Has anyone changed their own brakes?
I need to replace brakes on my 1997 Damon Hornet 2754b, Ford E-Superduty Chassis. Is this something I can take care of myself? I can change brakes on a car.
Forum Discussion
Biggest problem is that the newer calipers (and that goes back to at least my '91 Ranger) have phenolic pistons to insulate the fluid from the heat of the pads. I don't know what goes wrong, but eventually the pistons began to seize when they get hot. When the brake cools off the brakes work normal till they get a little overheated then they start dragging again. This happened to me on the Ranger twice, both times in Atlanta freeway stop and go traffic. I got off at an exit, pulled the wheel, let it cool for an hour or so, used the lug wrench to wiggle the caliper so the pistons would retract and it worked fine after that (but I replaced the calipers when I got home).
Same thing again, on a co-workers '04 Ram 3500 dualie. He replaced the hot caliper and we bled fluid thru the entire system till we were getting out fresh fluid. A few days later he was headed to Florida when it happened again with the other rear wheel, not far from my house. I picked up another caliper, we changed it out and bled the brakes. Both rotors need changing, as one has heat cracking. This is a low use truck but he will get to it soon.
Moral, go ahead and replace the calipers.
Charles
Same thing again, on a co-workers '04 Ram 3500 dualie. He replaced the hot caliper and we bled fluid thru the entire system till we were getting out fresh fluid. A few days later he was headed to Florida when it happened again with the other rear wheel, not far from my house. I picked up another caliper, we changed it out and bled the brakes. Both rotors need changing, as one has heat cracking. This is a low use truck but he will get to it soon.
Moral, go ahead and replace the calipers.
Charles
