Improving our brakes

Yes you should start changing the brake fluid already. Every front brake job should be enough depending on use.

Panic stops these days are generally controlled by the anti-lock brake system. Should not have any real heat issues with OEM.

You can never have enough braking!

One thing I also enjoy is my exhaust brake and trans tuning to slow me down. I find myself using it without any load at all.

Paul...does your friend do Dodges as well? I'm close to working on my factory brakes after adding this camper to the current truck. The brakes on my F350 was one of the main factors that lead me looking at newer trucks after a panic stop!

Great subject.. almost never addressed.

Let's face it, maxing out a truck in one area will most likely be pushing it's limits in others.

Brakes on 250's/350's are the same size. Big enough to do the job under normal circumstances. But there isn't anything extra, and sure enough for emergency.

Came back down from Waterville today on 2. Not notorious in the world of roads, but suffice to say it has it's own runaway ramp.

Wife was asking about the sign at the top (trucks must check brakes prior to descent). We talked about air brakes a bit and so on. Then ended up getting behind a 3500 with a 2 dink horse trailer, crawling down at 35 mph. Even at that, he was probably pretty warm by the time he got to the bottom, and I ask, did he have enough left in the system to complete an emergency stop if he needed to?

I was easily 50% heavier than him....and can assure you that stopping was not a problem.

Jim nailed it; bigger is better.

I read on this forum how folks are counting ounces. They travel without water to keep the weight off, then weigh their trucks with half tanks of fuel to make themselves feel better. Sure they can get down the road. Kind of like the guy who landscapes his yard, runs to the gravel pit and loads 2 yards of rock in his p/u and brags about how it works great....dragging the bumper all the way home. What happens when getting going isn't the problem? What are you going to do then?

Food for thought, great subject.

2005 and newer Fords have larger brakes that require 17" or larger rims. My '05 F250 never felt weak in the brakes even when hauling a 4000 lb TC and towing a 2500 lb trailer with no brakes at the same time even with my 33" tall 19.5's.

I upgraded mine by going with a F450. ;) I have to say that the first time the DW hammered the brakes after traffic suddenly stopped, she was very happy at how well the F450 stops.

More relevant though, I know some people have changed discs and caliper mounts for Mustangs, and there may be something similar to put larger brakes on a 2002 F250. It might require a rim change to go larger. I'd take a look over at Ford-trucks.com.

A quality rotor and a brake pad that is rated for high enough temps and has good cold bite is best.

Although he researched for a long time for Jeeps, these work fantastic for out trucks. They are a race pad that has the best cold bite you'll ever use.

He doesn't directly market for trucks, but I know for a fact they are available for Fords and Chevys. Give Blaine a call, tell him Paul Coplin sent you. Best pads you'll put on, even better than EBC and Hawk.


Black Magic Brakes