03/12/2016
I repair a lot of brakes, and I've been seeing a problem with the front brakes on the popular Ford F-150 and F-250, model years 2005-2009. (The short version is this...if your brakes become worn to the point that you hear a grinding sound, and you decide to drive it "a couple more days", the danger factor and cost of repairs can escalate more quickly than most vehicles.)
Photo 1- Outer brake pad is worn and rusty, but top and bottom are properly positioned in the support bracket.
Photo 2- Inner brake pad is worn so thin that is has slipped out of the support bracket, and has moved upwards and is jammed between bracket and brake rotor.
Photo 3- Top view of jammed brake pad (center of photo)
Photo 4- Damaged brake caliper pistons! Brake pads have a raised section that is supposed to stay inside (the cups) of the pistons, but if it moves up and out of the support bracket, the pistons get broken, and now you will need to replace the brake caliper.
Photo 5- Those pistons are sticking WAY out of the caliper...just a few more millimeters, and brake fluid will begin to gush past the seal, and the brake pedal will lose pressure.
Photo 6- These are new brake pads and caliper. Caliper pistons are fully seated in caliper, as they should be when brake pads are new.
Photo 7- Caliper, brake pads, support bracket, shiny new brake rotor. When fully installed, caliper will squeeze the brake pads against the spinning rotor to slow the truck.
