See if this works for you: Brakes - ???Gary's Garagemahal. And, if it doesn't or if something is missing PLEASE let me know.

 

Yes, you need to clean those dovetail slides and put never sieze or some sort of high them grease on them. If these slides stick, then one pad will wear more than the other, so when you pull them apart you can check them and see if they were sticking. Also the calipers sticking is a common problem, rust builds up behind the pistons and when they are pried back for new pads they piston is shoved over top the rust and it starts sticking.

Your slip yoke does not need a upgrade, the main problem with them is grease worms. They get in there and eat all the grease out and then it wears out. If you are going to replace that get ready, it may be a little expensive, I haven't bought one lately, but when the yoke wears the axle wears also. So you need the yoke and the axle, and years ago I bought the axle for $150.00.

 

Thanks Gary, everything seems to be working. The only problem is the highest GVWR mentioned anywhere on the list is 5,150. The '82 4x4 says 5,700 on the certification label, and the '81 4x2 says 6,100. So technically they don't fit the list. The list shows different pads for 2wd and 4wd, so I guess I'll just order pads for a 4x4 and see how they fit. The pads looked the same on both trucks. Thanks again for the web page. Your site is such an awesome resource!

 

Thanks. The play is not that bad, I will probably just leave it for now. It is tempting to let this thing snowball and do a full 100% overhaul on everything, but I have to behave. Yes, it is worn but far from total failure. I will fully overhaul this drive train piece at a time once my diesel build is finished. And I think you're right, the '82 donor was heavily infested with grease worms

 

I'll check it out. Maybe I missed something.

 

I think the way I read the catalog is different than the way you are reading it. As shown below, since the 80/83 4x2 entry has no GVW given, I think it is for all 1980 - 83 4x2 F150's and F250's.

Does that make sense?

 

Thanks Gary, I don't know what I was thinking... I was looking at the list completely wrong. It is still showing different calipers for 2wd and 4x4, and no entry for 4x4 lining and pads... but I am probably over thinking this whole thing. This morning after my night shift I managed to finish getting the TIB under the donor. I left the calipers tied out of the way during the swap, and I now know that the 4x4 calipers fit the 2wd knuckles, and the used 2wd pads fit with the 4x4 calipers. I think I will just buy brake parts for a "1981 F150 4x4" and see how they fit.

Glad to at least have the donor back on the ground:

 

Good job... time for some rest!

 

Yes, good job.

Do you think it would be helpful to put notes similar to that shown above on the catalog listings on the web site? And, I'm thinking I should at least highlight the generic part numbers, like 2001 and 2120, as it is hard for me to pick out the breaks - or is that brakes. .

 

I believe it would be helpful. It would be interesting to compare the Ford list to a list of aftermarket service parts. I bet there are fewer parts that fit more applications.

As much as I hate to leave the 1981 literally up in the air... on blocks with no axle under it... this weekend will be for family time. I plan to order some parts and research how deep I want to dig into this front end at this time.

Couple of quick questions regarding tools...

Does anyone know off hand exactly what I need to take apart the front 4x4 hubs? Size of spindle nuts? I don't own any of these special tools and I believe I will need them to get the rotors off for turning and to replace the damaged lug studs.

Does anyone have any recommendations on tools to remove and install the pivot bushings? Should I make my own threaded pullers and presses or are there readily available tools that work well for this. Mine are not that bad but it seems senseless to pass up the opportunity to change them since the axles are out.

Thanks for all the help and good info.

 

The spindle takes the tool shown below. For pressing the bushings I've used hardened all-thread and sockets. But be careful if you have a sheetmetal axle as you can bend it if you don't press at the right spot. Don't press a bushing into one side and put the socket on the other side of the axle or you can pancake the whole axle.

I haven't pulled the rotors off the hubs yet, so can't answer that one.

 

Thanks Gary, I guess I would not get so lucky as to have one tool fit my D44 and F350 D60 hubs ...

 

Why would , the company that puts a number that isn't the part number on a part, use the same tool on different hubs? That just makes too much sense.

 

Time for another cup of coffee, Gary!

 

Well, I've had 3 cups so far today, and I'm working on water now. But, I'm sure another one is in the offing for later. However, in some ways the coffee has helped, as I got quite a bit done on the web site this morning, and then tried to pull the neighbor's tree out of the ground: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post17168432.

Jonathan - That socket wasn't expensive, but I've heard of guys grinding a regular socket down to use instead. If you need the dimensions just let me know.