BRAKES
Like a time traveller from the 20th century, even the very last 2017 Mk7 Fiesta 1.0s wore antiquated rear drum brakes. They’re okay for an old farm trailer, but not what you’d expect to find on a 138bhp pocket rocket.
Yes, the Fiesta’s brakes work fine, but you’ll certainly feel the difference if you’ve stepped out of, say, an ST180 with rear discs. The brake pedal has a lot of travel, and there’s not a great deal of bite; when driving hard – especially in a tuned car – they struggle to give confidence.
Braided hoses don’t make much of an improvement, so – if you’re planning on modifications – you’ll need to budget for an ST180 back axle, which you should be able to find second-hand, complete with discs and calipers, for around £300; reckon on another couple of hundred pounds for fitting from a specialist such as AET. The braking will be better, the feel will immediately improve, and the discs will look terrific too.
That said, don’t confuse numb drums with lousy braking. If there’s way too much travel, with no stopping until your foot’s touching the carpet, the Fiesta most likely requires a new master cylinder, costing around £500.
Fiestas are also prone to the typical Ford juddering, felt through the pedal and steering wheel when stopping hard – the usual cause is contaminated discs and pads, but bad hubs or buckled wheels may also be to blame.