ASAP rec thread for SUV brakes

[heymrdj]

Truck (2004 Expedition EB 2WD) needs new pads and rotors. I do pull often in the 4-5k range. The Motocrafts have given great service and last nearly forever but they dust horribly (even washing the wheels once a week seemed to be in vain). Is there anything better? Looking at about 500$ for the Motocraft rotors and (I believe) semi-metallic pads. Anything better out there for the money?

Thanks! ^_^

 

[SSSnail]

I usually go with Brembo blanks and Performance Friction Z carbon or Carbon Blue street pads, those are what I used. Some people like Akebono ceramics, too. All those options will give you good stopping power with little dust.

 

[heymrdj]

I usually go with Brembo blanks and Performance Friction Z carbon or Carbon Blue street pads, those are what I used. Some people like Akebono ceramics, too. All those options will give you good stopping power with little dust.

I had read into the brembo blanks, sadly they do not seem to make blanks for trucks (13.5" front and 13" rear). The only way to get brembos on an expedition are with 4K big brake kits.

 

[SSSnail]

I had read into the brembo blanks, sadly they do not seem to make blanks for trucks (13.5" front and 13" rear). The only way to get brembos on an expedition are with 4K big brake kits.

That is odd. I guess Brembo just doesn't care about trucks.

 

[heymrdj]

That is odd. I guess Brembo just doesn't care about trucks.

Well they make the kits for AMG and Jeep SRT's which have huge brakes, but I imagine those are very much the big brake kits they sell for 4 grand that you can actually buy for the Expeditions . I see Stoptech and EBC sell blanks:

http://www.buybrakes.com/c-76-brake-rotors.aspx

 

[Zivic]

I usually go with Brembo blanks and Performance Friction Z carbon or Carbon Blue street pads, those are what I used. Some people like Akebono ceramics, too. All those options will give you good stopping power with little dust.

I agree with this.

if you can't find the brembo blanks centric have done me well.

 

[heymrdj]

I do see good things about Centric. Rock Auto carries all the Centric series for my truck. The price difference is fairly miniscule so looking all the way up to the high performance/towing group they recommend Centrix 125 High Carbon cryo treated blanks.

http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/brak...lain+125+Series+Cryo+Treated+Rotor&cat=Rotors

They also have drilled and slotted SportStop models that work with Expeditions as well.

The 125's are only 71$/ea for the front and 62$/ea for the rears. Can I just pair any good quality ceramic pads with the rotors or are rotors designed around certain types of pads? This is my first time piecing out brake work as you can tell . Akenbo ultra premium ceramic pads seem to be 40-75$ depending on axle.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Considering that you tow, I personally would stick with factory brakes and pads rather than experimenting.

 

[Jimzz]

For brake pads the Wagner SevereDuty are good for vehicles that have a lot of weight. The Centric Fleet Performance Pads are also very good but cost a little more.


For rotors the Raybestos Advanced or Centric High Carbon Rotor will work well. They are both high end rotors not the mid or economy ones. I had the Raybestos Advanced on my titan as the titans were known for brake issues.

Rockauto and Amazon should carry those.

 

[bruceb]

If you want to lower dust, look into ceramic pads. Stopping power is excellent and dust build up on the wheels is said to be much less. On my own car, I use Performance Friction Carbon Metallic Pads. Now the spec from GM is more ceramic pads.

 

[Jimzz]

Semi-met are better for towing and high heat. True Ceramic pads are best for cars and trucks that don't tow much.

I also use, and love, Performance Friction Carbon Metallic Pads. Found someone selling 2 sets on craigslist once for what 1 set would have cost me. Now my 73 Chevy has some great pads.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Semi-met are better for towing and high heat. True Ceramic pads are best for cars and trucks that don't tow much.

I also use, and love, Performance Friction Carbon Metallic Pads. Found someone selling 2 sets on craigslist once for what 1 set would have cost me. Now my 73 Chevy has some great pads.

This. Semi-metallic pads are best for towing, they handle the heat better than ceramic pads (which are NOT the same material as ceramic rotors). Ceramic pads are designed for low-dust and quiet operation, not for heat resistance or the best bite.

As for the rotors, I've had good luck with Zimmerman.

ZV

 

[heymrdj]

I've got a little more time to find brakes now, told the dealer to screw off when they came back with their brake quote (235 parts rear with 170 labor and 195 parts front with 130 labor). 300$ in labor alone?! Anyways our fleet mechanic told me that they only charge 60$ to do a full brake install for employees (all 4 rotors and 4 sets of pads), all I have to do is bring him what I want installed and drop it off for a few hours (should have asked about this first!). Anyways I can source the Motocraft rotors (BRRF115/116 rotors) and pads from Amazon. I'm still trying to find out if the original pads on Expeditions are ceramic or semi's, seems that most sources say they come with ceramics from the factory (they've long been changed though, pretty sure NAPA parts). Anyways most of the ford forums say people got a noticeable improvement with pad change, most using Wagner Thermoquiets. Didn't matter if it was new rotors or not as long as pads were changed that was the best increase over stock braking. I do see semi-metallic being the general recommendation so I might go that way.

So with renewed vigor still looking for info . I thought I settled on the Centric 125 rotors and Thermoquiet ceramics yesterday but still not sure.

 

[Jimzz]

^

Yea skip the ceramics. My old Titan came with them. Ripped them off and put on new Raybestos Advanced rotors and good semi-met pads. Can't remember if they were the Wagner SevereDuty, but they were in the High Performance section at rockauto.

 

[heymrdj]

^

Yea skip the ceramics. My old Titan came with them. Ripped them off and put on new Raybestos Advanced rotors and good semi-met pads. Can't remember if they were the Wagner SevereDuty, but they were in the High Performance section at rockauto.

Wagner has a sever-duty semi-metallic for the high performance. Wagner also has a semi-metallic (the MX instead of the QC) Thermoquiets. I'll look into it more but I thought I remember reading that Expeditions would dust horribly with the severe duty ones (sacrifice all quiet and dusting in the name of power).

 

[Jimzz]

Wagner has a sever-duty semi-metallic for the high performance. Wagner also has a semi-metallic (the MX instead of the QC) Thermoquiets. I'll look into it more but I thought I remember reading that Expeditions would dust horribly with the severe duty ones (sacrifice all quiet and dusting in the name of power).

All semi-met will make dust. But even some ceramics make a pile of dust now. Just because it says ceramic does not mean its the classic/original ceramic style pad. Many ceramic use iron in them and dust up now.

 

[leper84]

Powerslot rotors w/ some Hawk PC truck pads

 

[cardiac]

Powerslot rotors w/ some Hawk PC truck pads

Go over to www.Ford-trucks.com and do a search for Hawk pads. For towing, there are none better. I have them on my Excursion, and tow an 8700lb 30' camper with it. The verdict isn't in on whether to use good, plain rotors (NAPA United rotors), or drilled and slotted like the Powerslots. Most favor the plain....

Coming down a 7pct grade with a 4 1/2 ton camper behind you is not the time to wonder about your brakes

 

[heymrdj]

Go over to www.Ford-trucks.com and do a search for Hawk pads. For towing, there are none better. I have them on my Excursion, and tow an 8700lb 30' camper with it. The verdict isn't in on whether to use good, plain rotors (NAPA United rotors), or drilled and slotted like the Powerslots. Most favor the plain....

Coming down a 7pct grade with a 4 1/2 ton camper behind you is not the time to wonder about your brakes

I've been a member ever since I bought my truck (2007) http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/member.php?u=423787 Indiana chapter member and honorary Georgia chapter member.

I do see alot of good things about the Hawk pads, but I see alot of the Expeditions moving from Hawk to Wagner TQ semi-metallics with better results. I don't quite move the loads you true land barge's get. I've got a 7k loaded camper to pull and the weight of the expedition itself. Apparently Hawk's squeal like a school bus for most expedition users but it could also be the swapping of pads and not properly cleaning the rotors. The Powerslots would sure look sexy but justifying 600$ in just rotors is tough when the truck barely moves once a week . Plus they scrape the pads so apparently pad wear is pretty intense.

Loving the input so far! :biggrin: