I posted my first thread in the wrong section. So I will try it again. My wife has a 09 e150 for her daycare she owns. It was having brake issues so I took it to my mechanic. He claimed it needs rotors, pads, and calipers. They told me total cost would be 750 and I about fell over. I told him don't touch it I will pick it back up and do it myself. I ordered everything online for 330 shipped and get 80 back when I send the calipers back. Anyways what size is the hex head bolt on the calipers? Cant find a definite answer on it. I heard 10mm and I heard 13mm. The van rarely gets drove and only has 18k on it. I took the passenger rear tire off and rotors look good and the inside pad looks good. So I'm assuming its an issue with the driver side but mine as well change everything since I have it.

 

Just did the rear pads and bearing on my '05, and 13mm sounds right for the caliper bolts.

With only 18K on this van, I think I would have check everything out before ordering parts?? Plus the rear brakes last a lot longer than the front brake pads. Are you planning on doing all 4 corners??

Note, my '05 had 197K on it when I change the rear pads, might have been only the 2 set on the van? Front I change out at about 185K and at 40% just for better braking results with HD pads, and to get rid of the high speed glazing.

 

We had the fronts done last year by my mechanic which he usually seems very fair and honest. I have been so busy working I didn't get a chance to look at it myself before I ordered. I took their word for it cause I never had an issue with him before. He is really good buddies with my dad.

I drove the van to the mechanics and every time I pressed the brakes it felt like I was going over a rumble strip. So I assumed a hung up caliper. I couldn't see the rotors with the wheels on cause of the solid steel wheel with hub cap. My issue is probably just on the driver side. But it was cheaper to order the whole set from rock auto then buying separate at the local parts store by almost 300.

I'm thinking since the van does a lot of sitting and it only gets about a mile or so a day put on it ( dropping kids of and picking them up from school) and an occasional field trip in the summer. That everything rusted up on it from sitting.

 

Also is there any special way to get the top caliper bolt off or can you just take the whole bracket off and take it off then

 

I dont know where you are located but,if brakes are going out that soon, you have a problem with the slide pins corroding and not letting the calipers retract properly.Make sure the pins(small bolts) are lubed well and the rubber dust boots are in good shape. The problem is compounded by not driving enough(frequently).

 

We are from Michigan. She owns a daycare in town 6 block from the school. That's about all the driving she does so 2 times a day. In the summer every other week they do a field trip and it's usually 20-30 miles one way and that's it for driving.

I removed both sides yesterday.the passanger side didn't look bad at all. The drivers side had a couple small grooves in the rotor. Both calipers were all rusted up and looked like the had 150k miles on them. They might have been able to turn them but I'm not sure. I could have probably gotten away with 1 caliper turned the rotors and pads but 100 more roughly I got all new. I don't want to half *** this as there are other people's kids in there and I want then safe.