I've got a very bad problem with my rear brakes grinding. It all started when the dealer found out I had a bad rear seal in the differential. No problem, they fixed it under warranty. 2 miles from the dealer, the brakes start making a grinding noise that sounds like the pads grinding on the rotor. I have taken it back 5 times now, and it's still not fixed right. The first time they just fixed the seal, and put it all back. When I brought it back the first time for the noise, they turned the front rotors, found out they were defective and changed the rotors and changed the front pads because they thought the noise could possibly be in the front. The next time they changed the pads in the back and turned the back rotors. And then they finally changed out the back rotors and re-adjusted all of the brakes, and it's still making noise. The noise would quit for the first 3-4 miles and then it would re-appear. On the next visit the service manager got involved, and so far all he's done is insult my intelligence. He told me to drive it a while, they're just very hard pads and they will break in. When?? After 10k miles?? I did that after the second time in the shop for about 100 miles. But I did as they asked, and put another 300mi on the truck, and they are still making noise. So after i called the service manager and told him nothings changed the noise is still there, he calls his Ford field rep. They determine that obviously there's nothing wrong because there is no TSB's or any recalls like this. And my only option seems to be putting aftermarket pads on it because they're softer. I asked if they used the same pads that originally came with the truck and they said yes. I told them the noise was never there before, something else is wrong. His only comment was "well bring it in and we'll go over it again and discuss your options". DISCUSS MY OPTIONS???? The only discuss I have right now is DISCUST!! I have done many brake jobs myself, and I have never had this kind of problem before, and I'm ready to punch this service idiot in the nose for being so damn condecending. But I need some help, has anybody else run into this problem before. I'm guessing that some other part is out, and it's creating my problem. This was never a problem at all, UNTIL they took everything apart and started screwing with it. I have a '01 screw 2wd with 23k miles on it and I drive it easy. If anyone else has been through this or has a good idea what it might be, please let me know! And please, no advice about buying aftermarket rotors and pads, they screwed this thing up and they are damn well fixing it!!! Thanks

 

I would try another dealer or pay a local garage $25 or so to take a look at it and write you up an estimate for repairs you can bring back to the dealer as 'evidence'. Just be sure it's a certified mechanic and not some guy working out of his garage or back-yard. If they don't give you a resolution go to the Better Business Bureau. They love to jump on things like this. They have nothing better to do than to be a**holes to dealer's like yours.

Before my F-150 I bought a brand new shiny '97 Dodge Ram 2500(they should have called it a Dodge 'Sheep' 2500).

I had all sorts of significant engine, brake and transmission problems the whole 18 months I had it.

Finally the power steering pump literally blew apart. Fluid, rubber, plasic and metal everywhere. I called the dealer, explain the issue, give him the VIN for the free readside assistance, and the guy goes "Hey, you've had a lot of problems with that truck haven't you ?".

Yeah, like no s**t, sherlock.
At least they keep records and they know how to read.

Then the guy says "You're problem is that you're too emotionally attached to your vehicle"...

Imagine the change in my 'normally relaxed' attitude when I heard that.

Long story but I have a Ford now. And, with that, came a whole new set of problems but at least I have nearly 100k miles on it with nothing major to gripe about. This message board has also been great support for keeping it going and making it better and more fun to drive.

My Dodge Sheep didn't make it to 20k miles before I took it to the slaughter house.

It's all relative.

Good luck.

 

Sounds like you've encountered typical Ford service...

 

i had a simular problem.. i put napa lifetime pads on my truck. they sqeeled and made a grinding noise like you wouldnt imagine once they heated up. i replaced the pads 2 times and still the problem was there. i called a dealer and they told me that i had to use ceramic pad because the truck is engineered for ceramic pads. they decided that they could reduce some of the noise reduction hardware if they put ceramic pads on and they figure the owner will replace them with same.

 

Well I've got an update ... sort of. The service manager all of a sudden has been very helpfull and friendly. I'm not sure what brought about this change, maybe he finally heard what I have been hearing, or maybe he just had a bad day. I don't know and don't care at this point. The truck has been at the shop for the last 7 days except for the last weekend. (I needed it to tow my pop-up) They have isolated the noise to the left rear wheel, only after some lengthy and exhaustive searches. They even changed out the axle just in case, and have put listening devices everywhere they could think of until they found it. Now they just have to figure out what 's doing it! They've promissed several times they are going to fix it, and I know they will. I'm sure they 're just as sick of it as I am. I will keep you posted so that someone else doesn't go through the same horses**t.

 

Well the dealer has had my truck for the last 25 days, and finally we have made progress. I had already contacted the Ohio State Atty general, and Ford's dispute board. And the noise was (drum roll please) ... normal braking noise being amplified through the frame and chassis. After all of the parts they replaced, once they isolated the brakes from being able to resonate through the cab, the grinding ceased to be. Now I have to get my doors and tailgate fixed. And as I was talking to the factory rep. I told him very politely about the lengths I was prepared to go to if I had to. And I told him that I thought that I should be compensated some, and since my truck's paid for, I thought I should get reimbursed for the extended warranty that I recently purchased. He said he was thinking about doing just that before I mentioned it, so maybe this will end up OK. I hope so.

 

Bull****!!! God, I hate it when people do that. They know it's the right thing to do, but they won't act on their conscience unless they have to Mother****ers!!!

It is shameful that the techs took 25 days to resolve this. The problem is that Ford will not pay the technicians for diagnostic time under warranty, because Ford Motor Co. would get the bill. So instead, the techs just start replacing parts because it is the only way they make any money for their work. It's a terribly counterproductive policy.