Question about brakes?

   / Question about brakes? #1  

GreatWhitehunter

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2006
Messages
1,925
Location
Eastern CT
Tractor
JD 110 TLB
I need some help. I have an f250 4x4 PSD and I've had lots of brake issues. When I first got it the front rotors warped in about two month. I was not towing or riding te brakes. The dealer turned the rotors and said I'd be allset. After about three more incidents with the rotors watping in the same time frame the dealer replaced the front rotors and inspected the rest of the system. Again it's allset and you won't have any more issues. Since the rotor replacement it's happened another three times. The last time they claimed a retainer clip had fell off and held the pad to the rotor. I notice no symtoms of this however. I asked if it was possible that the rears were not working and that was causing the front brake to do all the work. The dealer simply dismeissed it and said I'd be allset. Well it's been another few months and the brakes are pusing again. I want to have my information together when I call them on Tuesday so I thought I'd ask here for advice. I should mention that my esp has covered some of these brake repairs but there's a $100 deductable I've paid a few times.

Matt T.
 
   / Question about brakes? #2  
You don't say what year your F250 is. I've had some brake problems with my 96 F350, warped some rotors and cracked some too. Then I found out how to stop the problem-
When coming to a stop particularly after a long grade where the brakes are hot, even empty, when you get to the stop sign/traffic light/whatever, do NOT sit there with your foot on the brakes. Stop a little short and creep forward a foot or two every few seconds. The pads cover part of the disk of course and it is the uneven cooling, if you stay on the brakes in one spot-I believe, that causes the warping/cracking. Since I figured this out I've had no more brake problems the last few years :)
 
   / Question about brakes? #3  
Ouch. Warped rotors come from heat. Drilled & slotted rotors help. If you are not hitting the brakes fast & hard then it is in the hardware. The rubber hoses can swell up & close off the return oil path not releasing the calipers. Hit the brakes & warm up then go for an uninterrupted cruise feel the hubs & calipers if hot there you go.

How about front end alignment; bent, warped or twisted parts could be a contributor. You might need a different dealer to troubleshoot.
 
   / Question about brakes?
  • Thread Starter
#4  
It's an 04, I due keep my foot on the brake when I'm at a light,but I drive almost all highway so I'm not so sure it's that. I appreciate the replies.

Matt T.:D
 
   / Question about brakes? #5  
I have an '01 F150, so you may be in a whole different league than me, but I do all of my own brake work. I just replaced my rear pads and rotors about a week ago, front ones a couple of years ago.

What kind of pads are they using at the dealer? What kind of rotor are they using? If you can find a rotor made in the USA it will cost you more, but it is generally much better steel. Most of the ones being put on these days come from China, and their steel is not as good (generally speaking), meaning more prone to warping under somewhat normal conditions. Their heat treating processes and grades of steel are inferior. I wouldn't be surprised if this warranty work is being done with the cheapest parts they have available - BUT that doesn't explain why it happened with the OEM parts.

The reason I started doing my own brakes is because of stuff like this with "trained professionals." The other thing they do is crank the crap out of your lug nuts. On my last truck I had to replace FIVE different studs due to the guys at the shop over-torquing them with an impact wrench and then when I'd go to rotate the tires the stud would just break.

Anyway, back to your problem, you might try a different grade of pads. Lots of people use Raybestos, I don't like them. I've had great luck with Weaver Gold - they stop great, don't throw lots of dust, don't eat up rotors, and don't squeak like the ceramics. A change in the pad make might help. They are softer and your pads will wear more, but that's better than your rotor wearing excessively. Also, I NEVER let them turn my rotors. That just makes them thinner, more prone to warp... etc. That's just me - I'm a bit hard headed about that, but I use softer pads so that's not a problem. By the way, the only reason I had to replace the rotors is because I tend to have the music up too loud and don't always hear it when the wear indicators tell me to change them. I went too far and got into the rotor. However, using those softer pads, WHEN I change them at the proper time, I've never turned the rotors and have been through several pair of pads in the 100+K miles on my truck.

I've not seen the slotted or drilled rotors for your size truck, although they may exist. Just make sure the holes are random or they will be loud.

I don't know how much any of that will help, but I would have to agree with the thought of trying a different dealer if you don't want to bother with doing it yourself. And, if you really do have a problem it would probably be good to take it to a brake specialist - Midas for instance. If I thought I had a problem I wouldn't fool around with something as important as brakes. Good luck.
 
   / Question about brakes? #8  
didya ever think the rear brakes might not be pulling there share of the stopping workload causing the fronts to overheat and warp.
 
   / Question about brakes?
  • Thread Starter
#9  
That's exactly what I suggested to the dealer the first few times this happened. I posted on the Ford sites and seem to have gotten lots of different possibilitys. I just need to know how I can eliminate them. I'm thinking of new slotted rotors all around and new pads as well. But what if I spend all that money and still have the same issue. I'll be quite upset, is there anyway to trouble shoot them? I'm not to savy when it comes to cars and trucks.

Matt T.:D
 
   / Question about brakes? #10  
The brakes on these trucks ( f-250, f-350 ) are marginal . If you have larger tires or do a lot of high speed braking , ( interstate ) the rotors are going to warp . The only way to really fix it is to buy aftermarket ( larger in size ) rotors , better calipers and larger pads . The newer ford trucks have larger brakes from the factory , ( 2005 on up )
 

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