Can I Improve breaking performance

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Mar 24, 2012 | 11:10 PM

Thesteeleboy

Thread Starter

5th Wheeling

Joined: Oct 2010

Posts: 28

Likes: 1

From: Utah

Can I Improve breaking performance

I have two 1977 F-150 4x4's. They both have 4" lift and 35" tires. How can I improve my breaking performance on these truck's. they have new callipers, pad's and rotors but just don't have the break power to hold the truck back on extreme grades while rock climbing.

Mar 25, 2012 | 08:17 AM

garypettengill

Laughing Gas

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 843

Likes: 1

From: USA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thesteeleboy

Good loking truck, keep up the fun. Getting better brakes on these trucks is covered by an article in the technical section on upgraking brakes on a Bronco, same system. Things that I can add as I have upgraded my '77 are as follows:

Stay with the alumnimum wheels if at all possible, much less rotating mass compared to steel.

Change out all the flexible lines with new, high quality, stainless lteel braided lines in the brake system. The old ones start to expand under pressure when they get older.

EBC brakes pads are an option, although I haven't installed them on my truck.

I did the whole program with the F350 booster, Thunder Bird calipers and F350 rear cylinders. I think I went back to the F150 rear cylinders because I had way too much braking on my rear end. ALWAYS locking up the rear tires.

I purchased most of my parts through RockAuto.com and was able to save a bunch there because of lack of core charges. You can't trade in and F150 booster in a F350 box, the rebuilder will catch it and then your parts store will be looking for you.

The biggest issue in the whole change over was mating the front brake lines to the Thunder Bird calipers. They use a different type of hookup at the caliper versus the truck.

Jul 23, 2021 | 09:52 AM

Aftrmidnite

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Jul 2003

Posts: 1,572

Likes: 21

I second the Braided Flex Hoses. I tried a lot of different things on my 2001, to increase the braking power, and pedal feel. I even went with the Expensive “Cheese Graters,” what a mistake that was. Just make sure they are DOT Rated. Mine are Russell’s.