-2003 5.4 XLT. 178,xxx Disk brakes front & back.

Driving home from work, came to a long stop waiting for train. Started to drive away and my front right brake started to lock up pretty good on me. Drove it home as I was only a couple blocks away. Its just started to get above freezing here, and we've been between 0-20 degrees for a good stretch lately. That being said, I'm pretty sure its my brake lines swelling with our "heat wave" of 35 degrees today. Also I've replaced the rear rotors & pads, as well as flushed the brake system a while back. Never replaced the front after purchasing used a while back, as they still had plenty of pad left.

Question
1. Anyone else had this issue and fixed it with new lines?
Edit: Purchased new front lines.
2. Do the front calibers, "float" on pins like the back?
(If so that may be my issue of the caliber getting stuck on the pins moving back and forth.)


At 178,xxx miles I'm going to replace the lines myself regardless of this outcome. Just looking for similar experiences & any helpful tips along the way. Thanks!!

 

These trucks routinely suffer from sticking brakes. The pads themselves stick after some "rust growth" and the calipers also stick internally (piston issues). After 178,000 miles you probably could use a new caliper on there.

Any car can have a caliper stick on the pins. You look at the pins and you be the judge on that. But I don't think Super Duties are actually all that bad about the pins.

 

Drivers front brake line is always first to go.

 

That's a good point about possibly replacing the calipers. I was thinking about rebuilding them after possibly dreading the costs. But after looking at Napa online brand new re-manufactured calipers with hardware are actually really decently priced. Provided they have any. At 63$ each so 126 plus tax.

https://www.napaonline.com/napa/en/p...341_0206182683

Thanks for the thought! I'm going to do the re-manufactured calipers with lines at the same time.

Also my back pins on the truck at the time were really pretty good considering. The trucks braking system as is seems really decently sized for what their apple to handle.

That makes sense that the front would go first. The front brakes do 70ish percent of the braking anyways with the weight going forward. Hell my wifes Hyundai Sonata is at 112xxx with original disk pads on the rear! I was going to look at them soon for any glazing or "glassing over".

 

Lines are fine do the calipers.

 

Yes, the front calipers float on pins just like the back. I have seen many of the super duty trucks with the pins frozen stuck or sticking from rust. This will cause a brake to lock. New calipers don't come with the pins and bracket. If your pins are frozen, you might be able to get them out with a good penetrating oil like PB Blaster. If you can't you will have to buy new caliper brackets.

 

NAPA does have remanned calipers that include the bracket and new pins, it is the best way to go. My '03, new had problems with the bracket being machined wrong, too tight a fit for the pads at less than 15K, I was on the road and couldn't get into dealer quick enough so I replaced with OE pads and found that even after cleaning all rust off the brackets the pads fit extremely tight, so I filed the opening just enough to free up the pads, I have since done this on many SD's and have found that remanned calipers with brackets seem to have more clearance than the originals and reduces or eliminates the problem. I have found the same problem on the rears of some SD's and even OEM remans have more clearance, just enough to allow the pad to move with out binding, but not enough to allow them to rattle.

 

Probably true. All do the calipers to start. Just didn't like the thought of having to re-bleed the system again if the lines were bad.

I didn't see this online? You just ask them, or they offered them, & they had a set included? All have to call tomorrow & ask. Do you know what you payed roughly for 1 or both?

Thanks!

 

The rubber brake line that runs to the caliper can delaminate on the inside. When it does it will not let brake fluid pressure bleed back away from the caliper. Those hoses should be replaced about every third brake job.

 

Thanks for that info, at this point I'm going to do the lines to.

By the way your signature is hilarious.
"Single Cab (perfect for my anti-social tendencies)"

 

Yea when I bought the truck I asked my wife "what do I need a back seat for?"

 

Purchased new lines & front caliper.
Man Napa seemed to have a really good price on a rebuilt caliper!
Looks sweet! Installing later in the week.

The guy recommended red thread locker on the brake line. Really red?? I always thought that was for permanent, aka never hope to get off again. Wouldn't blue be fine?
Also anyone know the torque for the caliper bolts? Thanks!
EDIT:
Torque Specifications Front
Description lb-ft
Disc brake caliper pin bolt 42
Front brake hose bolt 26
Front disc brake caliper anchor plate bolt
(Excursion, F-250, F-350) 166

 

Why would you need thread locker on the brake line fitting? It never sees any torque?

 

Vibration I guess? I was just going to just use a drop of blue lock tight like I do on everything I've ever done.

He said he used red lock tight for the high temp. Red lock tight isn't high temp unless specified on the bottle. To each his own I guess.

 

I wouldn't want to risk getting thread locker inside the hydraulic system.