Just because your truck is old doesnt mean that you cant have them turned.

Usually there are 2 reasons that you cant turn the rotors
1) they have been turne multiple times before and they are "out of spec" which means that there is not enough metal to grind off and still have enough to be safe

2) grooves or gouges from the pads being too worn and having metal on metal contact with the rotor (this produces a HORRIBLE noise)

I found a place in to turn both the fronts for $60 total, which beat the heck out of replacing the rotors at $100 apiece.

FYI, unless you are driving aggressively, there is no reason to spend more than $50 on a pair of brake pads at your local autoparts store.

Dinggus - If your truck is shaking like that, I would bet money that is warped rotors. On an '03, I believe you can take the rotors off and take them to a shop and they will turn them for $15 or so since the hub isnt pressed into the rotor like on the NBS.

 

Lucky...

 

I am dreading having to replace the rotors. Apparently this is kinda common with F150's.

A word of advice, whenever you take your truck in, ask them to hand tighten the lugs. Overtightening can cause warping, or so I'm told. They can overtighten them if they use the impact wrench.

 

That is good to know. When I picked my truck up, the guy said my brakes and rotors look good, and ball joints are fine. So I have no clue what the noise is when I turn my steering wheel just a little bit, or when I hit my brakes. Might be brake fluid?

 

What kinda noise are you talking about? I thought the issue was the truck was shaking at high speed braking. Or do you have multiple problems?

 

Flash, it does, but also if the wheels are spinning at a slow speed say 0-15mph, they squeal, and when hitting brakes.

 

You took it to a mechanic and they said everything checked out? Could just be your type of brakes, some just squeack

 

The shop that did my lowering kit, they also change brakes and a ton of other stuff, and they said it was all fine. Brakes never squeaked until I wrecked. What about when I turn my wheel slighting to the left or right?

 

Maybe its not your brakes, maybe a lose belt? Squealling when the power steering kicks in?

Just throwing out ideas

 

I'll check, whenever the wheels spin and I slightly turn the wheel it squeeks as well as hit the brakes.

 

Okay, so I went by the shop today. Scott called me saying that the new stuff from Tirerack had gotten here, and I needed to bring the first order of stuff back to the shop, so that we could mail it back to them. I'm okay with that, I'm not out to screw anybody over. So I get there and open the boxes...

Good news: Now I have hubs that will work with the Slotted Rotors

Bad News: They sent me OE Rotors.



I called up and explained my train of thought of, "If I have to replace them anyway, I might as well upgrade". The person who I'd talked to had left for the day, and they said the whole situation seemed odd. Anyway, I asked if I could keep the Powerslots (seeing as that's what I wanted in the first place) and send back the OE Rotors. They said that someone would call me in the morning. I'm just hoping to get this worked out, I really have my heart set on slotted rotors. Even if they won't do much for me, dammit, they look cool!

So if anyone from Tirerack is reading this, I've been your customer for years! I got my Hella headlights from you, and I've gotten lots of stuff from you guys for my customers when I worked at my last job. I'd like to continue being a happy customer!

Pics for Clicks...

The New Package



The new hubs work the Powerslots, see?

 

Did you have to "press" the hub into the rotor? Or did it just slide in and will be secured by the wheel?

 

Ok, I've read this entire thread now...truck looks great. Making some real progress!

However...I think F150Online's members should FIND YOU A CENTER CAP!!!!

I am OCD about some stuff and every picture I see of your truck in this thread I'm like "Oh hey I see what he changed that looks goo...HOLY MOTHER OF GOD THERE ARE NO CENTERCAPS!!!!!"

I know its coming, every time, but it still gets me. I will find you a center cap! haha

 

It just popped in. I'm sure that the pin will hold it in place, not just the wheel. But yeah, went in with the power of gravity.
Speaking of this, they just called. Apparently I can't send back the Centric Rotors and the keep the Powerslots...
Well I can if I want to pay more for them. If it's just the price difference between the two kits (the Centric and the Powerslots, which is $30) I won't be happy about it, but I can deal. But if it's more than that, come on guys... I'm not trying to be a douche or anything, but I just want the part for the advertised price (what's on the website) and I want it to work. That's not too much to ask for, right? I
Well I'm waiting on another phone call, so hopefully they'll still pull through.



This made me feel better, thanks!

...but seriously it bugs me too. I took them all off, cause I think that it would bug me more if I only had three. I think that as is, at least it matches. I do want to find a fourth one soon. Once this whole brake fiasco is over with, I want the Wheel/Tire Setup to look good to go with the brakes. Even if they are OEM wheels (IMO) they don't look half bad when they're all cleaned up.

If I makes you feel any better I've got the three that I have sitting on my back porch, so I can't lose those in the mean time!


Oh, kinda off topic, but I wanted the forum's opinion.

So even when I get other wheels I think that I'm gonna keep these for winter wheels. While I just got these tires (from the forum actually, damn good deal too! ) I think that White-letters might look good on these wheels. So I was thinking about getting some paint and doing the letters on these tires just to see what it would look like. When it started to wear off I'd wash it off. But either white (classic looks) or maybe even red (match the calipers, kinda sporty lookin'). Any thoughts on this?

EDIT: Just throwing this out there, but if anyone has a spare centercap....

 

I think that red would clash to much with the dark color of the tire unless you did a very glossy, bright red.

Couldn't hurt to try - you could always redo it white or just get the pressure washer out.