people who have over 200,000 miles on that engine and still running stong. It is not as "sophisticated" as a pro engine,but it also runs better in first gear,with no jerking(throttle tip in issues) and SORRY TO BREAK YOUR BUBBLE..BUT.. AT 7O MPH IT DID GET 42 MPG...BECAUSE IT WAS TURNING "LESS THAN 3,000 RPMS. IN FACT IN DIDN'T REACH 3,000 RPM TILL IT WAS GOING 74 MPH. GEE, have you figured out the slower a motor turns the less fuel it burns. THE ONLY REASON I BROUGHT UP THE ESCORT SUBJECT WAS because the escort had some things I would have liked to see in the pro and vice versa. the pro has more room, more climate control features, slighty sharper handling. But the escort was smother running in lower gears, YES YES YES -better fuel mileage, better door lock placement and better combination of ride and handling.and sorry to say-a stock110 hp 97 escort will go toe to toe with a stock 130 hp pro. The escort is about 150 pounds lighter which is one reason. REMEMBER-SINCE THE PRO IS BUILT IN JAPAN IT IS BUILT MORE TO THE NEEDS OF THE ASIAN PEOPLE AND NOT AMERICANS. HEY the pro is a good car BUT don't bash the escort when I have owned one and you have not.I have FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE-YOU DON'T. I am NOT going to get into a "peeing" contest over this--you like your pro, I like the pro and as a former owner of an escort-WITH THE FACTS-I like the escort. As far as bashing ford REMEMBER ONE MORE THING--FORD OWNS THE CONTROLLING INTEREST IN MAZDA AND WITH ALL THE "RED" INK MAZDA HAS HAD IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, MAZDA MAY NOT EXIST IN THE USA IF NOT FOR FORD. Keep an open mind-DON'T BASH ANOTHER MAN'S CAR ESPECIALLY IF YOU NEVER OWNED ONE.
PS-CHECK CONSUMER REPORTS ON RECOMMENDED USED CARS TO BUY- YOU WILL SEE THE 97 AND UP ESCORT RIGHT ALONG SIDE THE CIVIC. To be honest, I can't remember if the pro was there or not BUT we all know it should be. BOTTOM LINE-I f the pro last as long and is as TROUBLE FREE as the escort, it will have turned out to be a great car.THANKS AND HAVE A NICE DAY

 

First of all, flaming will not be tolerated. Second of all, I work for Ford Mazda is profitable all by itself.It had operating issues in the early to mid ninety's but it never affected quality.,and i have driven a 97 Escort.Rental companies used to love them. They are slower than a 2.0L Protege. 150 lbs of weight WILL NOT account for a 20hp/lb-ft torque advantage. I know, because my Protege has the 1.6L with 107hp stock, is about 200lbs lighter than an ES Pro and even with intake and exhaust I cannot keep up with an ES that is stock. plus your tranny if a five speed is the same as mine and isnt geared as closely as the G-series on the 2.0L protege,so again you will not out accelerate a 2.0L protege.I still need to pull the BS flag on your mileage estimates...EPA puts it at 34 mpg...very good, but hardly 42..And dont tell me since the Protege is built in Japan it is made to their standards. We get the A-spec version. Most of us WISH it was built to japanese standards so we could have all received the 170 hp FS-ZE engine and lots of other additional features we didnt get. And as far as reliability, the Protege held the best in class title 10 years straight, and the escort never made the list.

 

WELL, LETS SEE.Why would a rental company use an escort GEE,COULD IT BE BECAUSE IT IS SO RELIABLE. SPEAKING OF THAT -AND NOT TO MAKE YOU CRY-BUT THE TOYOTA CORROLA IS RELIABITY CHAMP-FEWEST PROBLEMS IN ONE AND 5 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP,FOLLOWED BY THE CIVIC AND THE PRO IN THAT ORDER. I KNOW YOU ARE PROTEGE CRAZY AND AS I STATED IT IS A VERY GOOD CAR..BUT.. IT IS "NOT" THE ONLY GOOD SMALL CAR OUT THERE AND IT IS FAR FROM "PERFECT".THE ESCORT WAS FAR FROM PERFECT. AND YES, YOU ARE RIGHT-The tranny is the same(BUILT IN JAPAN RIGHT ON THE STICKER WHEN NEW) BUT the escort engine winds up faster thus makes up for any lost of torque ( 125 lbs if i remember-ONLY 10 LESS THAN THE PRO). I DID "NOT" SAY THAT THE ESCORT WOULD BEAT THE 130 HP PRO, BUT 0 TO 60 WOULD BE TOE TO TOE. Maybe I know how to BREAK IN an engine- that is why the performance and mileage was so good. MANY OWNERS REPORT 40 + MPG ON THE HWAY. How can you basically call someone a liar when he has owned the vehicle.TAKE A GUESS WHAT THAT SAYS ABOUT YOU. One of the last trips I took was with 115,000 miles -and as I stated -the original plugs and wires. It got 42 at 70 mph. IT APPEARS YOUR MIND IS CLOSED-YOU WILL BELIEVE NO ONE. YOU enjoy you pro-it appears thats what you live for. I will enjoy the pro and have good memories of the escort and more on with other things in my life. I HOPE THIS LAST STATEMENT WASN'T "FLAMING" . HAVE A NICE DAY
PS-What I meant by " asian " was ride, seats controls etc. are "biased" towards the asians. Look at a hyundai elantra--they AMERICANIZED it with longer wider seats-for fatter americans- and put features in there most americans are used to seeing.
PS2- IF THE PRO IS SO GREAT-WHERE ARE THE THE 100,000 PLUGS. IF YOU HAD THEM YOU ONLY BE CHANGING WIRES BEFORE 100,000.
PS3 I READ ONE MEMBER SAID HE WISH HE HAD THE 130 HP FORD Z-TECH ENGINE INSTEAD OF THE MAZDA ENGINE.
BOTTOM LINE -WITH ANYTHING THERE IS ALWAYS DIFFERENT ,BETTER AND ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.

 

Again, flaming is not allowed. If it continues, I will ensure that the thread is closed. If you are not already aware I am one of the moderators of the board. I will rebut, but you should really check the wording of your posts. There is a big difference between debating and flaming. Please back up your posts with facts. here are some hard numbers...0-60 acceleration time 1997 Ford Escort 2.0L 10.9 sec..2001 Mazda Protege 2.0L 8.7 sec...that is a HUGE difference. So NO, it doesn't "hang" either. On real road tests cars never even meet EPA ratings. I seriously doubt you have some factory freak that gets 7-9 mpg more than EPA rating on the vehicle. The Escort was used by Hertz because Ford OWNS Hertz and it's a cheap little car, not because of a reliability reputation. I can call anyone a liar if they lie, regardless if they own a car or not. If some guy comes on here claiming he beat a Corvette in his 2nd GEN DX, I would say he is lying. But i'm pretty sure he owns the car.I never makes false statements about my Protege, I know its slow.It handles well and it's comfortable and good on gas(30+ mpg,I am realistic).If I want fast I jump in my MX-6 GT,thats why i got it . And if you think a 100,000 mile plug makes a car reliable you have another thing coming. Any protege member that said he wants a Zetec instead of their Protege engine said it because the aftermarket support, not because it wass better. Ford has already conceded they cannot build a 4 cylinder engine. That is why Mazda will make ALL of fords 4 cyl's after 2005

 

HERE WE GO AGAIN. I know you are one of the moderators,and because of that you should know better. I am so sorry I don't word things the way you want. ALSO, WHEN I STARTED I WAS ACCUSED OF BAD LANGUAGE--BUT--I WAS ON LAST NIGHT AND SAW CURSE WORDS AND THEY WEREN'T DELETED. WHY NOT HAVE A POLL AND SEE IF THIS IS" FLAMING" YES-PLEASE DESCRIBE WHAT FLAMING IS. THIS IS NOTHING MORE THAN A " HEALTHY DISCUSSION " . SORRY THAT I KNOW ABOUT CARS. I LIVED IN THE DAYS OF THE MUSCLE CARS-- LIKE A 69 PLYMOUTH BARRACUDA WEIGHING 2,800 POUNDS AND PUTTING OUT 275 HP IN A 340 CID ENGINE. NOTHING REPLACES DISPLACEMENT. BACK TO THE FACTS.
1) I'VE CLOCKED THE ESCORT--9.1 SEC 0 TO 60. YOUR FIGURES MUST COME FROM AN AUTOMATIC. MAYBE I AM JUST A GREAT DRIVER- BEEN DOING IT FOR MANY YEARS. REMEMBER-NOTHING DISPLACES DISPLACEMENT- A 1.6 WITH 107 HP IS GOING TO BE A LOT SLOWER THAN A 2.0 -EVEN IF IT ONLY HAS 3 MORE HP. REMEMBER THE 125 LBS ESCORT TORQUE FIGURE.
2)THE 03 I DRIVE IS ONLY A DX-WITH AC ONLY. ONLY PAID $10,600 NEW FOR IT (THE MAIN REASON IT WAS BOUGHT- PLS TAKE NOTE --THE PRO WAS CHEAPER TO BUY THAN THE ESCORT-EQUIPMENT FOR EQUIPMENT- WAS IN 97- IF THEY WERE GOING TO ALMOST GIVE IT AWAY I DECIDED AND MY WIFE AGREED TO BUY IT)
3) THE DX ON A TRIP WITH 1,500 MILES ON IT AT 65 MPH GOT 36 MPG.THIS IS MORE THAN THE EPA. THERE IS A MEMBER WHO HAS A DX AND STATED HE GOT THAT OR MORE ON A TRIP. MAYBE THE POWER WINDOWS WEIGH DOWN THE LX/ES
4)IF YOU WOULD READ THE EPA STICKER-IT STATES UNDER THE CITY/HWAY MPG THIS STATEMENT - SOME PEOPLE WILL GET 20% LESS MPG AND SOME WILL GET 20% MORE. MY OTHER CAR IS A 2,750 LB MITSUBISHI WITH 135 HP AND A 5 SPEED. IT IS 11 YEARS OLD. THIS HP IS 5 MORE THAN A PRO. IT ALSO WEIGHTS OVER 100 LBS MORE. ON A 750 MILE TRIP - WITH FILLING UP TWICE I GOT 37.7 AND 37.9 MPG--HIGHER THAN EPA BY 20%. THIS IS HIGHER THAN PRO. IT PROBALY HAS TO DO WITH THE AERO OF CAR. THE ESCORT IS MORE SLIPPLY IN THE WIND THAN THE PRO. THE SOMEWHAT "BOXY" SHAPE OF THE PRO AND THE FACT IT IS TALLER THAN EITHER THE ESCORT OR MY MITSI HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH MPG. ALSO, THE STOCK "BREATHING" OF THE PRO COULD BE BETTER --PUTTING THE AIR INTAKE AT HOOD LEVEL ALLOWS LESS COOL AIR THAN SCOOPING IT UP CLOSER TO THE GROUND-LIKE THE ESCORT OR MY MITSI. READ EDMUNDS 2003 COMPARISONS OF ECONO BOXES- THE PRO RANKED "6th" out of 8 vehicles tested for fuel mileage. Just because the pro sucks in mpg doesn't mean other cars do. MANY members complain about this--like 18 mpg in the city-may as well own an suv.
4) HERTZ ISN'T THE ONLY ONE WHO RENTS THE ESCORT. ENTERPRISE (FOR ONE) DOES TO. MAYBE IF MAZDA WOULD HAVE RENTED THE PRO THE DEALERS WOULDN'T BE STUCK WITH SO MANY.
5) THE ESCORT WASN'T A CHEAPLY BUILT CAR. IN 7 YEARS THE CAR HAD MINIMUM SEAT/INTERIOR WEAR AND NOT ONE RATTLE OR SQUEAK. THE PRO ALREADY HAS AN OCCASSIONAL RATTLE OR DASH SQUEAK- LIVEABLE- BUT NOT USED TO THIS
6) IF FORD 4 CYL. ENGINES ARE SO BAD--WHY ARE THEY OFFERED IN THE NEW MAZDA 3. FORD IS SLOWLY GETTING OUT OF THE 4 CYL ENGINE BUSINESS-BECAUSE- JUST LIKE THE ESCORT USED A MAZDA 5 SPEED IT IS " CORPORATE AMERICA CHEAPER" TO HAVE MAZDA MAKE THE ENGINE.
7) MAZDA IS NO DIFFERENT AS A CORORATION-THEY WILL MAKE IT AS CHEAP AS POSSIBLE. CHECK OUT WHERE YOU MX-6 IS MADE-MAYBE THERE IS A FORD ENGINE UNDER YOUR HOOD
8) I WRITE IN "CAPS" NOT TO SHOUT AT YOU-IF THIS IS WHAT YOU CALL FLAMING. I DO IT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO GO FROM LOWER TO UPPER CASE. I WOULD RATHER TRY TO "SPELL THE WORDS CORRECTLY" -AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
PS- I AM PERSONALLY DONE WITH THIS SUBJECT. I WOULD SUFFICE TO SAY THAT IS WHY THERE ARE SO MANY FLAVORS OF ICE CREAM ---TO EACH HIS OWN

 

I have read some of your posts. I have already emailed ryan.I suggest your current path not continue if you want to frequent this board..i'll respond to one topic only..the Mazda 3 does not have a ford engine, it has 2 versions of the Mazda MZR series of engines...do a search, this topic has been already covered in great detail...

 

Well, thanks for all the usefull advice. I got new pads put on and disks looked fine.

P.S. I was also told that one of the best used cars to buy was a escort. THey were very dependable cars and I owned one for years. I was watching Car and driver though and was shocked to find out all the similarities of the mazda 3 and focus. I thought they were 2 separate cars, but.. I also had the pleasure of owning a focus after my merc mystique and had a lot of quality issues with these cars. Needless to say Ford sucks. I hope Mazda does not get sufficated by Ford ion the future. Now If Ford started using Mazda parts, Fords sales would increase. BUT when Mazda uses Ford parts and are associated with the Ford Focus on shows like car and driver. (Can't be good)!!