Anyone do their own brakes? I have a 2003 Southwind, F53 chassis with 19.5" tires. I do the brakes on my cars and trucks but have never attempted to do a motorhome. Besides being bigger, what else should I look for? I am going to make the attempt soon.

I replaced front hoses and calipers on a 1996 F53 and it was no worse than a car....just heavier. The old version had slides for the calipers that was different than any auto, but not complex. If you can do car brakes, you can do the F53. Just plan ahead on how to support parts if you're not going to disconnect the brake line.Fred

The 99 F53, still had the slide things to remove like Fcooper mentioned, just take a small bolt out that is locating it & with a punch & hammer drive the slide thing out.You'll need a big type C clamp to compress the pistons back in on the calipers.NAPA has the pads, runs around 80 bucks per axle.You'll spend more labor time removing the tires & rims than changing out the pads.While your at the parts store, go ahead & get some hand cleaner as well, cause you will get dirty.Hey, this might be a good tip for Mike on "Dirty Jobs" tv show, he was asking for things he could use for the show.Neil

I think this chassis has the driveshaft-mounted parking brake, so do one end at a time and block the wheels on the end you leave on the ground so it can't roll. You'll need a block, or just use an old brake pad, to push both pistons in the dual-piston caliper back at once. Change any flex hoses. Our E450 has one to all four wheels. Shouldn't be a bad job is you can handle the wheel removal and the torque on the lug nuts. Rear disk brakes are a whole lot easier than rear drums integrated with the hubs. Drive axles had to come out and wheel bearings dismantled.

Buy new seals for the front and repack the bearings while your at it. I think the preload on the bearings is like 79 foot lbs. if I remember right. Wheel lug nuts are 150 ft.lbs.

F53 Brakes | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

C-Leigh_Racing
Explorer
Jun 12, 2014
The 99 F53, still had the slide things to remove like Fcooper mentioned, just take a small bolt out that is locating it & with a punch & hammer drive the slide thing out.
You'll need a big type C clamp to compress the pistons back in on the calipers.
NAPA has the pads, runs around 80 bucks per axle.
You'll spend more labor time removing the tires & rims than changing out the pads.
While your at the parts store, go ahead & get some hand cleaner as well, cause you will get dirty.

Hey, this might be a good tip for Mike on "Dirty Jobs" tv show, he was asking for things he could use for the show.
Neil
fcooper
Explorer
Jun 12, 2014
I replaced front hoses and calipers on a 1996 F53 and it was no worse than a car....just heavier. The old version had slides for the calipers that was different than any auto, but not complex. If you can do car brakes, you can do the F53. Just plan ahead on how to support parts if you're not going to disconnect the brake line.

Fred
352
Explorer
Jun 12, 2014
Prices and heavier!!!!!!!!!

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F53 Brakes

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