Upgrading front brakes!!

[Flame]

Ok guys, some of you may remember I had complete front brake job done by Authorized NAPA service center when we broke down in Florida. When I got back to Texas we still had a bad pull to the right only upon braking. Took it to a Texas Napa shop because we get a lifetime warranty parts and labor through Napa. They replaced pads and hoses AGAIN to be safe and all got better. I have put probably 25,000 miles on it since then and on a trip today it has gotton a BAD pull to the right on braking again. And...the brake rotor must be getting out of round again because it is "jumping " pretty bad when stopping along with the pull to the right. My question is....even at lifetime warranty should I just get an upgrade brake system for better stopping? What is everyone using? What size or brand pads and rotors should I go to? I'm getting tired of brake problems!!!!

[deppstein]

Flame...there is actually a fair amount of information that you can find elsewhere here on the Forum about upgrading front brakes. Do a search...but, if memory serves me, there is a good thread under General Chinook originally titled "Anyone upgraded brakes" (that somehow morphed into "Antone upgraded brakes)."
I don't recall what year/model you have, but a number of us have gone to upgrading the original front brakes with the larger brakes that came out in 2008. You need to swap out everything...brakes, pads, calipers, rotors...but, in my opinion, it is well worth it. The newer brakes are much beefier. And, with the weight of our Rigs on the e350 chassis (5 1/4 Ton generally), we can use all the stopping help we can get.
At the suggestion of several folks on the Forum, I originally went with the PowerStop (Z-36, KC 471736) kit. I had them installed at around 60,000 and they definitely worked better than my original stock brakes, BUT, at about 86,000 they began to give me a shutter going down steep grades. Turned out that the rotors had warped, so I got rid of the PowerStops and went with a Motorcraft kit (still the beefier 2008 brakes) at the recommendation of my mechanic. I have had them for about 10,000 miles now, with a fair amount of Colorado mountain driving and they are holding up really well. Hope this helps.
David

[chin_k]

Flame:
David have a good suggestion there, and it is what I will go with when it is time for me to get my front brake service.

However, being a jack, I would go bring it back to Napa and ask them to get do another round of parts and labor, until they got so sick and tired of you going there every few months that they will refund you the money and ask you to go away for good.

Let them know your situation (multiple past visits), and see if they got smart this time, and get it done properly. If they still do a crapy job with crapy part, they will be just wasting everyone's time. But honestly, being that brake is such a important thing, I may just going to write this off as a lesson learnt

[Flame]

They never replaced the rotors...only turned them. I won't allow them to be turned again because they are probably getting too thin for that. That is why if I need new rotors I want to beef it up to larger and better stuff. I can do the work myself. ( Didn't have that option when broke down in Florida)!! So just need to know WHAT to by to upgrade.

[68camaro]

I upgraded to Powerbrakes.....very happy.

[sm350bl]

I didn't see if it was mentioned but have they replaced the calipers yet? They can cause a hard pull.

[Flame]

Yes, replaced calipers twice!! Along with all new brake hoses and wheel bearings and seals too!!

[chin_k]

Yes, replaced calipers twice!! Along with all new brake hoses and wheel bearings and seals too!!

Bring the rig back to them, and make them bankrupt!

[Flame]

Parts places including Power Stop keep asking me if I have a E-350 econoline or a E-350 club wagon?? Which ones do we have? Mine is a 1998 Concourse. Also they keep asking do I have 2 wheel or 4 wheel ABS?? How do I know that? Also if I order a complete kit with rotors do I need to tell them I want it for a 2008 model or tell them I have the 1998 model if I want the "beefier" setup??

[chin_k]

They are not into RV, so they don't know the cutaway version. The safest thing to do is to give them the VIN, and see if they can figure it out themselves, such as year (is it really a 1998?). Make sure they don't charge you restocking fee, or let them take the full responsibility.

If you have drum brake, then it has no ABS. Not too sure otherwise, but you can look for the ABS sensor on the wheel if you know what you looking for.