I just took a minute to do some brake maintenance. I replaced front and rear pads with semi-metallics from NAPA today. I measured my rotors with a micrometer and they still fall within the thickness guidelines, that said, I want to replace them soon. I asked at NAPA about replacement rotors but the guy was very unhelpful. I've read online and on here to avoid slotted or pre-driled rotors. Is this the case?

When I mentioned it to the guy at NAPA that I wanted solids he looked at me like I was retarded and said that rotors for trucks should always be slotted. But he also looked at me like I was retarded for not wanting ceramic pads.

What brand rotors are you using? Where did you get them? I would prefer to order some online at this point...also... How do I know if my set up is 14mm or 12mm?

 

I'm currently running ebc front rotors and pads from carparts.com. I have had them for about 2 years and they are holding up well. Whether you have 12mm or 14mm studs depends on the year of your truck. 97-99 have 12mm studs while 2000-2004 have 14mm studs.

 

You can still have 12mm studs on the 2000 model. The date they swapped was 11/29/99, still a 2000 model. Any before that date are 12mm. After that date, up to 03/2000, although they should be 14mm, there were some still, that carried the 12mm's.

To be sure on a 2000, just check the lug nut size. 19mm socket is the 12mm and the 21mm socket fits the 14mm studs. You have to be careful on the 2000 model year. Like 97, they had numerous subtle changes.

 

I put on power stop ceramic pads, oreilly solid rotors, 55000 mi ago. No problem.

i dont tow, but i live where its hot. Ive not had glazing issue some complain of with ceramic.

 

Powerstop Z36 is the way to go. I have a set on my truck and love them.

I have a 2014 Screw 4x4 that ate rotors until I installed the Powerstop at 17K miles. I had a 2001 Expy that ate rotors until I traded it. I would have to replace the front rotors every 18months or so due to warpping. The last three years of ownership I finally found some decent rotors from NAPA...they were their HD ones. These Ford trucks are just too heavy for the crappy rotors that they install on them.

AK4wheeler

 

I believe trucks with 12mm and 14mm studs actually use the same rotor. If you look at the base of the 12mm stud, you will see that it has a "bulge" that is 14mm in diameter. I was having difficulty finding rotors with 12mm holes so I checked with my local ford dealer.. It appears that at one time they had different part numbers for the earlier trucks with 12mm studs (not sure why). But the dealer said that the old part number has been superseded by a part that is common to all of the 10th gen trucks.

Be aware that it can be VERY hard to remove your rotor from the front hub. I had to take my front knuckle apart to install a Zone lift kit. The rotors were so seized to the hub that I had to use a sledge hammer with huge amounts of force to separate the rotor (damaging the rotor in the process). I've heard stories that people have actually broken the rotor when trying to remove it from a 4X4 hub. Good luck!