so my front brakes started actin up few weeks ago. its mostly the front right but the left has done it once. as im drivin around town i will let off the brakes and hit the gas and the front right brakes will stay engaged, then eventually let up a while later. i put all new rotors and pads on a few months ago, and just replaced the front brake lines and bled down the whole system. its still grabbing. i was thinkin maybe the caliper pistons are sticking in place. any help is appreciated.

 

My guess is the sliding pins. Its an easy fix and I've seen plenty of Fords have calipers freeze as a result of there not being enough lube on them. Theres a pin at the top and bottom of the caliper that penatrates the other half of the caliper. They are covered by a small black boot that keeps contaminants and water out. I usually clean these pins and the cylinder they slide in and regrease. You can use grease from your grease gun, bearing packing grease or any thick grease that dosen't run (except Crisco ) Hope this helps. Anyway as long as your doing this you can check your pistons and the rest of the job to eliminate other concerns.

 

thanks man i'll check it out tomorrow when i get off duty.

 

The pins are a common "left out" step when us "do it ourselfers" perform brake repair. Brake dust and road debris gather up around the calipers and pins that the calipers float on. Failure to completely clean the dust off of the calipers, pins, bearings (when applicable) and backing plate with a good brake cleaning solvent is just asking for failure after installing pads and or a new rotor.

Do it right; clean the entire assembly, use some good brake grease on the pins before reassembly.

 

thanks guys. how much do i have to tear em down to get to the pins? just got off work and gonna take a look

 

To get to the pins, just remove the calipers and they should be right there (if my logic is correct since that is where they have been on all my previous vehicles). I have yet to do a brake job on this truck.

BTW- Semper Paratus!!! - MST3 L.Pitt

 

alright. its not the brakes. pulled the caliper and rotor off the right side front and it was still in a bind. messed with it for a while and figured out that the passenger side hub is engaged in 4x4 but the driver side is not. i heard there was a recall on the vacuum solenoid that engages the 4x4 and my truck has not been recalled. im takin it to ford tomorrow to get the part. hopefully thats what it is. anyone have any other ideas if that doesnt fix my problem?

 

There is no recall on the solenoids, it's just common for them to go bad.

 

do you think that could cause what i have goin on? im kinda at a loss.

 

If they aren't both engaging, you probably have one bad integrated wheel end actuator or a bad connection between it and the solenoid, rather than a bad solenoid.