03+ - Brake Dust Update
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: Wixom
This is BS. Let's see they have gone into 04 with at least four major issues that I know of:
1. Very excessive brake dust
2. AC that freezes up after several hours of driving
3. Front end shimmy (thanks Conti)
4. Door rattles
I wish they would call me about my satisfaction
1. Very excessive brake dust
2. AC that freezes up after several hours of driving
3. Front end shimmy (thanks Conti)
4. Door rattles
I wish they would call me about my satisfaction
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
From: Peoria, IL
What I hate the most is seeing people drive around with front wheels that are covered in dust almost to the point that they look black. How lazy can people be? This is regardless of make. My mom's 03 Explorer is pretty bad on the dust, too.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
From: Peoria, IL
You can also buy a cover that goes between your wheel and the breaks. I have seen them on TV before. Nice. As far as cleaning goes, I use an old car wash mit and a 1'' paint brush, with the same detergent (Meguiar's Gold Class) after I am finished washing the paint.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 746
Likes: 0
From: Salisbury, MD
The service manager at my local dealership just replied with this message:
"The new Ford brake pads are not available until late this month. However, due to our remote location possibly we will not receive them until week one or two of January 04. This information is available on SSM #17247."
I'm going to try to get SSM 17247 and see what it says.
"The new Ford brake pads are not available until late this month. However, due to our remote location possibly we will not receive them until week one or two of January 04. This information is available on SSM #17247."
I'm going to try to get SSM 17247 and see what it says.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
From: Detroit
Everyone I've talked to so far including ford customer service said "that's the way is, you have to live with it".
Until today, The service manager finally said after trying everything there is a fix coming.
At least they finaly admit it to my face.
MAN, that's aggravating.
Until today, The service manager finally said after trying everything there is a fix coming.
At least they finaly admit it to my face.
MAN, that's aggravating.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 746
Likes: 0
From: Salisbury, MD
The Service Manager here said in an email to me:
"The new Ford brake pads are not available until late this month. However, due to our remote location possibly we will not receive them until week one or two of January 04. This information is available on SSM #17247."
What's odd is we arn't remote at all. Anything shipped here takes one day longer than if it was shipped to DC or Baltimore.
"The new Ford brake pads are not available until late this month. However, due to our remote location possibly we will not receive them until week one or two of January 04. This information is available on SSM #17247."
What's odd is we arn't remote at all. Anything shipped here takes one day longer than if it was shipped to DC or Baltimore.
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Texas
We bought an 04 Expy a couple of weeks ago and
it has the brake dust problem real bad (since the beginning and currently at 8XX miles). To those at Ford and the dealerships that say it's normal and that we have to live with it I'll say this.....My 02 F350 doesn't have this problem and those new Dodge trucks with the pretty 20" chrome/polished wheels don't have this problem so why does the Ford Expy have this problem? If they are using the same pads on the rear as on the front I would say that the balance of braking is off. It almost looks like the front brakes are having to do too much of the work stopping our trucks. Maybe they need to balance the brake system better. When I drive around here the 03's and 04's all have this problem. The older models don't. My ace in the hole is that I haven't received my satisfaction survey (the one they tell you about, about 10 times when you buy a new truck and they worry so much about) yet and I'm going to speak with my dealer about this before I get it and mail it in.
Steve V.
Steve V.
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New User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
NEW BRAKES ARE HERE
I have an appointment to have my brakes changed to the new front pads this Saturday. They have them in and have set the first set aside for me. Don't wait for your dealer to call you because they probably won't!
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 447
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
Good going, Dave. I'll be watching for your follow-up post to see how they work. This brake dust situation is the worst I have ever seen. I think it has to do with the air flow through the wheels. Why didn't this get addressed during research? 