I recently changed the front pads on my moms 98 explorer 4-door 2wd. I had to replace the driver side rotor b/c the pad had eaten into it really bad. But the other side was fine so I did not have it turned. I checked to see that the rotor wasn't warped and it looked good. Got everything back together and it stops great right until it reaches speeds below 10mph then the brake pedal falls a bit and it fills like it slips and takes longer to stop??? I really don't know how to explain it. I have bled the brakes(all 4 corners) twice and the pedal fills tighter and the fade went away a little. Also sometimes it doesn't do it??
I replaced the pads on my 98 ranger without replacing/turning the rotors and it did the same thing for a little while and now it has stopped.

www.4x4central.com

Explorer site... good info.

-Joe-

It will probably even out in a while like you said the Ranger did, but it's always a better idea to replace both rotors at once. They grip differently after they wear in a little, so one is holding better than the other now. Does it seem to pull to one side it you take you hands off the steering wheel while braking easy?

Ok I understand the concept of the rotors needing to be replaced both at the same time. I don't think it pulls when under braking. But I don't drive it fulltime, it is my moms. I guess I could just change the other rotor. It wasn't that expensive, like $30 at Autozone. Would the calipers not adjust themselves to the irregularity in the thickness of each rotor. You would think that the master cylinder would keep adding fluid/pressure to the calipers until in full contact with the rotor even if each side was different in the fluid/pressure needed??? I guess I could just check the explorer board but the similarities in the rangers is what I was thinking. I really need to figure it out because my mom keeps naging about it.

You're right in that they will adjust to it, but it's more from one being polished smooth from wear and the other one not that hurts. The minimal thickness difference shouldn't matter. When you bled the brakes, did you do the longest line first? Normally you want to do the right rear, left rear, right front, left front. It could be you need to rebuild the master cylinder too. They start to bypass the o-rings after they get some age on them and you lose pressure. Doubt that's the case on a 98 though.