Hello, I have a 2001 F250 7.3 Crew Cab, Long bed, Automatic.

Was driving back from Maryland to PA yesterday and everything was fine. Then, toward the end of my trip the truck started to lose power and it felt like I had a flat tire on the passenger side front tire. When I put the brakes on they pulled hard left.

I made it home and the right passenger side tire smelled like overheated brakes.

About an hour later I moved the truck down to the barn and took passenger wheel off. Everything turned easy and seemed right, a little rub spot but able to turn hub by hand. Took the drivers side off, that was fine, turned easier than passenger side. I could not see anything wrong. Buttoned it back up and took it for a ride. Everything was fine, no vibration, no hesitation.

Any idea what is happening? Could the caliper be binding up and then releasing when it cools down? Could the passenger side be fading when hot causing the left side to pull when I applied the brakes?

Regards,

redbug

 

You most likely have frozen slide pins. It's good maintenance to make sure there all sliding free once a year. Also a good time to replace the rubber lines running to the calibers. I always kept an extra set in my garage for good measures, there that common to freeze up

 

Try to grease the slide pins first. It's cheap. Will advise you do 1 at a time. The upper and lower pins are alittle different.

Use Emory clothe or scotch Brite pad to clean up smooth. QTips or whatever to clean hole on caliper.

Easy with the rubber boots. Mine split last time. Dealer item as far as I know.

 

John2001,

Ok, that makes sense. Good advice.

I had replaced the front brakes about two years ago when one of the calipers locked up. New pads, caliper, two new rotors.

I only put about 3000 miles on this truck a year. Most of those miles are towing trailers, but, the trailers have brakes.

I did notice that the pads were only a little over 1/8 of an inch. I my opinion they are wearing too fast. Also the rotors are wearing fast.

I'll double check the sliders.

I usually do all my own brake work. Had a shop replace the rear pads while in for inspection a about a year ago and they did not grease the sliders... Lost a rotor and almost got stranded with my camper....

I'll post what I find when I pull the wheels off.

 

Since it doesn't get driven much I would highly advise you to replace those rubber lines. Over time the insides break down and can act as a check valve not allowing the fluid to flow back (that was my brake problem that I almost got rid of the truck because I couldn't figure it out).

Some guys will argue tooth and nail about this but I do not recommend ceramic pads on these trucks! One of the best things I did to my truck was replace the rubber lines and put EBC Green Stuff pads on the front then yellow stuff on the back. If I did it all over again I would go yellows all the way around.

 

I did replace the rubber lines about two years ago when my front caliper locked up. How often do you replace yours?

 

I wouldn't worry about it then. I replaced mine only once around 100k miles

 

Yeah, mine were about 100k also. I'm at 104k now.

 

Yellows in the front not a good idea, I burnt thru mine in less than 10,000 miles, but they did have a great feel and great stopping power, my rims are black from the dust, I would never go ceramic, rotor destroyer! I'm going stock ford pads on the front this time.

 

i run napa premium semi metalic pads. i average 50,000 miles out of a set of pads.
it sounds like your passenger side caliper is hanging up.
the less you use the vehicle, the more a chance of a caliper going bad.

 

I thought the Yellow stuff pads lasted like stock? Any buddy else have had problems with them? I've been using stock with know problems but wanted to try the yellows.

 

Took the caliper off. The rubber bellows were not sealing on the top pin. The pin was not rusty but it seemed that grease was getting tacky. I'm going to stop by the ford dealer tomorrow and get new bellows.

The pads are pretty rusty probably due to the heat. I'll need new ones come december when inspection comes around.

 

Ok, what's going on? $25 each at the Ford Dealer for those little rubber boots. Does a new caliper come with them? Almost worth it to buy a new caliper....

Can I find those boots somewhere else aftermarket?

 

I would think you could price out the caliper and slide pin assembly together for pretty much the same amount. Did you try auto nation ford to see what they charged?

 

Found some but maybe the base part number 16216 will work for another brand at the local parts house.