Ive noticed a few times lately that when I hit the brakes my track would pull to the right- sometimes a fair amount. I was planning to take it in to the dealer bto be checked soon, but had a significant problem yesterday so I took it in today. Yesterday driving home to N Illinois from Wisconsin on I-94noticed a burning smell, then when I hit the brakes it darted hard right and I noticed it pulling left. The pulling left was not a surprise due to a 20 mph x-wind, but it kept pullin left after a right turn.

Being the sharp individual I'm am (obviously not or I would have figured this out before now) I deduced that my left front brake was binding. Sure enough when I finally stopped the caliper, rotor, wheel were hot.

Dealer confirmed a bad caliper but none are availed outside of Tennessee so I have to wit 2 days- while driving a loaner Fusion.

My issue is that the service writer said they were replacing only the caller but I argued that the rotor has to be ruined tbyhis point- it was very blued. He wouldn't budge only saying they would check it for true and if it is not replace it. What do I do? Call Ford Customer Sevice and ask for intervention?

Thanks

 

I somewhat understand what your going through...I had questioned the dealership about excessive brake smell and heat. Nothing was done......so I replaced the front calipers and had the rotors turned myself.....no more problems. Rebuilt calipers $ 56.00 each ....keeps us imformed....good luck

 

Was it the caliper slides binding? If they were to do maintenance on your truck, they should have been lubes and not bound. I would complain they didn't do the maintenance you paid for and see where you get. Lube of caliper pins is on the maintenance schedule. I would argue they need to replace pads, caliper, and rotor because if it got that hot the rotor will warp if it's not already and it needs to be turned to a fresh surface for the pads as well. This is brakes afterall, do they want to accept that liability as a front brake is a big part of braking capacity, 35 percent, so it will pull the other side and stopping performance will be reduced.

 

I suspect a similar caliper issue with my truck and scheduled last week to take it in this week.

The other week, when I got home after dark and walked past teh truck, I noticed the front drivers side rotor was cherry red.

Walked to the otherside, and it was normal, and not glowing.

This may explain why the truck pulls to the left on the highway, even after the dealer gave it an "alignment".

I have 11,954 miles on it....now to make it in before 12k.

 

My truck is only 5 months old with 11,000 miles, so maintenance of the caliper slides shouldn't be an issue I would think. Or am I wrong? This dealer did do my oil change.

 

I don't know what it is for your truck but for mine it's every second service and atleast yearly. So, this may not help, but the fact you have only 11k and a caliper is seized is a safety issue and they need to fix it right. I would ask what the Ford stance is and what they are being paid by ford in terms of the service under warranty, cause if Ford is paying for rotor or turning it,p you want all of it done.

 

Man, my truck once in a while pulls to the left...looks like I need to take a closer look to the calipers :/.

 

I just replaced my front pads and lubed the caliper pins myself.

Here is what I learned, when pulling the caliper apart, there is ZERO tolerance for spreading them unless you pull perfectly straight and even. Any torque presented and the caliper will stick and seize, and you can't get it separated.

I was surprised. The calipers are fairly heavy and it's hard to balance the thing in one hand, not stressing the brake line, and pull them apart without it seizing up.

I greased them well and all is good. Just giving y'all my experience.

 

I POSTED THIS UNDER FORD DISCLAIMING WARRANTY .......... I took my F350 into the dealer at 18500 miles because the brakes were not releasing an as you start to roll from a stop you would get chatter and squealing from the brakes not releasing. They took the rear wheel off and found that the slide assembles holding the calipers were frozen and cause the pads to be delaminating and warped the rotors..

Dealer tells me that because the caliper sliders were not service and lube at 15000 miles they would not be covered. Truck was in for service at 15300 for oil. Oil filters, and fuel filters. Also rotate all 4 tires. There is no mention of performing this lubricating the slides in any service book ford sends with the new vehicle, so how would you know this services must be done, They had all the tires off for rotation at 15000 mi. why if this is so important that they wouldn’t done it then. O ya, almost forgot to tell you, dealership had to do the front brakes for the frozen slide assembles at 12000 miles where they replaced the pads, turned the rotors, and lubes the sliders... WHY wouldn't you lube the rear or at least advised me to have this service done at this time?????

Long story short ford would only turn the rotors under warranty.The dealer had to pay for the brakes out of good will, and I was stuck paying for the cleaning and lubrication of the calipers pins at a tune of $49.00, How would you know that calipers need to be service if FORD doesn’t write it in service manual. I bought this ford vehicles expecting to have warranty that would cover these repairs, not cost me $50.00 out of my pocket,

My problem is that my truck has full warranty from bumper to bumper for another 21000 miles. But FORD DON'T SEEM TO CARE. I was just going to purchase a extended warranty thinking I would be keeping the truck for a while but if Ford is going to beat us up getting warranty repair done and not taking responsibly for their vehicles then we will be looking at other manufactures, I can't take a chance when the big repair should hit and I'm not going to be able to afford what Ford may tell me what my responsibility will be.

 

My truck is still at the dealer - been there once Tuesday - waiting for a caliper. The one they got today was for the right (opposite) side. Dealer service writer called me today to tell me the left front caliper is on back-order but he was able to find one and expects to have it ready Friday.

The caliper being on BO makes me wonder if this is happening to others- I doubt they keep a lot of these in stock but ou would think they do keep a few across the U.S.

 

Dealer called today, after replacing the left front caliper it still pulls to the right when braking and they need to do further diagnoses. So it won't be ready today, maybe tomorrow. At least I have a dealer loaner. Glad I'm not needing it this weekend for a road trip.

 

You know, as invasive as the computer driving aids are on these things, it could be a faulty sensor somewhere that makes the traction control/skid control do some crazy stuff. You ever see the traction control light blink on your dash at about 7:00 on the speedo dial? It blinks fast.

 

I haven't seen it but could have missed it. Plus the pedal usually pulses whenever the abs or traction control kicks in and I've not noticed either. But like you said with the computers nowadays, who knows.

 

mine never blinks at 7:00. sometimes at 6:45 or 7:15, or sometimes right at noon. gonna have to have it checked.



btw folks, no such thing as "warped rotors"

 

Ya, thanks for the laugh there tuxer. I tried to describe where the light indicator is best I could. It just kind of hit me that some folks that feel strange driveability concerns could be victims of some glitches in the vehicle stability control. I forget it's there most of the time....

It would be wise to remember to turn it off and see if it helps when one feels something strange....

(there, I set you up again tux). Lol