Brake Upgrade 2012 F250

Golden_HVAC wrote:
Hi,

I would start by changing out the brake fluid, and get the Ford 24,000 GVWR motorhome brake fluid, it has the very highest 'wet' boiling point of any brake fluid.

This is good stuff. It used to be labelled "Super-DOT-3" but has been relabeled DOT 5.1

Hi,

I would start by changing out the brake fluid, and get the Ford 24,000 GVWR motorhome brake fluid, it has the very highest 'wet' boiling point of any brake fluid.

IF the brakes feel 'mushy' it can be that there is to much moisture in the brake fluid, and it sometimes boils a little bit, and steam is compressible, not brake fluid. So once the moisture boils inside the brake fluid, then it becomes steam that is compressible. New brake fluid solves this problem.

With 30,000 miles on the truck, it might be time for new and thicker brake pads. They are not that expensive (less than a tank of fuel cost - say less than $75 per axle) if you or a buddy can change them in your driveway.

You can check with Napa auto parts, and they might have a stronger brake pad. However the 'stronger' brake pads are likely to warm the rotors more, and wear away more rotor material between brake pad changes. So it is a trade off. Ford designed the brake pads, and probably spent $1,000,000 testing various brake pad materials, checking them out on the race track and Arizona test track. Hot braking tests, and at 45,000 miles measuring the rotors to see how much wear is on them.

Why change the well engineered Ford product? It is not like the Ford brake pads are a known problem. Stronger than stock parts will wear out the rotors quicker.

Good luck!

Fred.

Bedlam wrote:
FYI: The F350 DRW and chassis cab DRW use larger brakes, but none use tires taller than 33".

I should have been more clear, the Chassis Cab I drive is an F350 SRW.

travisgsf wrote:
I am running slightly larger tires on the 5th wheel. BFG Commercial TA. Also running an inch larger on my truck. 35" tires. Only reason I assumed upgrade the trucks brakes is when not towing my truck brakes feel really mushy. I only have 30k miles on the truck

Sounds like you need a a good break bleeding!!

FYI: The F350 DRW and chassis cab DRW use larger brakes, but none use tires taller than 33".

I drive a 2011 F350 SRW Chassis Cab for work that weighs 11k daily. It has no problem with stopping power or the brakes feeling mushy. Have you had the brake system checked out?

Rich

I have the 20" wheels . I was thinking larger brakes rotors calipers etc just didn't know what brand or kind

The F250 and F350 share the same brakes too..





Since you have the bigger tires, I can see where you could tell a difference in braking just driving around.

I don't know if they make any "extra heavy duty" brakes for "HD" trucks?? Do you have the 18 or 20" wheels?

If they make a larger dia rotor/caliper assembly, that would be my first thought..

Or, just press harder on the brake peddle..;)

Good luck!

Mitch

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
My first question is why?

IOW's here's the problem. The tires are the weakest link. Even with ABS the tires are the weakest link if you want to stop quicker.

Now duty cycle is a different subject. If you can put 10' brakes on your truck you can ride them for days and never get them hot. But again, why would you want that?

So, why do you want different brakes than OEM?

I'm with the OP on this one. I've read many times on this forum how some people think the F250 isn't big enough to tow many 5th wheels. The weight police are constantly harping on this. But if you look at the F350, the only difference is number of springs (fixed with air bags), tire size (fixed with higher rated tires), and the brakes. If I could find brakes that I can ride for days, then I wouldn't be so worried about steep grades and crossing the mountains. So, what brakes should we get?

I am running slightly larger tires on the 5th wheel. BFG Commercial TA. Also running an inch larger on my truck. 35" tires. Only reason I assumed upgrade the trucks brakes is when not towing my truck brakes feel really mushy. I only have 30k miles on the truck