Brake upgrades?

[The_Auto_Tech]

I just installed the Wilwood AERO6 on my 2024 F150 XL. You can run 18 inch rims, you don't HAVE to run 20's, with the Wilwood anyway. I have a Whipple on mine and the increased brake feel and performance is pretty nice. Stock brakes weren't bad and I could have survived just fine with them as is. I am leaving my rears stock. Just not enough of an improvement over stock to change out the rears and lose my electric parking brake. TBM makes good stuff too!

Whatever you do, before you mess with it, go out and make sure you can put your truck in Brake Maint mode BEFORE YOU START! don't screw up like so many guys have by not doing this step before they start to do the work.

I decided to do a trans level check since I had the truck up. The new tires came with new TPMS sensors and by the time I had idled the truck and got the trans temp up to 206 degrees (about 15 minutes) to do the trans fluid check, the new sensors had already registered with the system, so I didn't have to do the TPMS re-learn procedure!


18 inch FUEL Rims with the new Wilwoods

Very nice! If I run into issues with the electronic parking brake on the TBM kit then I'll be looking into alternate setups.

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[The_Auto_Tech]

Has anyone looked into retrofitting the larger 350mm x 24mm rear brakes onto a truck that came with the standard 336mm x 20mm brakes? I'm sure the performance wouldn't match any of the aftermarket big brake kits, but it would allow you retain the factory parking brake.

I haven't heard of anyone doing it, but I couldn't imagine it would take more than just getting the rotors, calipers and brackets, and pads. I would imagine everything fits just fine.

 

[SALEEN961]

I haven't heard of anyone doing it, but I couldn't imagine it would take more than just getting the rotors, calipers and brackets, and pads. I would imagine everything fits just fine.

I've been tempted to try it, but the larger 350mm brakes are only used on the 9.75" 3/4 float rear axle, the backing plates attach slightly differently, and the caliper brackets use M18 bolts instead of the M16 bolts used for the 336mm brakes. I think it could be made to fit, but I'm not sure how much effort would be involved or if it would be worth it in the end.

 

[HammaMan]

Has anyone looked into retrofitting the larger 350mm x 24mm rear brakes onto a truck that came with the standard 336mm x 20mm brakes? I'm sure the performance wouldn't match any of the aftermarket big brake kits, but it would allow you retain the factory parking brake.

Needs a different caliper and mounting bracket at the very least and the parts don't just bolt up.

Also baer's $700 big front rotor upgrade kit has changed links
https://www.baer.com/products/brake_rotors/big_claw/parts/2261046

 

[sbreech]

I just installed the powerstop rotors and pads designed for towing. They are quite a bit grabbier, but It’s probably because they are a more aggressive pad. I’m very satisfied with the improved stopping.

 

[amschind]

The best reason for a brake upgrade is for crazy folks who attach 6 tons to the backs of their trucks.

 

[HammaMan]

The best reason for a brake upgrade is for crazy folks who attach 6 tons to the backs of their trucks.

SWIM had ~13 tons behind his PB for a handful of miles rescuing a 250 + its gooseneck with a CTL and attachments on deck. 250 did its own braking. Definitely wasn't me fordbot

 

[amschind]

SWIM had ~13 tons behind his PB for a handful of miles rescuing a 250 + its gooseneck with a CTL and attachments on deck. 250 did its own braking. Definitely wasn't me fordbot

Tell your friend that his experience is very reassuring...you know, if you ever cross paths again.

 

[The_Auto_Tech]

Should be installing the brakes early next week. I'll update after they are installed!

 

[SALEEN961]

It looks like swapping from stock 336mm rear brakes to stock 350mm rear brakes might be easier than I thought if you have the 9.75" semi-float rear axle. I just ordered new calipers and rotors so I'll know more shortly.

 

[The_Auto_Tech]

Update for now - I was able to get the fronts all installed, but when I went to install the rears I realized they had forgot to ship the rear brake lines.

The dust shields need removed for the front, and there's some slight trimming involved for the new two-piece rotor hardware to clear the hub flanges, as well as trimming the caliper bracket ears on the knuckle for the caliper to clear, but otherwise it's pretty straight forward. I also had the shim both front calipers slightly, but the kit comes with a ton of shims for that. I went further on the upgrade and bought the dual line-lock kit that comes with all the hardware, solenoid valves, and lines rather than just the lines that adapt to the stock hard lines. I still need to figure out how I want to wire up the line-lock solenoids and what I wanna do to active them, but that's not a pressing thing as I don't need them right away.

The thing I found with the rears is that the dust shields also need removed, but in order to remove them the rear axles need pulled out to access the bolts. Because of this I'm debating if I should just upgrade the rear diff setup as well since the axles would need to come out. TBM did overnight me the lines, so I do have them on hand at least now.

I will definitely say that their brake kits are VERY nicely finished and packaged, and their customer service has been amazing. One thing they had mentioned is that with their brake setup they had no issues with ABS system interference when I originally talked to them. When I posted a teaser picture of the fronts on one of the Facebook groups, a member asked me if I still had the stock front brakes, to which I asked why. He said the large front brakes with the stock rears on his Saleen truck was causing ABS problems, and that he wanted to just put the stock brakes back on it, so I'm kind of glad I didn't go that route at this point.

 

[Icecoldak]

I just installed the powerstop rotors and pads designed for towing. They are quite a bit grabbier, but It’s probably because they are a more aggressive pad. I’m very satisfied with the improved stopping.

Yep same here the Z36 Power stop brake package!! These are awesome and love them, best brakes I have ever had on my truck---

 

[staying_tuned]

Also baer's $700 big front rotor upgrade kit has changed links
https://www.baer.com/products/brake_rotors/big_claw/parts/2261046

Thanks for posting about these, been wanting to do something less than a true BBK and more than powerstop (loved that kit on both a RAM and Gladiator) but this seems like the best of all worlds if one is not wanting to drop a bunch on money on a decent brake upgrade.

 

[The_Auto_Tech]

Thanks for posting about these, been wanting to do something less than a true BBK and more than powerstop (loved that kit on both a RAM and Gladiator) but this seems like the best of all worlds if one is not wanting to drop a bunch on money on a decent brake upgrade.

That's probably the route I'd be going too if you aren't also upgrading the rears. After hearing about the guy having issues with the big brakes on the Saleen truck causing ABS problems, I'd be weary about doing large brakes in the front without also upgrading the rear.

 

[Flash69]

That's probably the route I'd be going too if you aren't also upgrading the rears. After hearing about the guy having issues with the big brakes on the Saleen truck causing ABS problems, I'd be weary about doing large brakes in the front without also upgrading the rear.

I’ve been following the guys with the ABS issues very closely, from what I have seen those problems no longer exist because Ford updated the brake controller software (OTA and via dealerships) and worked with the brake kit manufacturers.

In the last 6 months, Wilwood has officially released the TX6R big brake kit w/15.50” rotor (same kit as 2011-2020 trucks except brake lines) and a direct-mount Aero kit w/13.36“ rotor for 21+.
I have my TX6R kit from my old truck (installed right before ordering my new truck) that I will be installing when time permits.

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