So I was driving my truck out of the bush this morning, heading back into town. I sat all morning in the tree stand, freezing my ***** off looking for deer, and saw nothing more than a few Blue Jays.

I had my insulated rubber hunting boots on so the feel of the gas and brake pedals was a bit different. I noticed the brake pedal would travel a couple inches down with no resistance and then hit a brick wall of pressure.

After that, my truck wouldn't creep forward in drive when I let off the brakes, and the engine was actually working a bit to push the truck forward at minimal speeds. I pulled over immediately and felt the rear brakes, and they were very hot. I just had the fronts done, so they likely were not the culprit.

I limped it to the shop and had the mechanic take a look, but told him initially what I thought the problem was. Alas, both rear calipers were seized, and now I'm in it for nearly $600. 2 calipers, 2 rotors, a set of Wagner Thermo-Quiets to match the fronts, and some labor.

Dangit! Truck is 8 years old and 118,000km. Seem about right for them to need replacing right around now?

 

rear brakes usually last me about twice as long as the fronts. Ive never had a caliper seized on any of my vehicles

 

Thats sounds about right for them to need replacing around those miles, especially if there is lots of salt in the winters, but that seems pretty expensive for just rear brakes. Calipers cost about $50 a set, wagner TQs are bout $40-$50 a set, and the rotors are about $30 a set. If he was charging you $600 for parts and install, then he is charging about $450 for less than 2 hours work.

 

my right rear seized up and i only have 71K on mine.

 

He said calipers were 89 a pop, rotors 50 a piece, and not sure about the pads but I wanted that brand regardless.

 

did they check the e-brake? If that stuff wears out rusts up comes undone fixing it can get expensive. Good idea to clean it check it all out while its apart clean it up and all.. Mine came undone here a few years ago and made a huge mess of every thing in there. Busted the caliper bracket and the backing plate I finally fixed it this year. New calipers brake rotors all new e-brake stuff and new pads while I had the axles out I threw in a traction lock differential. Whole deal cost me a bit over 1,100 bucks. I did it all myself to..

 

Check with another shop. It sounds like he's awfully high, but honestly I do most of my own work.

 

I got the truck back with the work done, and I'm still having problems.

The truck is dragging the brakes randomly, almost like the pressure isn't releasing after I release the pedal. I have abnormal pedal feel, as well.

I am wondering if this is a problem with the hydraulic brake system itself, or if it has to do with my adjustable pedals. They both move with the switch command, but is there any possibility that the brake pedal is getting stuck? Could this be a problem with the master cylinder piston? Has anyone ever had the ABS box fail or malfunction?

The Ford dealer flushed my brake fluid a year ago, so it's new fluid. The brakes are still dragging periodically, and I need some help here guys. Any ideas?

 

I had to replace one of my front calipers at about 130k.

 

poor truck

 

Check your Front Calipers. And, I don't remember what it is but there's something in the ABS system, I think it's a line that can get clogged, that you'll need to check that can cause dragging calipers. Someone on here will remember what it is.

 

Front calipers are ok, just had the brakes replaced on the front by a mechanic and they functioned ok.

I just dropped it off at the dealer and I think we found the problem. The service manager sat in the truck and felt the pedal travel and seems to think that it's the piston in the master cylinder that's not returning. It makes sense in my mind.

Anyone replaced one of these before on their truck? Ford's price is pretty high, any good aftermarkets? Rebuild kits?

 

Also have them check the brake lines

 

The fluid level has remained full, so I don't think there are any leaks. Are you thinking maybe like a kinked line? Would that explain the odd pedal feeling?

It does feel like the pedal does absolutely nothing for about half its stroke and then comes into contact with the piston to start driving the fluid through the lines.

 

Might be, give those a check