Brake pads and rotors
#1
Brake pads and rotors
The time has come to replace my brakes and I'm wondering what my best option is. I had them done previous at a Ford dealer with Motorcraft pads and rotors, and the pads are guaranteed for life, so those will be a free replacement with only labour charges.
Ford wants 100 bucks per front rotor but I'm wondering if there are better ones out there for value and performance. I run 33's and tow a 2000lb trailer fairly often so an upgrade might be a good idea!
Ford wants 100 bucks per front rotor but I'm wondering if there are better ones out there for value and performance. I run 33's and tow a 2000lb trailer fairly often so an upgrade might be a good idea!
#2
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#5
Carquest Pads (Blues) if you pull heavy or light. You'll NEVER have to pay for pads on the vehicle again. I never have and purchased Blues back in 2000. NO Brake dust. I believe they're $70- $80 a set. Expensive, but the best IMO, -also Life-Time returnable's, - no questions asked.
Not a fan of Ford Rotors. Ive been using nothing but Brembo's since I warped the Ford set a few years after purchasing the truck , new (well about 30,000 miles or so). I was hard on them tho, pulled a car hauler (across two states (MICH - PA, 4 years) and also placed 5-7000 lb vender's trailers for misc events, in MI only, but not just a single vender,had six at one time. The truck pulled,- placed their trailers and took off for the next lol. Yea, the brakes HAD to be there lol.
NOTE: Get braided lines for smooth and fast flow. You'll want them to get that "better than new" stopping power consistently.. Ford factory lines expand/flex to much and to often. That eventually will cause the line to internally break down, -flow decreases, pistons will not pressure equally, in-turn, overheats the rotors and prematurely wears the pads out. I've seen them wear at a diagonal from bad lines lol.
Paranoid and @ 257,000 miles I decided to gut every hard line on the truck and made up new ones. That's the only part (s) of the system I haden't replaced yet anyway. Easy to do and allot cheaper than I thought it might be. A small potion of the factory line nuts had rusted down to the line on one side in a few locations so I was little lucky I caught when I did. Didn't make any difference, just peace of mind...
Yea, not sure what's out on the market now a days, -slotted rotors sound nice. I've also read you can purchase over sized rotors and run larger pads. ~ $$$ I expect.
Good Luck.
Not a fan of Ford Rotors. Ive been using nothing but Brembo's since I warped the Ford set a few years after purchasing the truck , new (well about 30,000 miles or so). I was hard on them tho, pulled a car hauler (across two states (MICH - PA, 4 years) and also placed 5-7000 lb vender's trailers for misc events, in MI only, but not just a single vender,had six at one time. The truck pulled,- placed their trailers and took off for the next lol. Yea, the brakes HAD to be there lol.
NOTE: Get braided lines for smooth and fast flow. You'll want them to get that "better than new" stopping power consistently.. Ford factory lines expand/flex to much and to often. That eventually will cause the line to internally break down, -flow decreases, pistons will not pressure equally, in-turn, overheats the rotors and prematurely wears the pads out. I've seen them wear at a diagonal from bad lines lol.
Paranoid and @ 257,000 miles I decided to gut every hard line on the truck and made up new ones. That's the only part (s) of the system I haden't replaced yet anyway. Easy to do and allot cheaper than I thought it might be. A small potion of the factory line nuts had rusted down to the line on one side in a few locations so I was little lucky I caught when I did. Didn't make any difference, just peace of mind...
Yea, not sure what's out on the market now a days, -slotted rotors sound nice. I've also read you can purchase over sized rotors and run larger pads. ~ $$$ I expect.
Good Luck.
Last edited by jbrew; 04-20-2011 at 07:58 AM.
#6
I say Bendix which is used by Ford. They are awesome. Last along time and never have a problem with them. Problem is they are hard to find. Well, dont know about NAPA but none of the other autopart stores carry them anymore. They all went to wagner which sucks terribly. I have a set of wagner thermos on mine right now and all that truck does is squeek.
#7
That dealership deal is good if you are going to own your truck for a long time more. I actually got AC Delco pads and rotors for the front, $120 for everything. Gonna try them out, got my buddy's discount that's why I went AC Delco. Otherwise I get Carquest stuff, very good. Wagners are also very good.
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#10
I know im going to make a few madd with this one ....
If you bought brembo rotors you usually pay way too much and they are a bit over priced for what you get. Your not running a race car, your driving a truck and all you need is a good set that will get the job done without breaking your wallet in the process. I just did a full front and rear brake job on my ford yesterday. I used a company called Rotor Pros and let me tell you I have run Baer, Brembo, AEM, Axxis and Rotex. They are all great brakes but one down side is the cost of the systems which to me... just isint worth it for a street truck. I got my front and rear rotors w/ pads shipped to my front door for $340.00. The rotors are warrantied for 2 years against warpage or cracks/breakage and the pads are hawk full ceramic front and rear. I could not believe the "bite" the brakes had when I got done with the brake job. I was very impressed at how well they performerd for a fraction of the cost as the other guys. I took the liberty of painting the hubs on my rotors with ceramic blue paint to help keep rust away. Below are some pictures of my rotors and then the rotors installed on the truck. i do have factory rims so you cant see them that well but im more about stopping than looks. Http://www.rotorpros.net or Phone 1(714)309-3620
If you bought brembo rotors you usually pay way too much and they are a bit over priced for what you get. Your not running a race car, your driving a truck and all you need is a good set that will get the job done without breaking your wallet in the process. I just did a full front and rear brake job on my ford yesterday. I used a company called Rotor Pros and let me tell you I have run Baer, Brembo, AEM, Axxis and Rotex. They are all great brakes but one down side is the cost of the systems which to me... just isint worth it for a street truck. I got my front and rear rotors w/ pads shipped to my front door for $340.00. The rotors are warrantied for 2 years against warpage or cracks/breakage and the pads are hawk full ceramic front and rear. I could not believe the "bite" the brakes had when I got done with the brake job. I was very impressed at how well they performerd for a fraction of the cost as the other guys. I took the liberty of painting the hubs on my rotors with ceramic blue paint to help keep rust away. Below are some pictures of my rotors and then the rotors installed on the truck. i do have factory rims so you cant see them that well but im more about stopping than looks. Http://www.rotorpros.net or Phone 1(714)309-3620
Last edited by blitz_; 04-20-2011 at 09:25 PM. Reason: original pics too small