brakes brakes brakes

[nyisles_99]

Hey everyone,

This site has been great thanks. With that said,

I am wondering how often you guys do brakes on your Ex. I have a 94XLT 4X4 and it seems that I am doing brakes to frequently. I drive mainly on highway except weekend city driving and currently I have Bendix truck brakes (more metallic). Last time I did them was in May I think I ll be needing to them again before winter (December) only about 6K miles by the time they need changing. Is this right?


Thanks so much in advance

PS: These are some pretty funny icons


Dan

 

[Gofast]

Hmm....

Need the brake gurus to help on this one.

When you do the brakes..IS it just replacing pads & turning the rotor?

Or are you rebuilding the calipers as well? Need to replace all the springs on the rear brakes every 3 years or 100,000 miles whichever comes first.

Also, It's a good idea to replace brake fluid too not just top it off. If you have ABS though you need to make sure you don't get air in the system. The dealership has a diagnostic tool/machine that will run the ABS pump to get the air of that system.

Sounds like the calipers are dragging if you are going through the pads that often. Unless your towing a lot or braking often ( Mail carrier syndrome, stopping at every house ).

Good luck.

 

[Longs]

I put new pads and rotors on about 40,000 miles ago, and I wouldn't have to change them yet, except the rotors seem to be rusting from the inside out, and it's wearing down the inboard pads.

 

[nyisles_99]

Thanks guys.

truck doesnt have 100K on it.


What would it cost to do a new brake fluid change?

I just had the rotors resurfaced 6months ago and just changed the pads.

I know EX is known to run through pads real often but I think I should be getting more than 7-9months.

How would I know if the calipers are not letting go or if I have to replace them?

They have refurbished calipers at Autobahn for $22 a piece so not really that expensive there.

My truck is pretty much stock except for exhaust and 31" tires, is there a bigger rotor I can get? If so do you guys know which one.

How hard is it to replace the fluid, I have ABS? I do my own brakes, should I not take the chance.


Thanks you guys.


Dan

 

[Steve94LTD]

ford did my brakes in May of 2001, my brakes are now again sqeaking...

 

[nyisles_99]

brakes just suck !!!!

Ford must hammered you on cost to. I think my dealer wanted like $200

 

[aldive]

I replaced my fron pads at 45l and the rear were fine.

Good luck.....

 

[Steve94LTD]

yeah, Id have those rotors that explorerXpress sells, and the carbon fiber pads, but it says those pads squeak in the winter.. and I hate squeaking...

 

[Gofast]

Brake Fluid

On the Brake fluid it's pretty simple.

Bleed as normal. Keep doing this until fluid come through pretty clean at the Bleed Valve.

This is not a complete flush and drain but works very well. Be careful not to let the resavoir go dry and let air in. Thats when you have to do the ABS motor deal.

I bought a couple of the big 32 oz cans of brake fluid. I used one to beled until clean on my system. I had 165 K miles at the time and it was very dirty. My other car only had 43 K and it was pretty dirty too so I did it as well. I still have about half a can left after flushing 2 systems.

I would replace the calipers since they are relativly cheap. Also make sure you Lube the Caliper slide pins so they don't start sticking. If you wear the backs quicker than the fronts your caliper is probable sticking.
You may have to peridically clean & lube the caliper slide rails. More so if you get into mud & yuck.

Rob

 

[nyisles_99]

Hey thanks,

no mud driving here. How would I know if they are sticking. If I change the caliper do I need bleed the brake lines.? Those slide pins are so annoying. I greased them the last time.

 

[Gofast]

Sticking calipers

It's hard to tell if they are sticking. ( For me it is )

One indicator is the uneven wear of the inside or outside pad. Shows that it is not releasing on that side.

Another way to check, is to have someone drive it very slowly and listen for it actually rubbing. That's what my other car did. Even with loud exhaust you could hear one of the wheels still rubbing on the pad.

New or rebuilt calipers should eleminate this problem though.

 

[nyisles_99]

cool thanks


how hard is it to change calipers....what is involved?

 

[01EB5.0]

ANother way to see if they are not releasing is jack up the truck and try rotating the wheels. if there is a lot of tension or if you hear scraping they may not be releasing. if it's only your front brakes wearing out maybe your rears are not doing as much work as they should be. DOes anyone know how to check if the rear is stopping it's share of the load? a 4,500 pound vehicle stopping with only front brakes could wear the pads out that fast I'd imagine.