Can someone point me to a thread on upgrading brakes? I tried several search terms without success. My 86 brakes fairly well but cannot lock the tires. I have replaced the booster and MC and rebuilt the calipers and wheel cylinders but it still doesn't stop like I would like.

The truck is a diesel with a 10.25 rear axle and I think a Dana 60 front. I'm running 33 inch tall tires which I know hurts the braking but I would still like to do better.

Thanks

 

Is this a 250 or 350 and guessing a 4x4 with the Dana front axle.
I think short of going with stock size wheels not much can be done.
Dave - - - -

 

F250 4x4. I just wondered if I could retrofit a bigger MC or wheel cylinders and calipers. But I looked up part numbers and the same MC and front calipers are listed for F250 and F350. I'll look for out of the box solutions.

 

I think for the 250 there is a ford 2 piston caliber but I don't know if it's for a 4x2 or 4x4 and don't know if the mounts are different between them.
let us know how you make out as it m as y help others.
Dave - - - -

 

All 3/4 and 1 tons are 2 piston calipers. I run Wagner severe duty pads, they stop better than cheapies. There are slotted rotors available which may help with heat.

Obviously ensure your rubber lines are in good condition and not bulging, and that the system is completely bled with clean new fluid. Stainless hoses are available and firm up the pedal a bit.

If you run with heavy loads often you can convert to rear discs. There are several conversion options, including a newer van rear axle. personally I find the drums lock easily enough (too easily, I want to add a proportioning valve) and have pelnty of stopping power as they're quite large.

Aside from that, if everything else is in top notch condition with quality parts but you are unable to lock the wheels you need to check your vacuum pump, vacuum lines, and booster. Maybe you need a reservoir. Another option is to convert to hydroboost.

Note that increasing boost or assist will not increase the stopping power of the brake system, but rather only compensate for a weak leg if that is in fact the weak link. Personally it's only recently with these fancy new trucks that I've had anything with power brakes, always manual before my first 80-86, so I find the pedal effort required to lock the wheels relatively light.

 

ya them powerstop rotors and extreem pads are a huge upgrade, i highly recomend them, can send yourself thru the windshield, i used there calipers also but they are just stock rebuilt and painted red im pretty sure.

 

Your F250 will have a Dana 44 front axle, if stock. It should have a two-piston caliper, as mentioned. I'm running the same Wagner Severe Duty pads as cadunkle. 265/75R16s, wider than stock but the same overall diameter as stock. I don't try to lock up the wheels, but I stop plenty fast enough. Locking up the wheels increases stopping distance. Sending oneself through the windshield is also not a safety benefit, but your seat belt should prevent that.

 

OP said he has a D60 front. D44 was not available on any 80-86 F-250 to my knowledge, though some had a D44 HD TTB, they were not common. Regardless, OP has a D60 and it would not be original to the truck. Only '86 F-350 (and maybe some late '85 F-350) came from the factory with a D60. D60 is a common bolt in swap though.

 

I am pretty sure that it is not a Dana 44, the diff cover doesn't look like a 44, I have also never seen a 44 with 8 lug axles. The metal tag is unreadable.

Nevertheless, I'll figure it out in the Spring. I am just making plans now for when it's warm enough to work on the truck. It's too cold here in PA now.

 

Lots of great ideas, Thanks. When Spring comes and I redo the brakes I will post if is significant improvement.

 

My '85 IDi is a Dana 44 (I guess it's technically a "Dana 44 HD"). I thought all the '83-'86 F250s were either 44 or 50 TTBs.

So does your truck have an actual diff cover in the front? Is it a solid axle and not a TTB? If so, it's definitely not stock, and a nice bonus.

 

My dad custom ordered the truck new in 86 and i dont know if he had it built as it is or replaced the front axle. I'l have to dig through the files and see if I have a build sheet.
See pic.

 

Dana 44hd ttb front axles were standard equipment on all regular cab f250's and f250hd's. The Dana 50 ttb could be special ordered on a regular cab f250.

All f250 extended cab trucks came standard with a Dana 50 ttb front axle.

All f350's, any cab style came with a Dana 50 ttb until 1985.5. After that all f350's any cab style came with a Dana 60 straight axle.

 

I have never tried it, but have heard good reports about the hydroboost swaps.

 

That's either a Dana 44HD or a Dana 50. In either case it's a Twin Traction Beam (Dana 60 was only a solid axle).

Yes, there are 8 lug Dana 44s. All F-250 4WDs before '80 had them (solid axles) and from '80 to '96/'97 they had either Dana 44HD or Dana 50 TTB.

To tell the difference between the Dana 44HD and Dana 50 look at the hub. If the locking hub body is almost as big as the hole through the center of the wheel it's a Dana 50. If the hub is about 1/2" smaller in diameter it's a Dana 44HD.