I'm the happy owner of a green 2001 ZX3 - have had it about 2 1/2 months now and like it a lot. Haven't had the first service yet - couple of days, but I'm noticing some squealing sounds coming from the front brakes. It's most noticeable above 65 degrees and with about 50% pressure applied.<br><br> Anyone else have this - are the brake pads/discs really this crummy or did I get a bad set from the factory? I only have about 2000 miles on it.

hey <br> i have the same problem i have a 2000<br> red focus but i have not had time to<br> get the promlem fixed

I have a 2001 ZX/3. At about 250 miles, the brakes started to squeal. By 500 miles, it was terrible. I took it to the dealer and they resurfaced all 4 brakes and, now at 5000 miles, I have not had another bit of sound out of them.

yup got a zx3 in 2000 and 80% of the time they squeal for the first two stops. It does not matter if you pump your brakes before you go or try to brake very lightly you still squeal.

ours (ZX3) only squeals a little at first when they are wet but other than that they don't. Although i have heard that there is a lot of brake dust with the factory brakes. Might have something to do with it. I suggest"EBC green stuff" for your brakes. It cuts down on brake dust and im sure prevents squealing.

Well I have a 2000 one and mine do the same thing. I do though live in Kauai so with things rusting over here you know why. It seems when you leave the car sit say over the weekend that if you look at the cylinders you will see that they start to rust over a bit. Once you drive it the squeal goes away...Saw earlier it's best to get an upgrade in brake pads. Less brake dust...

Are you sure the fronts are squealing?<br>I thought it was my fronts that were squealing until I used only the handbrake to stop my car while I was rolling slowly downhill in stop & go traffic when I discovered it was actually my rear brakes!

Just noticed my brakes are squealing too and I have the same mileage on my car. I have heard that Ford uses cheap-shit brakepads that only last 18000miles (max)...is this true?

My brakes squeak when they get wet and it's annoying. I wouldn't doubt if the brakepads are cheap ones

I went to the ford dealer 3 times for the brakes squealing, they told me that the goverment reguires them to use crappy brake pads and if I want it to quit squealing go to autozone and put good ones on it.<br><br>Bill

We have a '01 SE wagon Zetec (rear drums) and the rears will squeak as well (more so when warm out or the brakes are warm.<br>Asked the dealer to solve it ... and guess what??<br>Still happens.. ugh!

in stead of going to autozone and getting the performance friction brakes! please consider ebc green stuff pads they are a performance pad with compounds in them that create about 80% less brake dust, last alot longer and stop a whole lot faster in my opinion than just about any other pads! their a few more dollars but it's worth it!

OH and less brake dust means less time CLEANING wheels!! that by it's self is worth the money!!

I've heard about the EBC green break pads and I had to look into them.<br>I'm getting mised reviews on these. I have read many message boards pertaining to these and have seen many disgruntled green stuff converts. Many have said they didn't see a difference in the break dust. <br>Do we have EBC users in here? All those, please post. I'd love to get more feedback.<br><br>Please Share<br><br>Thanks<br>~Chelly

my breaks squeak to when they are wet<br> and i have a red fordfocuszx3

My ZX3 brakes squeal when wet too, but so does my friend's Saturn, and my old Ranger (1998) did as well. I believe some degree of squealing is normal until the pads dry off from friction.

What?????? That sounds like such crap. Why would the government "require" them to use crappy pads? Maybe they said this because the gov. requires them to use any brake pads and Ford took this to mean the cheapest ones.