I need some advice on brakes and rotors.. I've been looking around and now I'm thoroughly confused. My truck is a 2003 F250 7.3. I live on a dirt road about a good 40+ miles of dirt road. We get snowy, it's been real wet and muddy this summer. Would like something that lasts but isn't over the top expensive. I've looked at the slotted and drilled the old fashion. What's the best bang for my buck and will last? I've also seen talk about changing out pins and calipers is this necessary?

 

OEM parts are pretty good but can be pricey. If you need rotors I have no problem with plain imported-from-china rotors, but buying American is better. Place to spend the money is on the pads, like Hawk LTS or EBC. The premium pads from Wagner or Raybestos are not really that good, IMO. I'd run OEM from Ford before those. The slide pins do need to be maintained, just cleaned up with brake cleaner and a scotch brite pad, same with the bores they ride in. Use proper caliper grease on the pins and make sure the rubber boots are on right to keep the water out. If the calipers are not sticking I'd just reuse them. Drilled rotors have a rep for cracking, and sometimes slotted can have an annoying sound. There's my two cents.

 

Like David said - OEM - Just did mine last year -Check Ford oem parts online - They can be had pretty reasonable. I just did my E-350 work van & tried the cheaper duralast & Hawk LTS pads so cant really say as to how they will hold up -Just did them 2 weeks ago. I got 95k out of my original oem,s on the F-250