fourthclassC wrote:
I have found the brakes on my 2003 E350 stink. This chassis has rear discs. They are under sized in my experience. Just simply too small. Does the E450 have bigger brakes on both front and back? Also I think I heard the E450 has a better parking brake set up on the drive shaft. My vehicle parking brake set up (internal expanding shoes inside the rotor) is way too small. In fact if you check your owners manual it says the parking brake is not intended to stop the vehicle. It sure won't even when perfectly adjusted .....
Your 2003 E350 brakes sound exactly like my 2007 E350 brakes, though I offer a much better rating for them. Yet I do agree, more braking power is always welcoming. I wonder if we could improve matters by replacing our stock vacuum power brake booster with the same model year E450 stock hydro power brake booster that operates off the power steering hydraulic system. It would make for an interesting project. I wonder if there is a YouTube video available on how to do it, the parts list, the associated cost, and the evaluation afterward.
As far as the E450 drive shaft parking brake is concerned, I believe it was changed in 2008 to what we have. Hopefully someone with a 2008 or newer will confirm or correct me. I recall the drive shaft parking brake having issues for some RV owners, not sure how serious they were.
