1996 f250 5.8 2wd single cab.
Driving the truck this week for about a 15 mile trip. Noticed on the trip back about 10 miles from the house the truck was pulling to the left. Slowing down at the red light before my house the truck was all over the place when pushing the brakes, hard to keep in a strait line. I am thinking stuck caliper for sure and riding it out until I get home to look at it. Park the truck at the house and I can smell hot brakes and can see a little bit of smoke coming from the driver side front wheel. The wheel was also very hot. So I have a stuck caliper.
So I waited until the next day to look at the truck. Jacked up the driver side and went to spin the wheel to see how stuck it is. To my surprise it is spinning fine, just like normal. So I started the truck and still spinning fine. Pumped the brake from lightly to hard. Still spinning fine. Drove it down the road a few miles. No pull to the left while driving. No issues while braking hard or lightly. Got home after drive the wheel was not hot and seemed very normal.
Can a caliper just come unstuck like that?
Any ideas on what I can test to make sure the brakes are working the way they should?
Just lucky it is working again. Should I change the caliper?
Weekend vehicle. Fishing, Dump, lumber and friend mover.
Any help would be greatly appreciate.

 

How old are your brake hoses? They will collapse internally and cause brake pressure to hold on the caliper, then slowly release later on.

 

Where the metal feet of the pads come in contact with the calipers should be greased to help them slide from in position to pressing against the rotor and then back to normal. Check for this issue and hoses as mentioned above. Sandy

 

Lines are original. Live in the south and garage keep. But I will look for sure. First I will try some grease on the caliper slides. If that doesn't do It I will look into changing the line and caliper.
I try to use all Motorcraft on the truck. Brakes for sure as stopping is important. Are they all re-manufactured or can you still pickup new calipers?

 

I’ve never heard of such a thing. You could but anti-squeal goop on the back of the pads. You can use caliper slide grease on the slid pins / guides to help keep the calipers from binding up. The outer pad is going to move with the caliper. Are you are referring to the inner pad where it contacts the knuckle?

 

Yes the caliper V groves for the slide pins should be greased. The wording I was referring to on the area where the pads rest is a little confusing now that I have gone back and read it again. I think I had assumed that the area the pads rest on is what they were talking about but still not sure. They could mean the V grove now that I look at it. I don't see where a little anti seize on the caliper where the pad feet rest would hurt anything but I think you are correct. I have always greased mine without issue. Sandy

 

I know this is a year old now but I am having the issue again. I must have forgotten to update that the brake is working. Last year I greased the slides and that seemed to work. That is until yesterday and the same thing is happening again.
I would like to change out the front brake hoses but lost in a sea of which ones. So many manufacturers not sure which to get. I would like Motorcraft but can't seem to find any or I'm not using the correct wording.
1996 F-250 2wd front brake hoses.
Any suggestions on where to buy these? I see Dorman and a few others but not Motorcraft. I'm not against using other Manufacturing if they are good quality. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advanced.

 

Bendix or Raybestos would be fine IMO.

 

Thanks jas88. This is all I can find as of now: https://www.autozone.com/brakes-and-...674/690124_0_0
I am going to call the Ford dealer close to me and see if they can order them and at what cost.

 

Spoke to local dealer and was told they can no longer get those brake hose.

 

I see some in stock at LMC Truck but I am not sure about the quality. Cheaper than Duralast and that is kind of scary.

 

They get you in shipping tho

Also, OP, you should verify your brake reservoir cap, fluid is clean and good, your residual pressure valve is okay, Your RABS unit screens arent plugged, your rear lines are not full of ick at the ends(maybe pull off and see what comes out)
check those wheel cylinders, drum brakes for proper function

Check those hoses in the rear

Check your pedal pivot thing for not being worn out.

Ball joints greased and not binding or causing it
how are your tie rods
you have a sway bar(s)?

what your tires like

Any harsh feeling when putting your hand on your tread and wipe across tires in front

is your rear pointed "forward" and squarely secured.I Have bent leaf springs, my truck dog tracks and also has a tie rod getting worn, so it kinda sways and follows the road. in addition to my column and ps not being fine... lol..
how those radius arm bushings, pivots on your front scissor things(forgot name)

Etc

Air pressures?
Does swapping front tires around change the behavior(maybe youre due for a rotation anyway?)

 

To be honest I haven't checked those things short of a visual inspection and I wouldn't rule out any of those things being worn or damaged. Although they look fine and she drives great short of the caliper sticking.
The reason I am leaning to the caliper not closing. Is the hot wheel after driving and smell. I will buy some hoses. They are cheap and couldn't hurt to install a new set. Also it will give me a reason to install some new brake fluid.
Thank you for all the info. I will try and check those as time allows.

 

Pick one, $5.00 to $20.00 from Rockauto, that is where I bought mine last year:
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...rake+hose,1792

Also, your original problem to me is a sticky calliper piston. I'd think about rebuilding or replacing the whole calliper.

 

Caliper replacement might be the next step. I am going to re-grease the calipers while I am changing the brake hose. I will see if the caliper\s are sticking at that point.