Brake Pads

[Garry_Gayle]

I need to replace my F350 DRW front brake pads, recommendations? I tow heavy.

[Cummins12V98]

RoyJ wrote:
If heavy towing, get semi metallics with the highest friction code (FF or better).

Take a look at F550 pads on Rockauto - only semi mets, no ceramic or organic. Same with medium duty trucks / school buses. Ceramics don't dissipate heat well.

Correct

[RoyJ]

If heavy towing, get semi metallics with the highest friction code (FF or better).

Take a look at F550 pads on Rockauto - only semi mets, no ceramic or organic. Same with medium duty trucks / school buses. Ceramics don't dissipate heat well.

[FlatBroke]

169,000 on my 03 GMC I bought new in 02. Never have replaced the original pads. Last service I had done said they were still good. Bet they don’t make them like that any more.

[Grit_dog]

TECMike wrote:

Tried many other expensive pads and even slotted rotors, but I have found Motorcraft work best for my 2002 F-250 7.3 truck over the years.

OMG, how many sets of pads and rotors you gone through on that truck??

[TECMike]

Done a lot of towing, sometimes in the Rocky Mountains and hot Texas heat.

My favorite pads are Ford Motorcraft Superduty Extreme Service pads. I replace rotors with Motorcraft rotors rather than having old rotors turned.

Tried many other expensive pads and even slotted rotors, but I have found Motorcraft work best for my 2002 F-250 7.3 truck over the years.

[time2roll]

All four of my rotors are the original since new. 205,000 miles. Never even turned them. Slap the pads on and go.

[Garry_Gayle]

The Ford EB is not as good as the Cummins EB

[Cummins12V98]

Must be a Ford thing as the last Ford truck I owned was a 69 F100 with drums.


Or it could be the EB does not hold back much and the service brakes are dependent on much more.

[ferndaleflyer]

And most of those after market rotors are from China--right now sitting in the container log jam in CA.

[Garry_Gayle]

The rotors on my 06 F150 and my 08F450 were both one and done and I measured them myself.

[Cummins12V98]

ford truck guy wrote:
My mechanics BOTH told me that the rotors of today are pretty much 1 and done…. He has not turned 1 in a few years on newer vehicles…

They DO NOT make them like they used to ! ! ! !

That’s a load of Barbra Streisand. It all depends and all it takes is to use a caliper. Most Mechanics just want to replace parts and the fact is the OE parts are superior to what they change out to from NAPA and the like. Is you want something other than junk you need to say so and be prepared to pay up.

I have owned ONE vehicle that the rotors could not be turned and I have driven WAYYYYY over a million miles so many brake jobs under my belt with the rotors always being turned.

[ford_truck_guy]

My mechanics BOTH told me that the rotors of today are pretty much 1 and done…. He has not turned 1 in a few years on newer vehicles…

They DO NOT make them like they used to ! ! ! !

[Garry_Gayle]

my last 2 trucks when the pads wore out the rotors were close to minimum
thickness and I prefer thicker the better for heat dissipation.

[Cummins12V98]

Garry&Gayle wrote:
I think I'm going with the Akebono Euro Ultra Premium pads and NAPA premium coated rotors upon recommendation of a pro mechanic that also tows heavy.

Why wouldn’t you just turn your rotors?