93f-1504x4

i replaced front rotor, and caliper on one side, and just pads on the other side of a 1997 f-150 xl with a 4.2 and 2wd for a lady about a week ago.

she said it was working great, took it to the lake, loaded the boat an everything. then her husband drove it onto the yard the other day an it was making a clunking, and now it acts like the brakes are locked up when she tries to drive.

any ideas about what this could be? im goin to look at it tonight or tomoro.

pickupsrule

Could be ball joints or wheel bearings.
Check the wheel bearings first for play and friction.
Also check the suspension and bushings.
A long shot would be the caliper bolts but I doubt you even messed with those.
Believe it or not, it could be totally unrelated to the brake job you did.
It has been known to happen.

93f-1504x4

yeah im pretty sure its not related to the brake job. cuz i have 2 semesters training/school. so i know what im doing. but since she paid me i need to go check it out, incase if it was my error.

pickupsrule

"yeah im pretty sure its not related to the brake job. cuz i have 2 semesters training/school."

That's what I'm talking about. A guy who knows what job security and a good salary is. I wish I had done what you did instead of wasting all that money on college. My wife's brother is a millionaire and he went to trade school to learn to be an electrician, started his own company, and I am starving to death with my advanced degrees. Good for you dude.
What was I thinking? My grandfather was a heavy equipment mechanic and made a lot of money, had no debt, lived in a 4,000 Ft Sq. house, and bought a new car every two years.
I have no doubt you did it right, the problem is trying to convice the car owners.

mawk

My guess is a guide pin/bracket bolt worked its way loose (either you forgot to torque it down tightly, or didn't do it enough). It's fine until it grabs and is being thrown into the wheel. Now it's wedged in there and the tire is essentially locked.

It's just my hunch, but let me know if I'm correct, and if you're too embarrassed, just PM me.

93f-1504x4

thanks man. so i distinctly remember tightening the caliper bolts as much as i could. turns out one of them worked its way out. so im gonna go back an load it up with lock tite 2moro. shoulda thought of that when i did it the first time. but, live an learn right?

ken.norwich

Only one way to learn! I recently put all new engine gaskets on my 4.2. It was leaking coolant didnt realize it overheated it warped the heads, as well as realizing my truck almost suffered the dreaded intake coolant leak. Well of course i was so excited to put it back together i forgot to check for warping. well 350$(2 sets of head gaskets and head work only) i finally had everything back together and gave my dad and his buddies a good laugh.

93f-1504x4

haha yup, learn from your mistakes. i bet you wont do that again right?

pickupsrule

Thanks for telling us what it was.
It is reccommended that the bolts actually be replaced with new ones especially if they back their way out and many kits have new bolts with the discs.
Also, always use a torque wrench on eveything you can and toque to specs.
Locktite is a good idea.

93f-1504x4

yes yes i know, i just didnt have the torque specs availible at the time. so as tight as i could get it was supposed to be good enough lol. this one did not come wiht new bolts. i'll just lock tite them an tighten them more than last time.