NHTSA Complaint #762262 — 1993 FORD PROBE

1993 FORD PROBE GT. BOTH REAR BRAKE CALIPERS HAVE EACH SEIZED TWICE (BOTH CALIPERS WERE REBUILT BY A DEALER AFTER THE INITIAL FAILURES). WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS THERE IS A BURNING BRAKE SMELL, THE ROTOR GLOWS ORANGE, THE ENTIRE WHEEL GETS EXTREMEMLY HOT, AND THE VEHICLE IS DESTABILIZED TOWARDS OVERSTEER. THE BRAKE PADS ARE DESTROYED VERY QUICKLY RESULTING IN INOPERATIVE REAR BRAKES (INCLUDING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE). THE BRAKE ROTOR MAY ALSO WARP DUE TO HEAT DAMAGE. IT IS DIFFICULT TO IMMEDIATELY DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE CORRECTLY SINCE IT INITIALLY JUST SEEMS LIKE A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A RUBBER SEAL (HANDBRAKE PIVOT-PIN SEAL) THAT DETERIORATES PREMATURELY ALLOWING MOISTURE AND CONTAMINATION TO ENTER THE CALIPER WHERE IS CAUSES THE NEEDLE BEARINGS TO CORRODE. IT THEREFORE ONLY EFFECTS PROBE MODELS WITH REAR DISC BRAKES (PROBE GT). FORD REVISED THE REAR CALIPERS ON PROBE GT'S MANUFACTURED AFTER 5-JAN-1995 TO CORRECT THE DEFECT ALTHOUGH EARLIER MODELS WERE NEVER CORRECTED.*AK