Soft/weak Brakes!

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newtofords

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I'm brand spanking new to being an expedition owner, and I must say I love it...but I'm worried about the brake system!
The pedal is extremely soft, and there is no way to stop quickly!
Can this be fixed??
Please advise.
 

pronstar

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What year?
How old is the brake fluid?
How old are the pads/rotors?

I've had great results with Brembo plain rotors (about $70/each) and Hawk HPS pads.

I also replace my brake fluid every two years.

These are heavy trucks with somewhat marginal braking systems IMHO.
 
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newtofords

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1998 eddie bauer edition.
According to the work order, the brake pads, rotors, lines were all replaced by the person I just bought it from about 1 month ago.
If I get these rotors and pads you are talking about it provides better stopping power? I wonder how that works? I would think that the pressure would be a fluid/line master cylinder problem.
Thanks for your reply!
 

pronstar

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Rotors don't make much difference for stopping power IMHO but the factory ones are prone to warping...those days are long since gone now that I stick to good aftermarket rotors.

Pads make a big difference in brake feel and stopping power. I think the Hawk HPS pads provide great feel an stopping power...other brands likely work just as well, this is just what I have experience with.

My truck is pretty fast and I drive it fast, and I tow a heavy boat, so I think I'm pretty hard on brakes. This combo works for me.

I'm not a fan of the factory pads or even aftermarket ceramic pads, I don't like the pedal feel they offer, though with ceramics they don't dust your wheels...I'll take dust and brakes that I personally have more confidence in...all of this is just my opinion.

You may want to try a different set of pads, depending on what's on there now.

But these trucks tend to have somewhat soft/spongy brake pedals compared to cars. And the pedal travel can be a bit long.

Our trucks were designed in the early 90's, brake technology has changed drastically since then. Newer cars and even trucks have much better brakes IMHO.
 
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smo0othride

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I think ceramic pads are great. They greatly reduce brake dust and I could definitely stop faster after I got my ceramics installed. I don't remember what brand they were though.
 

JUST4FUN

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If the guy that you bought the expy from road the brakes
you could have air intrapment caused by boiling the fluid
the older the fluid the more moisture it can have in it, the
easer it is to boil.. the best pads in the world cant fix this
problem. You need to have the fluid changed and all the
brakes bled
 
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