Brake Dust??
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
4x4 freak, I went to auto-zone and they said they could only order the fronts for some reason and the price was $99.00. Aren't the front and rear the same since their all discs? They also said they weren't for all four.
Super Moderator
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 8,547
Likes: 6
From: MA
Originally Posted by K.O-T.O
4x4 freak, I went to auto-zone and they said they could only order the fronts for some reason and the price was $99.00. Aren't the front and rear the same since their all discs? They also said they weren't for all four.
They try to sell you blinker fluid at the same time? There is absolutely no difference between the fronts and rears.Edit: You are also getting hosed on the price. You should be able to find a pair for like $40 a piece online. Just buy two pairs, and enjoy life. Don't let those fools at Autozone have your cash.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 68
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KO-TO.. To answer your question, no they aren't the same size. Yes they are both disk brakes but thats about the only comparison between front and rear. As someone mentioned earlier, the front bears the brunt of the stopping force. Therefore on about 90 percent of vehicles the front is much more beefier than the rear. When you get a chance walk out and take a look, the front has bigger rotors, bigger calipers and bigger pads! I went out to NAPA during lunch and picked up some ceramic pads that I'm going to put on after work today. I've had the ceramics before on an 03 expedition and they worked great! NO BRAKE DUST! I know there has to be some brake dust but I really didn't notice because I would normally wash the vehicle every week or two. Anyway, the ceramics run between 60 and 100 bucks for the front set (complete front). Mine today cost 70 something with tax (I think they gave me a military discount though).
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 377
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From: your town
The front are different than the rear. I already changed both sets of mine. I went ahead and replaced the rotors to with cross drilled /slotted ones while I was at it. The rear also has a set of drums pads for the e-break. The real rotors look like a hat and the e-break fits inside the rotor. I didn't pay any attention on the size of the front to rear but they are different.
btw, The rear took me less time to do than the front. The caliber is a one piece with only two bolts. The front is a two piece and four bolts.
btw, The rear took me less time to do than the front. The caliber is a one piece with only two bolts. The front is a two piece and four bolts.
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Go with something different...
Noticed the dust on my new truck early, 400 miles. After reading posts got ceramic. Definately cleaner and they work better. If they do wear the rotors would not be that $ to replace.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 18,787
Likes: 30
From: Melbourne, Aus
Originally Posted by TruckChic
I have a 2005 F150, and when I first started driving it, there was a lot of brake dust on the front wheels. My grandfather bought me the truck, and he said that it was like that just because it was new. Well I've had the truck for a year and a half now, and I am constantly cleaning the wheels because the brake dust seems to just keep getting worse. What causes this, and is there anything I can do to fix it? I've also seen other trucks similar to mine that have excessive amounts of brake dust on the front wheels, so I know its not just mine!
Let them dust.
Dust is a good sign that the pads are actually working. Ceramic pads give you poorer braking performance, and less feel than either organic or semi metallic pads.
Honestly, I would keep cleaning the wheels every now and then
MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,606
Likes: 151
From: SE Georgia
I have seen alot of the expeditions do that also...and no slight to you, but most of the Fords I see with the bad brake dust problem are driven buy women and senior citizens. try to see if you ride the brakes when you are driving, or if you start braking well ahead of when you actually need to.
once again, not trying to insult...I only noticed because it is something my wife does and I know she does it because she is more cautious when driving than I am
please do not let the dust stay on the rims. I did that on my 94 F-150 and now I wish I hadn't. The rims started to pit from the brake dust and the dust got into those pits. Now I have these ugly looking rims with big pockmarks.
once again, not trying to insult...I only noticed because it is something my wife does and I know she does it because she is more cautious when driving than I am
Originally Posted by BigF350
Want my honest opinion???
Let them dust.
Dust is a good sign that the pads are actually working. Ceramic pads give you poorer braking performance, and less feel than either organic or semi metallic pads.
Honestly, I would keep cleaning the wheels every now and then
Let them dust.
Dust is a good sign that the pads are actually working. Ceramic pads give you poorer braking performance, and less feel than either organic or semi metallic pads.
Honestly, I would keep cleaning the wheels every now and then
Last edited by Tylus; Oct 27, 2006 at 04:11 PM.
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