I replaced the front pads on my 99 around 34000 miles. I used raybestos/car quest gold/premium pads. I cleaned everything down, took my time and it looked great. Then I have driven about 2000 miles and it doesn't feel right. I have pulled my wheels and looked at them, the shims have shifted. Can I just remove the shims and just go with the pad on caliper? Has anyone found slotted rotors for the '99's? I'm open for any help.



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'99 F150 SC Lariat 4x4 Deep Wedgewood Blue with Harvest Gold 2-Tone, Medium Prairie Tan Leather (getting seat repaired), all the factory options (minus captain's chairs, 6 disc cd changer, ford tonnuea and push button 4wd) Polar Bear Brush Guard, Ford Factory Steb Bars, Extang Tonnuea Cover, Duracoat Liner with Rubber Mat, Flowmaster 50 series, Superchip, K&N Filter, Airbox Mod and Silencer Removed, 2 Rockford Fosgate 8"'s and a 250 watts RF amp

 

Did you turn the rotors. As they wear, the rotors develop little grooves such that the surfac is not flat. New pads are perfectly flat and therefore, often do not completely contact the surface. It may take time for the pads to wear and provide full surface contact and thus, maximum grip.

XLTJAKE

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BLK 2000 F150 XLT 4X4 SuperCab SB, Shift-on-the-fly, 5.4L, 4R70W, 3.55, 4-Wheel disc/ABS, ORP, Keyless, PWR Seat, Slider, Soft tonneau, Cab steps.
MODS: Rhino, Molded flaps, Mobil1 0W-30, WMS Velocity tube, K&N

 

As I understand it, the shims are to help stop the dreaded squealing.

 

Can you provide a better discription for 'the shims have shifted'?

What about the new pads doesn't feel right?

While not addressing your question exactly, J.C. Whitney has (I saw the catalog this morning) Drilled rotors for less than $80 (I seem to remember something around $69) which are touted as being lighter and providing more initial braking torque.

JCW has a Ford-specific catalog that is pretty nicely stuffed with goodies -- gotta get one for myself (or steal it off my buddy's desk).

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Y2K™ Jim Gorka

Toreador Red, Keyless XLT SC SB 5.4L E4x4 4wDisc/ABS, 3.73LS, Skid, HD 7700# Towing, LT-245's on Chrome, Tube-Steps, Captain's, 6CD, Tonneau, named: "Nick"

 

I didn't turn down the rotors because they were still in good shape (no run out and such.) The feel is just all wrong. I am getting a little wiggle in the wheel once t the brakes get a little hot. They are fine in the morning when I haven't driven for a couple hours and they are cold. I also understand the shims are there to stop the squealing too, but I still get some squeak. The shims have shifted forward. The pads have those little posts that the shim sits around. It looks like I was superman and shoved the shim forward while holding the pad stationary. The metal on the shim is buckled around the posts. I would have gotten slotted rotors but they don't make them for the '99 F150, at least not yet. I called Performance Products and they don't have them yet and the sales guy said he had the brand new catalog. They have the slotted rotors for the '99 Expeditions though...lucky for them....


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'99 F150 SC Lariat 4x4 Deep Wedgewood Blue with Harvest Gold 2-Tone, Medium Prairie Tan Leather (getting seat repaired), all the factory options (minus captain's chairs, 6 disc cd changer, ford tonnuea and push button 4wd) Polar Bear Brush Guard, Ford Factory Steb Bars, Extang Tonnuea Cover, Duracoat Liner with Rubber Mat, Flowmaster 50 series, Superchip, K&N Filter, Airbox Mod and Silencer Removed, 2 Rockford Fosgate 8"'s and a 250 watts RF amp



[This message has been edited by dnale (edited 07-26-2000).]