Brake Options

[KiloWhiskey]

So I am needing to replace the Brakes on my F150. I am wanting to upgrade my brakes with a whole kit. I have been reading that the stock f150 rotors aren’t the best so I’d rather replace them while my pads are being replaced. With all that being said (I have been searching around) I am looking for a good upgrade. I tow quite a bit and would like a little more comfort in knowing my brakes will perform better. I know nothing about brakes to be honest so I’m looking for suggestions. I’m open to new calipers too if that’s actually something people recommend. Any help is appreciated. Thanks again.

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[My 2ND Ford]

So I am needing to replace the Brakes on my F150. I am wanting to upgrade my brakes with a whole kit. I have been reading that the stock f150 rotors aren’t the best so I’d rather replace them while my pads are being replaced. With all that being said (I have been searching around) I am looking for a good upgrade. I tow quite a bit and would like a little more comfort in knowing my brakes will perform better. I know nothing about brakes to be honest so I’m looking for suggestions. I’m open to new calipers too if that’s actually something people recommend. Any help is appreciated. Thanks again.

Ok, here is my 2 cents on brakes and my opinion is from working 40 plus years at Napa auto parts. If you are looking at upgrading your brakes, consider a complete kit from one of the performance manufacturers such as Power stop and Brembo. Always do pads and rotors, stay away from drilled rotors, they have a tendency to crack. Slotted are fine. If you do upgrade the front brakes, don't forget the rears, especially if you increase the size of your front rotors. I would consider upgrading the calipers as well.
When deciding on pad and rotor composition , ask the manufacturer how the brakes preform when wet with rain or snow. Most brakes preform well when wet, that's what people expect, but there are combinations that do not preform when wet until they have dried off with a few rotations of the rotor and that causes a slight delay in brake action, causing some panic in people when you don't expect it. I speak from experience with this.
Search thru the forum site and you should be able to find some info on brake upgrades. If you do decide on pads, rotors and calipers, make sure everything will fit with your current brackets and wheels. Good luck.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

Another point to remember. If you want really good braking performance, expect dust & don’t expect long pad/rotor life as factory.

 

[Fox146]

I’ve used powerstop kits with no issues. Not sure I noticed any real improvements as basically it’s all the same size maybe better pads etc. But they worked good and looked good

 

[HammaMan]

How much you wanting to spend? The 15.5" rotor kit requires 20" wheels and runs about $2500. If you're just wanting new rotors/pads, I've put ~dozen Z36 kits on vehicles with no issues on everything from small toyotas to F250s. There's slightly less thermal mass in drilled/slotted but they also have better cooling area due to more surface area.

The biggest issue I've seen with any brakes is people not understanding how to actually brake on extended grades. One of my sisters is the biggest offender and I haven't found a set of rotors/pads she can't glaze over. Also be sure to clean the caliper guide pins / recesses of grease / material and lube them up.

 

[SilverSpur]

Might want to look at brake pad material. I have been using ceramic over composite for many years. It's just a thought.

 

[jhelrey]

Toss Bosch rotors and ceramic pads on it and be done.

 

[Eskram]

https://tbmbrakes.com/products/11-2...-duty-front-drag-racing-brakes-6-lug-012-0329

 

[missileboy]

Wilwood make a nice 6 piston kit for the f150 fronts. ~1600 for the calipers, rotors, pads and SS flex lines and new mount bolts.

 

[HammaMan]

Wilwood make a nice 6 piston kit for the f150 fronts. ~1600 for the calipers, rotors, pads and SS flex lines and new mount bolts.

Yes, but the clamping force (aka piston volume) is the same while also using the same rotor sizes thus you're not really gaining anything. Upgrading to braided lines on the factory calipers provides the same performance.

 

[KiloWhiskey]

How much you wanting to spend? The 15.5" rotor kit requires 20" wheels and runs about $2500. If you're just wanting new rotors/pads, I've put ~dozen Z36 kits on vehicles with no issues on everything from small toyotas to F250s. There's slightly less thermal mass in drilled/slotted but they also have better cooling area due to more surface area.

The biggest issue I've seen with any brakes is people not understanding how to actually brake on extended grades. One of my sisters is the biggest offender and I haven't found a set of rotors/pads she can't glaze over. Also be sure to clean the caliper guide pins / recesses of grease / material and lube them up.

I do have the powerboost, does that matter when it comes to replacing rotors?

 

[Captain Dirty Beard]

I do have the powerboost, does that matter when it comes to replacing rotors?

You might be surprised what a new set of rotors, and Semi-metallic pads do for you. OEM Pads are a ceramic compound, and prioritize quite operation and low dust. Semi metallic pads will bite much harder, and provide more fade resistance, at the expense of more dust and potentially a bit more noise.

If the brakes on your current setup can stop the wheels from spinning/engage ABS, then you are at the maximum braking force anyway.

There are fixed caliper kit options available, but the advantage here is really only thermal management for repeated stops, towing heavy loads.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/WIL-140-17000-R

 

[Marcsrx]

You can lockup the wheel with OE calipers/rotors. The issue is heat which causes fade. To solve this you need a pad with a higher friction coefficient, and fluid with a higher boiling point.

I'd stay away from drilled rotors, not due to cracking but because you are actually reducing the friction surface. Slotted are better because it ensures the pad surface remains "clean".

People tend to think you need massive calipers/rotors for good braking performance but its just not the case. Larger rotors act as a larger heat sink, and potentially increase the leverage of the caliper depending on mounting and pad, but again if you can lockup the wheel with a given brake setup this is not your issue.

You are also limited by the grip your tires can generate BTW.

 

[Graygoose2021]

Ditto on TBM....but expensive.

 

[starcommtrey1]

Ok, here is my 2 cents on brakes and my opinion is from working 40 plus years at Napa auto parts. If you are looking at upgrading your brakes, consider a complete kit from one of the performance manufacturers such as Power stop and Brembo. Always do pads and rotors, stay away from drilled rotors, they have a tendency to crack. Slotted are fine. If you do upgrade the front brakes, don't forget the rears, especially if you increase the size of your front rotors. I would consider upgrading the calipers as well.
When deciding on pad and rotor composition , ask the manufacturer how the brakes preform when wet with rain or snow. Most brakes preform well when wet, that's what people expect, but there are combinations that do not preform when wet until they have dried off with a few rotations of the rotor and that causes a slight delay in brake action, causing some panic in people when you don't expect it. I speak from experience with this.
Search thru the forum site and you should be able to find some info on brake upgrades. If you do decide on pads, rotors and calipers, make sure everything will fit with your current brackets and wheels. Good luck.

I use drilled AND slotted rotors on my 350 and tow HEAVY. I have had zero issues with them and would recommend then all day long.

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