Miklowcic

I have already dealt with the rust. My parking brake froze in the on position on one wheel. Got me real mad that both parking brakes were completely rusted out and Ford didnt cover it under warrenty. IMOp parking brakes are not wear and tear.. you dont always use them..

Hopefully mine will back off fine since they are new as of about 6 months ago.

I had ordered Power slot rotors since I had put them on the front a year ago, but after a big delay in shipping I am leaning towards just getting oem rotors so I can get the job done this weekend...

ALso ordered acebono ceramic pads which seem great on the front and no brake dust...not that even clean my truck much anymore..

Hackles01

Do you find that brake pads make a big difference?
I never really understood what makes the expensive ones so much better.
Longer life? I did the brakes on mine about a month ago. as far as performance the cheap ones work fine.

f150mashin559

i gave it about 10 good whacks. still didnt come off. so i just put the old brakes back on and am gonna wait til this weekend.

Bonesofsteel

My mechanic had to fight a little bit himself to back off the parking brake but once he did it came off real easy. The reason you had so must rust was your parking brake probably was never get used. That is the problem when things sit. We put brand new rotors on my fathers Tercel and then we had engine problems so it sat for a good 2 months, the discs were so rusted! I use my parking brake and use my 4H / 4L once or twice a month to avoid any problems with stuff not working or seizing.

Miklowcic

I did notice a difference with my front brakes when I installed Slotted rotors and ceramic pads and they are lasting forever. I doubt that slotted rotors on the rear will make any noticable difference and you can barely see the rotors on the Fx4 with the wheels that came with my truck thats why I opted to just go with stock rotors and some good ceramic pads on the back. You barely use your back brakes unless you are towing. I went through back pads quickly when I was towing my mustang every weekend.

FYI

i would not recommend autoanything.com I used them because they claimed to be able to get me powerstop slotted rotors and have them shipped the next day. I even called when i noticed it still said pending on their site for my order. They said it had already been shipped. Then two days later they sent me an email at 9pm telling me there was a delay and they werent shipped yet and I could cancel if I liked ...then a second email at midnight saying that they had been shipped. Now they arent getting back to me about cancelling my order.. Guess Ill be disputing it with my credit card company and refusing the delivery. No way am I paying for return shipping.

The tirerack used to be real good but they have nothing in stock anymore. I wonder if they are going out of business?

Miklowcic

Just wanted to update everyone on my brake job.

This is the second time I have done my rear brakes. First time around my pads wore out real fast over a few seasons of towing my mustang. AT that time the rotors wouldnt budge so I just changed the pads without doing anything to the rotors. That was at about 40,000 give or take..

This time I was prepared to mess with the parking brake and get out a hammer. The truck has 110,000 miles on it. I bought the spring release tool from the store but when I took the calipers off the rotors were loose. One side pulled right off, the other side I wiggled a bit and it came right off. Greased everything up and was done in 45 min or less.

The only complaint i have now is that my parking brake needs to be adjusted. When I push down the parking brake it doesnt keep the truck stopped on a hill. I will probably wait until I rotate the tires to bother figuring out how to adjust the parking brake..unless I can do it without taking off the wheels?

There was no dust cap that I could see. You have direct access to the spring once you have the rotors off. I dont understand why there seems to be so many brake configurations on this truck. My brakes did not look anything like the pictures in the book.

Miklowcic

AUTOANYTHING actually managed to stop my order and have it returned to sender and they say they are going to refund my money.

I just used stock rotors and acebono ceramic pads.

Miklowcic

I found the adjustment hole. There is nothing covering it. Its on the bottom of the back of the brake assembly lower than the axle. NOthing covering it. Im guessing thats where I will adjust from. Started raining so have to try another day.

ChuckWagon

I spent today frustrating myself with the rear brakes on my 2003 fx4. This was my first brake job, so I didn't really know what I was getting myself into. I bought the shop manual and follow the directions but the rear rotors wouldn't budge. I heated them up with a torch, soaked em with penetrator, beat on them with a dead blow and got nothing. Can anyone tell me where to find the parking brake release or whatever the hell is preventing me from removing the rotors?

Also, rookie mistake, the brake pads are labeled IR OL and OR IL... make sure you put your pads on the correct side. Inside Right, Outside Left or something. I messed this up.

Miklowcic

If its the same as my 04 fx4 , most likely you need to back off your parking brake. There is a little hole behind your wheel. Where the axle meets the wheel. On my truck there is no cover on it or anything. Use a flashlight to see how it works. Just take a screw driver and turn the little wheel that has notches on it. I think to loosen it you push it away from you or up.. You can tell if you are going the right way by getting in the truck and pushing down the parking brake and see where it engages. Once it doesnt keep your truck from rolling then you can bang your rotors off.

Your book should have info on how the parking brake works to give you an idea.

I was lucky and after my parking brake completely rusted out the dealership had put in completely new one months ago so when I did my brakes the rotors slid off on there own...no banging at all or messing with the parking brake..

After I put my new rotors on though for some reason i needed to tighten up my parking brake by turning that little wheel i mentioned.