Brake problems

[Walter Volz]

I have an 03 F-250 7.3, manual transmission, bought new in 03, now with about 65,000 original miles. As you see I don't put a lot of miles on this truck per year, mainly for recreational use and occasionally haul a 16ft flatbed trailer. For about the last year or so the brake pedal seemed to be getting stiff and stopping ability was decreasing. The other day when I applied the brakes there was a hard pull to the left. Could this be caused by the hydrobooster, master cylinder or a faulty caliper ? Seems to be no problem with the power steering. No leaks of any fluids and all up to proper levels. Any help with this will be appreciated. Thanks in advance. Walt

 

[DaveBen]

You probably need new front pads. This is about the right mileage for new pads. Pulling to one side is another clue. Your right side pads are gone, or the left side pads are gone.

 

[snicklas]

Also check to see the pins in the caliper bracket are free and moving. My 03 Excursion would pull to the right on braking. I checked everything over on the right side and everything was fine. Checked the left side and the pins in the caliper bracket were frozen. The reason it was pulling to the right, is because the brake on the left really wasn't doing much. Bought a reman caliper bracket and back to straight stops....

 

[Threesuns1]

My 2000 had the same problems. As mentioned by "snicklas" the calipers are most likely sticking. My truck would sit for a month or two on occasions during the winter outside. I've gone through 3 sets of caliper in 155,000 miles.

 

[snicklas]

My 2000 had the same problems. As mentioned by "snicklas" the calipers are most likely sticking. My truck would sit for a month or two on occasions during the winter outside. I've gone through 3 sets of caliper in 155,000 miles.

Mine wasn’t the caliper. My caliper pistons moved fine. My was the 2 pins the caliper bolts to and allows the caliper to slide.... Mine wouldn’t slide, so it didn’t “squeeze” the rotor, the pad the pistons push would push on the rotor, but the opposite side pad didn’t do anything..

There are the 2 smaller bolts that hold the caliper on, the ones you remove to replace the pads. There are 2 larger headed bolts that hold the caliper bracket I had trouble with, on. This is what you have to remove to be able to pull the rotor....