I have a 2004 Ford F-150 with 26,000 miles on it. I have two questions: Is it normal to have to replace all four rotors on a truck with 26,000 miles? Second: if the dealership looked at the brakes three months ago because I heard a squealing noise and said they were fine, is it normal that all four rotors would need to be replaced 3 months later.
I live in NY state and haul a horse trailer every few weeks in the summer. I heard a squealing noise when hauling my trailer with the horses. I told the dealership about the noise and asked to have the breaks checked when they were changing the oil. They said the brakes were fine. I told my farrier (guy who trims my horses feet) about it and he said "they probably took one look at you and thought dumb blonde" and then he said that he thought it sounded like the warning strip on the break pad. So, I stopped at the dealership the next weekend to make sure they had checked the brakes. The guy told me they couldn't find what was causing the squealing and to wait until it happened all the time (since it would only happen with the additonal 2400lbs of horses in the trailer) Three months later the truck started shaking when breaking and they say all four rotors need to be replaced, the caliper and most likely the emergency brake shoe will need to be replaced as well. How could that happen in three months?

 

if you do not have brakes on your horse trailer, or if they are not adjusted properly, the brakes on the truck have ALL that extra weight to stop. Constant braking in hills can cause excessive heat which will warp the rotors and cause the shaking you described.

Here in phoenix, where people drive as fast as they can between stop lights...I have replaced brakes at 15 to 20,000 miles on many different vehicles. Usually the rotors last several changes of pads, but severe warping can cause rotors to go out of specifications.

 

The trailer does have breaks and there is a break controller in the truck. I've only trailered 1000 miles in the two years I've owned the truck. I haven't used the trailer at all in the past three months from the last time they looked at it.

The guys at the dealership also said I can't reface the rotors becasue they will just peel. I thought you could reface rotors? They haven't said they are too worn or pitted to be refaced: they are saying that refacing doesn't work.

 

You can resurface the rotors, and the only reason you wouldn't would be if they were worn to bad to even try, but I don't think I've ever heard of all four going beyond repare, much less in three months.
Is the truck still under warranty? Also how bad is the shacking when you stop?Deadly, or just anoying?

 

Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums > Newer Light Duty Trucks > 2004 - 2007 F150
Brake Rotors

Check out this thread. Should answer all your questions.

 

Looks like your factory warranty will replace everything. Search "brake rotors" in this forum and you will see lots of 04' 4x4 Screw owners have had the same problem you are discibing and the factory warranty has replaced everything. There are a couple TSB's refering to your exact problem.
Take it in and have them fix it.

 

Sounds like you need to find another dealer. Your brakes should last a lot longer, well at least the rotors. Now if your pads were worn and damaged the rotor then thats a different story..

 

The dealership is telling me that the warranty doesn't cover items that are subject to friction wear for more than 12 months. I'll have to read my warranty but that is what they have said. I just don't understand how the brakes could have been fine 3 months ago and then need all four rotors replaced 3 months later? They say that its "common" in this area due to the salt used in the winter but I've never had to replace rotors on a 2 year old vehicle!

 

do you by chance rest your left foot on the brake peddle? That will cause problems quick. Also, trailer brakes are for stability and don't add that much braking power. If the truck wasn't shaking when braking when you took it in, I am sure the brakes were fine like the dealer said. When the truck started shaking there is an issue. Often times on warped rotors you don't want to even bother to turn them. The heat that caused the warping makes harded spots on the rotor and turning the rotor often times doesnt take out all of the hardend spot and you will have the truck shaking again shortly. Also, from what I have heard from others is to get ceramic pads when you change the rotor. EBC's brake parts web sight says that the ceramic doesn't wear the rotor as much as semi metalic and that warpage is reduced with ceramic pad. Also they don't put out so much dust.

 

What? Trailer brakes are for braking. The WD hitch with sway control is for stability. If you have a good controller and know how to adjust it, you can adjust the trailer brakes to brake more, less or the same as the truck brakes. I tow my 25' travel trailer in the mountains 2,000-3,000 miles per year and it doesn't make any difference on my truck's brakes.

 

I can actually stop my truck with my travel trailer brakes! Trailer brakes have nothing to do with stability! They have everything to do with braking!

 

Check this out my friend, it sounds like your problem.

 

And here is another TSB, Good luck.

 

My front rotors were replaced last month for TSB 05-21-19.

Truck is now braking well, no shudder nor vibe.

 

mundamu I have 05 stx purchased on 10-05 and recently took my truck in for a vibration problem. There was a rotor recall on f-150s made before 11-05 so my truck was qualified. The dealer fixed it under warranty, $854 worth, new rotors, calipers,retaining clips, pads and spinndle. They were pretty nice and understanding about everything just mention the TSB about the rotors.