What's wrong with my brakes?
Asked by Corey Feb 26, 2023 at 09:59 PM about the 2003 Ford Thunderbird Premium with Removable Top RWD
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
I have a 2003 T-bird. 66,000 miles on it. Brakes locked/froze when applied
while going 10-15 mph and ended up rear-ending car in front of me.
Thoughts?
3 Answers
beatupchevy answered about a year ago
Did the rear brakes lock up and you slid into them or was it the fronts ?
Anti lock system failure. You need to have it checked by someone who knows what they are doing, and not the dealer, find a good independent shop in your area to take it too. They will pull the codes and check the system over then tell you what it needs and a decent estimate of the cost.
Yes, the ABS system is really sensitive and if not maintained properly, it decays and fails. With ABS, you need to replace the brake fluid every eighty-thousand miles or six years, and the manufacturer recommends every thirty-thousand miles or two years. So I'm guessing you still have the original twenty-year-old brake fluid in the car and the brake peddle has felt spongy for a few years already.
