F150 Brake Maintenance & Accessories (1997-2017)

In regards to disc brake equipped F150s, calipers may start to leak, or more likely become frozen as the truck ages. The latter is evident when a wheel area is radiating an extreme amount of heat (yet the other wheels are at a normal temperature), indicating the piston in the caliper has frozen in a position that is constantly pushing the pad against the rotor. A major build-up of rust on the surface of the rotor, that even remains after taking your F150 pickup for a ride, is an indication of a frozen caliper where the piston is stuck retracted into the bore and is unable to push the pad against the rotor. Either scenario calls for the replacement of the caliper and the pads and rotor, too. All F150 pickups from 2005-2017 are equipped with 4 wheel disc brakes. When equipped with disc brakes, all F150s from 1997-2017 feature dual piston calipers at the front and a single piston calipers at the rear.

If your F150 is rocking stock tires and isn't subject to heavy hauling, an OEM-grade replacement caliper is sure to do the trick. Just make sure it comes with two new copper crush washers to seal the line to the caliper, otherwise you'll likely spring a leak the first time you depress the pedal.

From 1997-2005, F150s could be equipped with rear drum brakes (disc brakes were an upgrade). For these F150s that run drum brakes in the back, the hydraulic wheel cylinders that push the shoes against the interior lining of the drum can also go bad over time. Leaking end seals, or internal corrosion that prevents the piston from moving properly are common occurrences with older F150s. While somewhat annoying to swap out, thankfully a new wheel cylinder is extremely inexpensive. Evidence of a faulty wheel cylinder may manifest with a mushier than normal brake pedal, and most certainly a decrease in braking performance. You'll need to pull the drum off in order to inspect the cylinders and verify their operation.

Yes, caliper covers are indeed made for your F150 too! They serve as a great way to spruce up the look of your calipers and bring attention to the wheel wells without having to deal with messy caliper paint. They are perfect for F150's that are still using the OEM calipers and want a hassle-free way to add some flash behind the mags. Caliper covers install easily over the OEM caliper (with zero disassembly of the brake system) and are designed to work with zero interference. Blue, red, yellow, black - all of these common colors (and sometimes more) are readily available. The covers are typically a little larger than the actual caliper, thereby giving the look of a big brake kit minus the several thousand dollar price tag. They are a great and popular option for F150 owners that want more of a hot rod, or hot pickup look, but are happy with the performance of the factory braking system. Caliper covers also act as an additional barrier to brake dust, helping to keep your wheels clean.

Upgrading the soft rubber lines to braided stainless steel lines is fairly common modification made in the Mustang world. That being said, all of the benefits a braided stainless line will bring to a Mustang will also carry over to your F150. Not only do braided stainless steel lines look aesthetically pleasing, they also improve braking performance by limiting the amount of expansion that goes on inside the hose. Rubber hoses are subject to some elasticity. When pressing hard on the brakes, the line pressure increases, and in some cases, some of that braking pressure will be wasted into expanding the rubber line (ballooning it) as opposed to being transferred to the caliper. By no means is this dangerous - it is normal and accounted for - but it can result in reduced braking performance. Having the braided stainless steel line will reduce line expansion, equating to a firmer brake pedal feel and better braking action. Replacing your soft rubber lines with a stainless steel braided line is a job that can easily be accomplished at home in the driveway. No specialty tools are needed (although flare wrenches are nice to have for brake work), but the entire system will require bleeding once the lines are replaced.

Soft line length, connection type and placement of brackets can vary between years, and even between sides of the pickup. Thus each stainless steel brake line set is engineered to work with a specific year F150. Picking up a generic or universal set may not have the result intended, if able to fit at all.