I've been searching the forums quite a bit lately and been finding GREAT information. THANKS!

I'm looking at what it's to take to do a front brake job on my truck. From what I've found, it's not hard, just more involved because of the way the hub / rotor fit together.

I put ceramic pads on my other vehicles (99 Pont. Grand Prix GT, 03 Ford Windstar) and love the ceramic pads. I'd like to put ceramic pads on my truck as well. Advance Auto parts carries Wagner pads, but the only pads they have in ceramic are listed for over 8500GVW. Is the pad GVW just a rating or are the pads physically different? Can I put the over 8500GVW pads on my truck? I am planning to replace the rotors at the same time.

96 F-250 Crew Cab 4x4 7.3L

I bought the truck a year ago as a 3rd vehicle. Since my Grand Prix seems to be breaking faster than I can fix it, the F-250 has been promoted to a daily driver (with 3 kids most of the time), so I'm looking for good quality that is going to last me a while.

 

Remove the screws on your hub, remove cap. Pull out the ring holding the hub body in and slide out the hub. Remove the washers behind it using a zip tie to keep them in order. Remove the two big bolts holding the caliper on and hang it out of the way. Remove the big nut with a wheel socket for your truck, you can get it at any auto parts store, just tell them what you got. The hub will now slide off, be careful and catch the bearings if they fall out. Have the rotor turned, repack the bearings, clean/relube the spindle and slide it all back on. Retorque it per the manufacturer specs (I can't remember off the top of my head but it's in the Haynes manual). Clean out the old grease from the hub and hub body and lightly grease everything again. Slide the washers back on and the cam gears then slide the hub back in. Put cap and screws back on hub body. Spread the caliper out before you remove the old pads and then remove the old pads, and remove the old clips. Clean all the gunk and grease off the calipers especially where the pads slide back and forth. Install new clips and lightly grease contact areas for the pad. Install new pads after lightly greasing the ends of them where they contact the clips. Reinstall caliper and replace bolts in it. Ensure wheel spins freely. Done and done. Remember to pump your brakes before you take off down the road.

 

Over 8500lbs is the Heavy Duty truck. All diesels are HD so those pads would be fine as your truck is a diesel.