Brake Upgrade 2012 F250

Has a certified (current and up to date) Master Brake ASE ever looked your rig over?

I figured I'd just keep the stock setup and have it best for towing

Do you realize a GM will require an obscene amount of lift to fit 35's under the square wheel wells? Ford and Ram wheel openings are more friendly to taller tires.

I think I found an easy solution. Looking at trading the truck on a 2015 Sierra HD Denali. It's got new brakes :)

Check the performance truck magazines or search online for replacement calipers or complete brake kits. I upgraded the brakes on my 1998 Chevy Tahoe and it made a world of difference. The OEM rotors were too warped at 32,000 miles to be turned and the brakes overall were terrible. The new rotors and calipers never needed work for the next 140,000 miles I put on the SUV.

GM upgraded the brakes on the 1999 models as they knew that what they had engineered was marginal at best.

hub centric rims

Since the problem started with the factory tires and wheels, this probably won't have any effect on the mushy brake feel, but it is something to keep in mind if you eventually have an alignment issue/wobble or out of balance issue.

travisgsf wrote:

patperry2766 wrote:
After 4 pages of posts, no one has asked:

#1. Is this a relatively new problem, or has the "mushy" feeling been present since you have owned the truck?

The truck has 30k miles. I'd say at about 20k miles is when I started noticing it. When towing I really notice it.

#2. You have 20" rims. Were the 20" from the factory, or if you replaced the rims/tires yourself, did you notice the mushy brake feel with the factory supplied rims/tires?

The truck had stock 20" rims but I chagne to aftermarket 20" rims at 25k miles

#3. Have you taken it back to the dealership? While brake pads are considered normal wear items and won't be covered under warranty, you might have a problem with something else that needs to be repaired/replaced

My next step is to take it to the dealer. At every maintenance check I have them check the brakes. They always say the pads are ok but I need to have them check further.

#4 What are you comparing the "mushy" feeling braking characteristics to, vehicle wise? What might be normal for a Ford would be a different feeling to someone use to driving a Chevy, Dodge etc....or the braking feel can even be different feeling from within the same manufacturers vehicle line-up

I've only had Ford trucks. I'm mostly comparing to how it used to be when the truck was newer. It seems and though they've gotten progressively more mushy as I've owned the truck.

Responses are written above. Thanks.

Since you STARTED out with good brakes when new I would recommend you have the brake pads checked to see if they have gotten stuck in the calipers..

This is a problem I have had with my 2003 and 2006 F250s.. The brake pads are entirely too tight of a fit in the calipers.. They work fine when new but over time the caliper AND brake pads develop severe rusting in the grooves and the pad ears.

Eventually the pads wear down a bit and the rust prevents the pads from moving towards the rotor.. Basically you are left with very little brakes and the pedal does not feel correct..

The "soft pedal" feeling you may be getting may be from the calipers flexing (and possibly expanding the rubber brake hoses also) as you have to press harder on the brake pedal than normal.

Even brand new pads fit very tight, so tight that it takes a hammer to put them in the caliper slots.. So you often have to file or grind them to fit correctly..

My fix to this is to remove the pads, grind or file the pad ears that fit into the caliper grooves. Take a small amount off each time until the pads slide fairly easily in the grooves with a light touch (you don't want too loose or they will rattle).

Rusting is a well known problem and I can tell you if it hasn't done it yet, IT WILL be soon..

If you fail to fix too tight of pads it will wear out one of the pads too fast and potentially ruin the rotor..

I am doubtful that you will find a Ford dealer (and your brakes may be still under warranty) which is going to be willing to refit tight pads so you may need to do yourself or find a independent mechanic who will be willing to look at it for you.

BenK wrote:

travisgsf wrote:
I have no idea what hydro boosting is so I've never done anything with that

Diesel has no venturi in it's intake system to create the vacuum for
the half ton or lower's vacuum boosted brake system

A hydroboost system is used where the assist is from a high pressure
fluid. Like the power steering pump system

Hydroboost develops higher pressures than vacuum boosters do. They can
make a vacuum booster with equal or even higher, but then the dia of
the diaphragm would be large and/or many diaphragms in series would be
needed

I believe 2012 F250 6.7 should NOT have hydroboost.. Ford went back to some sort of vacuum booster, perhaps they have some sort of vacuum pump which can supply enough vacuum.. I know they used to use a electric vacuum pump with a diesel for other accessories which needed vacuum.

F350 with 6.7 may still have it though..

Gassers do not have it.

Some info on it HERE

travisgsf wrote:
I have no idea what hydro boosting is so I've never done anything with that

Diesel has no venturi in it's intake system to create the vacuum for
the half ton or lower's vacuum boosted brake system

A hydroboost system is used where the assist is from a high pressure
fluid. Like the power steering pump system

Hydroboost develops higher pressures than vacuum boosters do. They can
make a vacuum booster with equal or even higher, but then the dia of
the diaphragm would be large and/or many diaphragms in series would be
needed

patperry2766 wrote:
After 4 pages of posts, no one has asked:

#1. Is this a relatively new problem, or has the "mushy" feeling been present since you have owned the truck?

The truck has 30k miles. I'd say at about 20k miles is when I started noticing it. When towing I really notice it.

#2. You have 20" rims. Were the 20" from the factory, or if you replaced the rims/tires yourself, did you notice the mushy brake feel with the factory supplied rims/tires?

The truck had stock 20" rims but I chagne to aftermarket 20" rims at 25k miles

#3. Have you taken it back to the dealership? While brake pads are considered normal wear items and won't be covered under warranty, you might have a problem with something else that needs to be repaired/replaced

My next step is to take it to the dealer. At every maintenance check I have them check the brakes. They always say the pads are ok but I need to have them check further.

#4 What are you comparing the "mushy" feeling braking characteristics to, vehicle wise? What might be normal for a Ford would be a different feeling to someone use to driving a Chevy, Dodge etc....or the braking feel can even be different feeling from within the same manufacturers vehicle line-up

I've only had Ford trucks. I'm mostly comparing to how it used to be when the truck was newer. It seems and though they've gotten progressively more mushy as I've owned the truck.

Responses are written above. Thanks.