97 F350 brake upgrade *UPDATE* - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

aztec777 · 08-25-2001, 06:50 PM

Ok, guys. First time in this forum. Need help with father-in-law's truck. He wants to upgrade his front disk brakes. Is there a kit that an aftermarket company makes for this application? Need vented disks and better pads and maybe calipers. It's a 97 F350, 4x4, 5 speed, with the Power Stroke. Any help would be appreciated. Links to websites would help a lot, too. Thanks.

Steve

[ 08-27-2001: Message edited by: aztec777 ]

u2slow · 08-25-2001, 08:59 PM

What's wrong with them? They're twin-piston monsters!

If he's hauling so much weight that the brakes are inadequate, maybe rear discs would be more appropriate.

Also look into hydroboost from an F-SuperDuty.

aztec777 · 08-26-2001, 12:03 AM

The problem is that he has hairline cracks in the rotors due to the heat buildup. He's retired the tows a monster 5th wheel. He's not complaining about the stopping power itself, but wants to prevent this problem in the future. The truck only has 60K on it and he uses the tranny to slow down on declines and such. Just wanted to find out about different options for his truck before we go back to OEM.

Steve

smurfsdad · 08-26-2001, 05:53 AM

ford brakes suck. i have the same exact truck and the brakes overheat easily. i have had several fords in the past that do the same thing, after awhile you just ignore the cracks and just keep throwing pads at the thing.

u2slow · 08-27-2001, 04:32 PM

Ah yes, the cracking rotors. Common problem. Those Ford rotors are too thin from the get-go.

See if you can spread the caliper enough to fit a 1-1/2" thick SuperDuty rotor or a GM/Dodge 1-ton rotor.

aztec777 · 08-27-2001, 05:01 PM

I thought I'd update everyone here. After much research I found that the Ford pads are plain too hard and the rotors aren't vented. That's what allows the heat to build up and crack the rotor. Found out that Raybestos makes a line called "BruteStop". These are vented and crossdrilled rotors and pads with better materials. Any dealer/store/chain that carries Raybestos products can special order them for you. Will bolt right on and it's an end to the heat buildup. The guy here locally had them in stock. They're in and make a difference in brake fade, wet braking, and decrease the braking distance. Other manufacturers I found were Applied Rotor Technology and DBA(Disk Brakes Australia). Good luck with your brakes.

Steve

fj40charles · 08-28-2001, 12:14 PM

Does he have any type of an exhaust brake (jake brake)? This might help with stopping while towing a heavy load.

Charles

u2slow · 08-28-2001, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by aztec777:
<STRONG>Found out that Raybestos makes a line called "BruteStop". These are vented and crossdrilled rotors and pads with better materials. </STRONG>

Cool. I'll pass the info along to my Ford buddies. I suppose its only a matter of time before they find out the hard way <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

aztec777 · 08-29-2001, 07:31 AM

He doesn't have a jake brake. I'll mention it to him.

Yeah, spread the word about the BruteStop line. He paid $195 for the front rotors and $45 for the pads. Not bad for a high performance set of brakes up front.

Steve

08-25-2001, 06:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
aztec777 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Member # 4784 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 448	97 F350 brake upgrade UPDATE Ok, guys. First time in this forum. Need help with father-in-law's truck. He wants to upgrade his front disk brakes. Is there a kit that an aftermarket company makes for this application? Need vented disks and better pads and maybe calipers. It's a 97 F350, 4x4, 5 speed, with the Power Stroke. Any help would be appreciated. Links to websites would help a lot, too. Thanks. Steve [ 08-27-2001: Message edited by: aztec777 ] __________________ 19ZB4K8 VENI VIDI VICI

08-25-2001, 08:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
u2slow Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Member # 4243 Location: Salt Spring Island, BC Posts: 3,068	What's wrong with them? They're twin-piston monsters! If he's hauling so much weight that the brakes are inadequate, maybe rear discs would be more appropriate. Also look into hydroboost from an F-SuperDuty. __________________ 90-93 CTD jalopies

08-26-2001, 12:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
aztec777 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Member # 4784 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 448	The problem is that he has hairline cracks in the rotors due to the heat buildup. He's retired the tows a monster 5th wheel. He's not complaining about the stopping power itself, but wants to prevent this problem in the future. The truck only has 60K on it and he uses the tranny to slow down on declines and such. Just wanted to find out about different options for his truck before we go back to OEM. Steve __________________ 19ZB4K8 VENI VIDI VICI

08-26-2001, 05:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
smurfsdad Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Member # 324 Location: Nevada Posts: 4,005	ford brakes suck. i have the same exact truck and the brakes overheat easily. i have had several fords in the past that do the same thing, after awhile you just ignore the cracks and just keep throwing pads at the thing. __________________ Family, Friends, riders and racers, its who we are.

08-27-2001, 04:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
u2slow Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Member # 4243 Location: Salt Spring Island, BC Posts: 3,068	Ah yes, the cracking rotors. Common problem. Those Ford rotors are too thin from the get-go. See if you can spread the caliper enough to fit a 1-1/2" thick SuperDuty rotor or a GM/Dodge 1-ton rotor. __________________ 90-93 CTD jalopies

08-27-2001, 05:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
aztec777 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Member # 4784 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 448	I thought I'd update everyone here. After much research I found that the Ford pads are plain too hard and the rotors aren't vented. That's what allows the heat to build up and crack the rotor. Found out that Raybestos makes a line called "BruteStop". These are vented and crossdrilled rotors and pads with better materials. Any dealer/store/chain that carries Raybestos products can special order them for you. Will bolt right on and it's an end to the heat buildup. The guy here locally had them in stock. They're in and make a difference in brake fade, wet braking, and decrease the braking distance. Other manufacturers I found were Applied Rotor Technology and DBA(Disk Brakes Australia). Good luck with your brakes. Steve __________________ 19ZB4K8 VENI VIDI VICI

08-28-2001, 12:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
fj40charles Zeus of the Sluice Join Date: Oct 2000 Member # 1926 Location: Dallas, TX USA Posts: 3,254	Does he have any type of an exhaust brake (jake brake)? This might help with stopping while towing a heavy load. Charles __________________ '69 FJ40 with very few stock parts. 2000 Cummins with some goodies to make it smoke..... Trail Gear's Bad Ethics=Bad Business.

08-29-2001, 07:31 AM	#9 (permalink)
aztec777 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Member # 4784 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 448	He doesn't have a jake brake. I'll mention it to him. Yeah, spread the word about the BruteStop line. He paid $195 for the front rotors and $45 for the pads. Not bad for a high performance set of brakes up front. Steve __________________ 19ZB4K8 VENI VIDI VICI

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