I have an 85 E150 hightop conversion van with the 302, auto with od, Power Brakes and standard wheels.

No matter how hard I push I can not get the tires to lock up - Van seems to stop quick enough, but I would like a firmer feel to the brakes. I thought there was something wrong with the booster so I replaced it with no change in the way the brakes feel.

Is this normal or do I have a brake problem?

Thanks

 

DOes it have ABS? If so the abs system will balance the pressure in the system... I'd also give the entire brake system a good check, rotors, pads, drums, and shoes.

 

I have an '85 as well and just had some brake work done.

First, the brakes are marginal. Watch hard stops with heavy loads as you may overheat and warp the front rotors.

Someone here was complaining about the lack of power to the rear brakes. Not sure as mine seem to lock up when I nail it.

When my overhaul was done, I had a frozen front caliper. Usually they will freeze and lock or severly brake the wheel. You will notice fires starting as you drive by from the heat coming off your brakes.

Stock pistons are plastic. My rebuilder used steel for the replacement.

I lucked out as I went to an old time brake shop that has done work for my wife's family for years:

1 rotor, set of pads, new bearings one side, resurface one rotor, rebuild rear wheel cylinders: $371.

I had to replace my master--again, on of the things about a Ford and the ease of parts--a master for $12.99.

Anyway, I'd have a good brake shop do the once over. I couldn't believe the difference after they worked my over. Turns out, the brakes never did work right the prior 10 years I had the darn thing...

 

Sometimes rotor pads and caliper are new but the oil is contaminated it boiled to fast that makes the brakes hard to stop flushing the ole system oil is very good I't,s easy to do one wheel at a time just unscrew one turn caliper bleeding inserts and ad a plastic tube on it enough long to pour into a jar open master cylender and pump the brake pedal just about to leave in the master enough oil on the bottom add new oil full and pump again until clean oil gets out off the tube in the jar its easy do the foru wheel like that and bingooooo brand new oil in system and good braking difference telling you

 

with a vehicle that old, i'd replace the rubber flex lines. they do degrade. For a firmer pedal, use stainless steel flex lines. (racer method to firm up lines). And as previously mentioned, new calipers might be in order.

On the rears, manually adjust them. I have never gotten the factory adjusters to work well.

Also, the choice of pads can change the feel. I use the brutestop by raybestdos. They have a feel like the ones on my race mustang.