brake upgrades

[Frank Q]

Guys tell me about brake upgrades for 2005 Trac.

This is my first FORD truck, always had GM trucks.

THESE BRAKES JUST DO NOT LAST.



i know i'm heavy on the brakes but in the GM's the brakes lasted longer.

 

[Tom Schindler]

I have had no trouble. I have found, no matter the make, OEM brakes leave alot to desire.



I have found installing premium pads, such as Duralast Gold or Performance Friction Carbon Metallic pads last a long time and provide great braking.



Ironically enough, at 23,000 miles, I had to changed the brakes, including rotors, on my Father-in-Laws Chevy truck.





Tom

 

[Todd Z]

The longest lasting pad i had was aftermarkets, The factory pads stick...



Best thing is a good rotor and a nice pad, and flush your brake fluid, not just bleed them but replace the fluid, it is amazing how much better the brakes work..



Also if you have 18 inch rims or larger there is a Cobra brake ( 13 inch rotors) kit for the ST.....



Todd Z

 

[Frank Q]

Thanks Tom.

@ 43000 on my 05 trac, i'm going on my 4th set of pads, and probably Rotors as well.

 

[Frank Q]

Thanks Todd.

the wheel/tire setup is stock. i was thinking about getting rotors with the slots or holed.

Is there a difference between the two performance wise?

 

[Dingo]

Yes. Drilled ones crack.

 

[Tom Schindler]

frankQ,



Never personally seen a set of drilled rotors crack. Ran a set on my Escort for 70,000 miles with hard use (100-0 MPH) and never had an issue.



If I were you, go to NAPA and buy a set of rotors made in Canada. Very nice rotors. Invest in either Performance Friction Carbon Metallic pads or the Duralast Gold pads. You should be fine.





Tom

 

[Dingo]

<img src="http://www.powerslot.com/images/dealerpages/cracked_rotor.jpg">

 

[Tom Schindler]

Dingo,



What was the circumstances behind that crack?



Was the rotor used in racing aplications? Was the rotor cherry read and then the driver ran the wheels through deep water? Was the rotor improperly heat treated? Were the pads burnished-in properly?



A picture proves nothing.



There is a reason cars like Corvette's, Lamborghini's, Porsche's, etc. use drilled rotors.





Tom

 

[EddieS'04]

I have had freinds using drilled rotors on the street. They all cracked sooner or later.

Frank sloted rotors will chew up pads faster. Also 43k and the 4th set of brakes. You must be very hard on brakes or getting cheap stuff.

 

[Dreman]

I buy cheap stuff and still get 40-60k per set. $22 for lifetime pads at Autozone. I'm on my third set at 135k miles.

 

[NickyVandries Belgium]

my 2005 ST is on his 3th set of brakes :wacko:

 

[eric huskey 2]

Todd what is the part # for the cobra kit?

 

[Richard L]

All cross-drilled rotors are prone to cracking that is why most brake professionsls do not recomend them for street use. These are the guys from Brembo, Baer, etc, who are making the best brake systems you can buy. You can imagine what kind of quality you are getting from brand-X made in China, etc. I would be less worried about the lead paint.



Slotted or dimpled rotors are sufficient for street use, and even they are not necessary for good braking. As previously stated, good quality, aftermarket brake pads, good quality rotors, fresh fluid, and if you want to go an extra step for more positive braking, add some braided stainless-steel brake hoses at all 4 wheels.



I you really want some braking power, get some of them 13" rotors with 4 or 6 piston calipers, and the braided stainless steel hoses. Of course that will set you back about $3000 not including the new 17"-18" wheels and tires necessary to clear the larger rotors and calipers. But heck, it's only money. :blink:



...Rich

 

[FlipTrac_511]

So what would be the best aftermarket non-slotted/non-cross drilled rotors?

 

[Dingo]

Cryo-treated OEM. Oh, whoops. Do I sell those too?

 

[WXMotorSports DecalsPartsAccs]

Cryo for the street is a waste of money.

 

[Kevin Lang]

I've never heard of cryo-treated rotors before...freezing for 60 hours can really affect the rotor's construction for it's entire service life?

 

[WXMotorSports DecalsPartsAccs]

We run them for racing and they do prolong the life. But, too expensive for the street. Plus, you don't get enough heat into the brakes driving daily.

 

[Kevin Lang]

So you freeze the rotors once, for 60 hours, and then you install them with up to "300%" service life, and you never have to freeze them again?



Something seems really weird about that.