I'm going to be doing a front brake job on my '00 Excursion this weekend. Is there anything special that I should know about before i get into it? i'm going to change the rotors and pads.....this is my first heavy duty vehicle, so I'm just making sure I have everything that i need. What should I look out for?

 

I suggest you upgrade your front caliper pins, for preventive maintenance. They have a tendency to seize in the bore.

Here's Guzzle's site for a step by step process. http://guzzle.rbmicro.com/ Just scroll down to the maintenance section.

When I did my caliper pins, three of the four pins pulled right out, easy as pie. The fourth was pretty tight, and it took a minute or so, but I was able to remove it without using pliers or penetrating oil.

After removing the pins, I wrapped a drill bit with some nylon scrubbing pad, and using my cordless drill, I carefully cleaned out the bore. A few shots of brake cleaner and the bore was as shiny as a new nickel!

I coated the pin and bore with some Ford Motorsport caliper pin lube and it was as good as new.

Stewart

 

Thanks for the link.....is there a way to find out what generation calipers i have on my 2000 Excursion without taking the rims off so I can get the proper guide pins before i have everything torn apart?

 

As stated on Guzzles website, you only need to be concerned if you have a '99 SuperDuty.

Your Excursion is a 2000, like mine, so use the ones listed on Guzzles site, Ford part number 2C3Z-2C150-AA.

Stewart

 

Thanks a bunch....on the phone with my Ford Dealer now....

 

The little black rubber bushing comes loose in the package. Don't forget to pop it on the caliper pin before you install the pin.

Don't ask me why I'm reminding you about this particular, small item....

LOL!

Stewart

 

Who, hoo....$12 per set....all mine.

 

Pocket, I forgot to advise about a really good torque procedure.

After you finish everything, put your wheels back on and get your lug nuts on. Have a buddy hold the brake pedal down and torque your lugs using a two-step process.

First, torque your lugs to 80 ft. lbs., using the standard criss-cross method. Once you've torqued all the lugs to 80 lbs, start all over and torque them all down to 165lbs.

This two-step process ensures an even application of pressure on the rotors, helping to keep them true.

Don't forget to recheck your torque after 800 - 1000 miles or so.

BTW, I forgot to ask you which rotors and pads you chose to use.

Stewart

 

I haven't picked them up yet, I was going to get them on Sat.....any particular ones I should get? I was just going to go to Autozone and get whatever they have.....

 

If you do a search, you'll find one of the common problems that plague the Excursion is uneven pad transfer...hot spots...sometimes described as a warped rotor because of the shimmy and shake felt in the brake pedal and steering wheel.

I sufferred from it for two years. Turning the rotors does not solve the problem. I had mine turned 3 times in a 12 - 15 month period, IIRC. And each time the steering wheel shake and brake pedal pulsing was back within a few weeks.

Doing copious amounts of research, I discovered quite a few guys were having fantastic results with Powerslot cryo treated rotors (cryo treated...not the "regular" rotors) and Hawk LTS pads. So I picked up a set of those rotors and pads and I've had zero problems since. It stops better than before, and it handles my 31' TT and 4-horse bumper pull without a problem.

Some guys also swear by the ART rotors too (which are also cryo treated), and the EBC pads.

In my opinion, you can't go wrong with either choice or combination.

I got my rotors and pads from Mark at DPPI, www.dieselperformanceparts.com, a supporting vendor here. He price matched the best price I could find on the 'net and I couldn't be happier.

Whichever way you choose to go, make sure you bed your pads in properly.

Stewart

 

Those are the issues that I'm having. The brakes aren't necesarrily gone, but I'm getting a major pulsation at speeds over 45mph when braking. I went to that website to order the cryo rotors, but they didn't come up. Will Autozone or Napa have cryo rotors? I'd like to find them locally because i have to do it Sat., which is my only day to do it since i have to go on a 2200 mile trip next week and won't be able to get them done till Oct. after that.

 

I called DPPI.

As for Napa carrying them, I don't know, but I doubt it.

If I were you, and my timeframe was such that I couldn't get the parts in before the trip, I'd wait until after the trip.

Knowing what I learned from searching this forum and TDS, I'd rather wait and do the brake job (replacing the rotors with cryo treated rotors), rather than take a chance on rotors obtained from a local parts store. Unless of course, they can get you ART rotors or Powerslot cryo rotors.

I'm almost certain a parts store or brake supply store can get you the Hawk LTS or EBC pads though.

Stewart

 

Does DPPI still carry them? I found a website that has them....$138/each....does that sound right?

 

You'd have to call DPPI. I don't have access to their computer to know if they still carry the cryo treated Powerslots.

I paid less than $300 bucks for the rotors, but that was over a year ago.

Just make sure they are for your Excursion, make sure it's for a 4-wheel drive if you're Ex is a 4x4, and above all else, make sure they are cryo treated.

Call DPPI and ask them how much for your Excursion...that's the best way.

I saw the $138 price at Auto Parts Warehouse. If the shipping is free, that's almost the exact same price I paid at DPPI.

I paid about $80 bucks for the Hawk LTS pads.

Stewart

 

That's about what I'm finding, but no one will ship over night. I'll go with your advice and wait to do it right, so it's going to have to wait until after my trip.