I have a 2003 F150 88,000 miles on it and front brakes been changed 4 times out of warranty what is wrong?

Question

Four wheel disc brakes, dealer fixed once, and tire shop 3 times out of my pocket, new rotors, pads 4X2 thanks for any help.

I had the rear brakes done at 50,000 miles. I do pull a trailer some times with electric brakes, and I don't drive with both feet.

Answer 1

This is unusual wear for any make. Perhaps the calibur pistons are not retracting into the calibur as they should, thereby keeping constant pressure on the pads and wearing them prematurely.

Alternately you may be unwittingly resting your foot on the brake pedal. Hauling a heavy load on a regular basis could contribute as the front brakes contribute the majority of braking power. You may have a stuck proportioning vale. Any number of these can cause your problem. Even the slider for the calibur, if rusty, can become an issue. Be sure the slider is lightly sandpapered before reassembly.

Perhaps a combination of some or all the above may contribute. A collasped or crimped brake service line can restrict the fluid from releasing the piston when the brakes are released. Not likely but possible the brake pedal itself could be binding and not fully releasing.

If you had this in the dealer several times for the same problem, there may be a "hidden" warranty available for a fix. Check for technical service bulletins (TSB at Ford) regarding this as a possible problem. You may check with the National Transportation Board website as well for recall information that may be there.

If you bought this new from the dealer and/or are a fairly regular customer, sometimes they will go out on a limb for "good will" from the manufacturer and get some factory assistance beyond the warranty period, as I have done before on a Volvo S80 that I did not buy new. The domestic makers especially are under a lot of pressure and may offer some assistance to keep you a Ford customer. It is worth a call.

Answer 2

I agree with what everyone is saying... There is no secret ford warranties on 03 f-150s currently (Ford lists them as recalls) but other than the hoses or caliper binding at the piston, most of the time in your situation I see either an agressive driving habits (where the vehicle is hard braked at a stop all the time) or the two foot driver but since you ruled it out... here is my take...

Are the caliper slides being lubricated? I've had many shops that do the $99 brake special that slap on pads and let it go.. but the slides stick and eat the front pads but I don't think that is your problem

I'd check to see if you are braking with the electronic brake for your trailer. As one or two have said, the truck is used for this occasionally and I've noticed that trailer brakes not set aggressive enough or not hitting like they are suppoed to will eat front pads quick (It will also eat rear ones to an extent that you already replaced them once... but heavy load carrying seems to do that also) but I'd make sure you have the trailer brakes working on the trailer and that all the electrical (espcially those grounds) on the trailer are up to snuf...

Answer 3

You may not have a problem going on your driving habits and driving conditions maybe the reason. I get 3 years or more out of brakes but I do very little stop and go driving and never pull a trailer. If your brakes work okay and stop you okay after being replaced then I would say there is nothing wrong. Next time I would change everything pads, rotors, and calibers and get the better premium stuff.

Answer 4

several factors come to mind. are you hard on brakes, rushing to the next stop? do you live or travel daily in a hilly area? are you resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving? do you live in the city or drive mostly in the city with lots of stops? do you carry heavy loads alot?if your rotors have been cut four times now, they probably need to be replaced. buy a harder metal rotor. don't go cheap either. get a heavier duty pad as well. FYI: always cut the rotors when replacing pads otherwise they'll wear out alot faster than they should. if it still occurs, maybe theres a bad proportioning valve. you failed to mention whether it was fronts or rears or both each time, too. makes a difference which too.

Answer 5

I would suspect you have a front brake caliper not releasing all the way or that the mounting surface the caliper slides on is rusted and not allowing the brake to release all the way.As a mechanic for over 20 years this is almost always the cause of this type of problem.

Answer 6

i am assuming that the truck [ when checked cold ] the rotors turn freely and no sticky calipers cheapo pads or blocked brake hoses. recheck after a 15 mile of mixed driving road test. are the rotors stiff or impossible to turn now? if yes loosen the master cyl. to booster nuts and recheck rotors do they turn easy now? if so the push-rod adjustment is out of spec on the booster and is holding the brakes on after things get warm. get the spec. for your truck and adj accordingly or replace the booster with a new one. this a rare fix but have seen it happen to several cars/trucks over the years without regard to make or model also check that pedal linkages are not binding under dash.[even more rare]

Answer 7

did the front or rear or all the brakes wear out need more info fords like to chew the right front brake be sure the calipers and hoses are functioning properly and that the pads slide freely in the caliper mounting brackets and youre not driving two footed are you?

Answer 8

The way you drive has a lot to do with it, though, disc brakes wear faster in dusty conditions, because they are exposed, where drum brakes aren't. You may have sticking front brake calipers, or some places may change them anyway they don't need to be.

Answer 9

well if you have replaced the rotors and pads then only a few things left to looks at one is your driving do you stop hard alot? or haul things with your truck if your say no then try replacing the brake hoses sometime these get restricted and don't let the caliper release

Answer 10

Sounds like the rear brakes are not working properly, and you are only using the front ones to stop. Have the proportioning valve checked, and check the rear brakes!