Ok, I know that the ford chatter is common. (brake pads ratteling in the caliper, or caliper ratteling in the braket.

Whats the best way to fix this problem? Its driving me fawking nuts going down bumpy roads.
the brakes work fine, calipers are rebuilt by me, new pads... ( i havn't turned the rotors). It only chatters going down bumpy FS roads.

I searched, and found nothing on ford brake chatter.

Didnt know there was a problem with ford brake chatter. There are usaully metal pins with rubber inside them, that get driven in on each end of the caliper to keep it held tight. Check and make sure they are still good, or didnt fall out.

its not the type with the pins, its the older style with the wedge piece that drives in at the bottom.
the brakes are from a 78 bronco

ok, are the pieces still there and bolted in?

I take the retainer and the spring clip out, then bend a nice sharp bend in the spring until you have to tap the retainer and spring pretty good to get it back in there like when it was new. If that doesn't last, then you may want to try a new spring, or see if the caliper or bracket is worn so bad they need replaced.

I take the retainer and the spring clip out, then bend a nice sharp bend in the spring until you have to tap the retainer and spring pretty good to get it back in there like when it was new. If that doesn't last, then you may want to try a new spring, or see if the caliper or bracket is worn so bad they need replaced.

thanks, I'll give that a go.

and yes, everything is bolted in.

hell there is only 1 bolt holding it all together.

Remove kunckle / spindle / calier bracket. And swap to chevy stuff.
The chevy brakes are far better then Ford could of ever dreamed.

Silly question, but are you running the anti-rattle clips on the pads? If not, they're about $1.20 for the set at any parts house.

Justin

Silly question, but are you running the anti-rattle clips on the pads? If not, they're about $1.20 for the set at any parts house.

Justin

Anti-rattle clips on Ford 1/2 ton? Never seen them.

Anti-rattle clips on Ford 1/2 ton? Never seen them.

You mean for those 1 bolt style calipers.
The later model ones with the 2 pound in sliders have clips for the pads.

You mean for those 1 bolt style calipers.
The later model ones with the 2 pound in sliders have clips for the pads.

I'm talking about the kind we are talking about.

Yeah, on pre 1986 ford 1/2 tons, the one bolt with spring retainers, there's a little spring clip that clips onto the pad and loads it against the caliper bracket to keep it from chattering.

http://www.autozone.com/R,371472/vehicleId,1694501/initialAction,partProductDetail/store,858/partType,00556/shopping/partProductDetail.htm

the set of two does the whole truck, the clip only goes on the inboard pad.

Justin

Yeah, on pre 1986 ford 1/2 tons, the one bolt with spring retainers, there's a little spring clip that clips onto the pad and loads it against the caliper bracket to keep it from chattering.

http://www.autozone.com/R,371472/vehicleId,1694501/initialAction,partProductDetail/store,858/partType,00556/shopping/partProductDetail.htm

the set of two does the whole truck, the clip only goes on the inboard pad.

Justin

Oh those. Something tells me they come with the new pads. Doesn't it fit right inside the piston? Maybe I've been reusing them. Its been a little while. I thought you guys were talking about the dual piston calipers that have the "Z"-bar looking thing.

I also see they have the new retainers and springs for dirt cheap: http://www.autozone.com/N,14401922/shopping/partTypeResultSet.htm

Oh those. Something tells me they come with the new pads. Doesn't it fit right inside the piston? Maybe I've been reusing them. Its been a little while. I thought you guys were talking about the dual piston calipers that have the "Z"-bar looking thing.

I also see they have the new retainers and springs for dirt cheap: http://www.autozone.com/N,14401922/shopping/partTypeResultSet.htm

Nah, the clip right onto the bottom of the inboard pad. The "U" hooks over the pad backing, and that little tab pushes against the caliper bracket to preload the pad. I've also never gotten a set with new pads, always had to buy them seperately.

Those clips are only 1/2"x3/4"

Justin

BINGO!

I don't have those little things.

I'll have to go get a set.
I thought there was supposed to be something like that but my front end NEVER had them. Granted, i bought it second hand.
Thanks guys.

Oh, and after you put me on the right track, it appears im missing a couple parts.. wierd.
I don't have the little u-shaped retainers, or the 1/2 eliptical springs.. fucking fords.
http://www.autozone.com/R,1172056/vehicleId,1306503/initialAction,partProductDetail/store,1171/partType,01922/shopping/partProductDetail.htm

I know the chev stuff is better, but i'd have to change my knuckles to run it, and i aint' doing it.

BINGO!

I don't have those little things.

I'll have to go get a set.
I thought there was supposed to be something like that but my front end NEVER had them. Granted, i bought it second hand.
Thanks guys.

Oh, and after you put me on the right track, it appears im missing a couple parts.. wierd.
I don't have the little u-shaped retainers, or the 1/2 eliptical springs.. fucking fords.
http://www.autozone.com/R,1172056/vehicleId,1306503/initialAction,partProductDetail/store,1171/partType,01922/shopping/partProductDetail.htm

I know the chev stuff is better, but i'd have to change my knuckles to run it, and i aint' doing it.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Whoa. What?

How in the HELL are you running 78 brakes without the spring clips?!!!!! There's nothing to hold the damn caliper to the bracket then!

Didn't you realize that the caliper moved up and down 1/2"?

THAT is what's causing your chatter, your calipers aren't bolted in place :shaking:

If you're running the Ford brakes like that, no wonder you think the GM stuff is better. At best it's a wash on the 1/2 ton brakes. . .

Justin

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Whoa. What?

How in the HELL are you running 78 brakes without the spring clips?!!!!! There's nothing to hold the damn caliper to the bracket then!

Didn't you realize that the caliper moved up and down 1/2"?

THAT is what's causing your chatter, your calipers aren't bolted in place :shaking:

If you're running the Ford brakes like that, no wonder you think the GM stuff is better. At best it's a wash on the 1/2 ton brakes. . .

Justin

wait a min... i just don't have the springs.. the retainer is in there, and my caliper does not move. up and down.

I pulled the entire knuckle assembly off a 78 front end, and used them to swap my drum brake knuckles.. They went on, the same way they came off.

Im just not familiar with ford stuff, was brought up a chev guy. In the last 3 years, i've become VERY familiar with ford, i just never had an issue with the brakes.

I'll be getting these parts tonight as they are in stock at my local parts place.

Thanks for the help.

so.. the 1/2 eliptical springs, do they go between the caliper and teh wedge?

Well, that's a little better. I thought you were saying you weren't running the wedge or spring. Not having the spring would lead to really nasty brake chatter as when you apply the brakes, it will pull the caliper to the top of the bracket, will hit the bracket, fall, and create a chatter.

They go together at the same time. Put eliptical on top of wedge and slide them in together. The spring preloads the caliper to keep it from chattering, while the clips preload the inner pad to keep them from chattering.

Grease up the eliptical spring with disk brake lube as you go back together.

And check again, without the elliptical spring the caliper will move up and down almost 1/4".

Justin

I will and thanks for the help Hox.

i'm glad its an easy fix and i don't need to replace the caliper or something major.
the entire set is only 3.99 for spings, and new wedges..

No problem at all.

Justin