I hate to step on anyones toes, but is there someone that can direct me to a forum that deals with E-150's? I have severe problems with the front brakes of my 2001.

 

www.flateratetech.com

What are the problems your brakes?

 

At approx. 24k I replaced fronts with ceramics. Had rotors cut on the vehicle. Grinding when brakes are applied, also pulls to right. Then I brought van to dealer who said, calipers are ok. Not our fault check your new pads. Well, I then replaced calipers, thinking Ford would not take responsibility because I did the pads. Still grinding and pulling to the right. So new pads, new boots over the hold down bolts w/ grease, rotors cut and new calipers and bled each time. I am lost.

 

Do you have rear drums or discs?

 

plain old drums.

 

The problem is quite likely related the the rear shoes or hardware being out of adjustment or worn. Vehicles with rear drums do tend to develop problems with their front disc system when the rear drums are not doing their job properly. If the rear shoes are not adjusted properly, the front brakes end up doing all of the work. This can overheat the and warp the discs, glaze the pads, etc.

I recently had a problem with my front calipers dragging. In the end, replacing the rear drum hardware, shoes & wheel cylinders resolved the problem with the front calipers.

You should start by thoroughly bleeding the rear wheel cylinders and adjusting the shoes so they are as close to the drums as possible. Also make sure that the parking brake is working properly.

The rear shoes should adjust automatically by stopping in reverse. This will only work however if the hardware is not worn and the brakes are already adjusted enough that the shoes interact with the drums.

 

As a rule I rotate tires every other oil change, which equates to every 6k. While the tires are off I do check the rears. I remember last Oct. I had to adjust the star wheels 12 clicks to get the shoes out far enough even though I do attempt to jam on the brakes while in reverse several times a month. Yet this problem has started since late Nov. when I first started this current front work, I do bleed rr,lr,rf then lf.