Notices
Excursion - King of SUVs 2000 - 2005 Ford Excursion
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Front calipers??

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 28, 2013 | 02:30 PM
  #1  
labman1014's Avatar
labman1014
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 674
Likes: 0
From: Hattiesburg, MS
Front calipers??

Advance auto parts has 2 types of front calipers. One with a steel piston and one with a phenolic piston. What's the difference and which is better?
 
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2013 | 09:33 PM
  #2  
Snowseeker's Avatar
Snowseeker
Hotshot
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 13,484
Likes: 42
From: Stevens Point, WI
Plastic doesn't rust and eventually isn't supposed to "freeze" or hang up. However the caliper body is still cast and rusts eventually causing it to "freeze" or hang up. lol

Phenolic also doesn't allow heat transfer from the pad to the caliper to the fluid keeping it from boiling.
 
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2013 | 10:33 PM
  #3  
EXv10's Avatar
EXv10
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
So phenolic is some space age plastic?
 
Reply
Old Apr 29, 2013 | 06:34 AM
  #4  
labman1014's Avatar
labman1014
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 674
Likes: 0
From: Hattiesburg, MS
So which one is better? Just never heard of the phenolic b4.
 
Reply
Old Apr 29, 2013 | 07:28 AM
  #5  
Snowseeker's Avatar
Snowseeker
Hotshot
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 13,484
Likes: 42
From: Stevens Point, WI
Originally Posted by EXv10
So phenolic is some space age plastic?
Kind of, it is a really hard sort of plastic, it acts more like fiberglass if you scrape at it or break it without the actual fibers in it.

They have been using phenolic for years as heat bariers for carburetors and intake manifolds and the like.



Originally Posted by labman1014
So which one is better? Just never heard of the phenolic b4.

Phenolic is better. But to me it would depend on price, I would rather have the phenolic if the price allows it. But if they want $100 more for a pair of calipers over the steel ones I would probably get the steel ones.
 
Reply
Old Apr 29, 2013 | 07:29 AM
  #6  
Snowseeker's Avatar
Snowseeker
Hotshot
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 13,484
Likes: 42
From: Stevens Point, WI
Had to add: The factory calipers on our excursions have phenolic pistons.
 
Reply
Old Apr 29, 2013 | 11:44 AM
  #7  
EXv10's Avatar
EXv10
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
Originally Posted by Snowseeker
Kind of, it is a really hard sort of plastic, it acts more like fiberglass if you scrape at it or break it without the actual fibers in it.

They have been using phenolic for years as heat bariers for carburetors and intake manifolds and the like.






Phenolic is better. But to me it would depend on price, I would rather have the phenolic if the price allows it. But if they want $100 more for a pair of calipers over the steel ones I would probably get the steel ones.
That reminds me of Bakelite which came out even earlier.
 
Reply
Old Apr 29, 2013 | 12:52 PM
  #8  
labman1014's Avatar
labman1014
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 674
Likes: 0
From: Hattiesburg, MS
Originally Posted by Snowseeker
Had to add: The factory calipers on our excursions have phenolic pistons.
I did not know that and they r the same price.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-4

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-9

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
Old Apr 29, 2013 | 05:23 PM
  #9  
housedad's Avatar
housedad
Cargo Master
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,790
Likes: 24
From: Mount Royal, NJ
Club FTE Gold Member
The benefits to phenolic pistons over steel are primarily less heat transfer to the seal, almost zero warping and expansion under heat, and no rust from water infiltration into the brake fluid.

In every way that I can think of, Phenolic resin makes a better piston for brake calipers.
 
Reply
Old Apr 29, 2013 | 06:26 PM
  #10  
Snowseeker's Avatar
Snowseeker
Hotshot
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 13,484
Likes: 42
From: Stevens Point, WI
Originally Posted by housedad
The benefits to phenolic pistons over steel are primarily less heat transfer to the seal, almost zero warping and expansion under heat, and no rust from water infiltration into the brake fluid.

In every way that I can think of, Phenolic resin makes a better piston for brake calipers.


They scratch easier, can crack, and get roughed up by the bore and seal over time causing them to stick and/or leak.
 
Reply
Old Apr 29, 2013 | 07:36 PM
  #11  
EXv10's Avatar
EXv10
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
I would go wit da cheapest ones.
 
Reply
Old Apr 29, 2013 | 07:39 PM
  #12  
gr8scott72's Avatar
gr8scott72
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 2
From: Summit, MS
Originally Posted by EXv10
I would go wit da cheapest ones.
Yes, we know.
 
Reply
Old Apr 29, 2013 | 07:53 PM
  #13  
labman1014's Avatar
labman1014
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 674
Likes: 0
From: Hattiesburg, MS
Originally Posted by gr8scott72
Yes, we know.
. They r the same price. Same core and all.
 
Reply
Old Apr 29, 2013 | 07:56 PM
  #14  
Snowseeker's Avatar
Snowseeker
Hotshot
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 13,484
Likes: 42
From: Stevens Point, WI
For the X that is known to have brake problems especially with heat and warping rotors (Quiet Stewart ) I would go with the phenolics just simply to battle the heat.
 
Reply
Old Apr 29, 2013 | 08:29 PM
  #15  
labman1014's Avatar
labman1014
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 674
Likes: 0
From: Hattiesburg, MS
Originally Posted by Snowseeker
For the X that is known to have brake problems especially with heat and warping rotors (Quiet Stewart ) I would go with the phenolics just simply to battle the heat.
Tks. That is what I was thinking also. Gonna knock it out in 2 weeks.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:01 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-1
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE