Improved brake performance

[HeyNiceSporty]

Since getting my Sport Trac in November, I have been sorting the typical issues an older vehicle will have and am not done yet. I really am enjoying driving it.

I have had a brake fluid flush on the "to-do" list for too long and finally let a trusted shop do it, since I seem to keep moving it down the list. LOL. Like many have stated, this thing needs MORE BRAKES. He did the flush and then pointed out that my front hubs were worn and sloppy. This in turn, allows the rotors to push the front brake pads back into the caliper a small (but significant) amount, creating a delay before they touch the rotors.

Between finally doing the fluid flush and fixing the hubs, the brakes are much improved. Testing the brakes the next day, any items placed on a seat ended up on the floor. ( this included a Backpack with laptop, iPad, etc ... oops, they survived).

I wanted to post this for anyone else who feel their brakes are seriously lacking. It helped a lot.
I still think I want to swap to a bit bigger front rotor size if there is an easy solution. If anyone has suggestions, I'm listening ...

 

[06bluez]

Front brake upgrade

Im running into dead ends in my research. I'm trying to find the size of the 2003 - 2005 Aviator and the size of the 2006 - 2010 Explorer front rotors. I want to make sure that the 06-10 Explorers didn't get the 03-05 Aviator brakes from the factory seeing how they came later. My Explorer...

www.explorerforum.com

You can upgrade to Aviator front rotors, which takes you from a 12" to a 13" rotor, along with lighter aluminum knuckles. See that thread for details. i've been running the Aviator brakes for 7-8 years and its a good improvement.

 

[Nedwreck]

Great writeup 06bluez! Now I'm thinking about a brake upgrade myself lol (07 ST 4.6 4x4)

Linky goodness to thread: Explorer to Aviator front brake upgrade

 

[HeyNiceSporty]

Great writeup 06bluez! Now I'm thinking about a brake upgrade myself lol (07 ST 4.6 4x4)

Linky goodness to thread: Explorer to Aviator front brake upgrade

Thanks!
That was what I needed to see. There was mention of Aviator brakes elsewhere but no detail as to what year, etc. This answered a lot of questions.

 

[Nedwreck]

Thanks!
That was what I needed to see. There was mention of Aviator brakes elsewhere but no detail as to what year, etc. This answered a lot of questions.

Not a problem friend! firefly1246 was kind enough to write about it, 06bluez mentioned it, and I can't remember if I used the site's own search function or used google to search the site here lol. There's so many threads it's hard to find stuff sometimes.

Let us know how it goes, or if you come up with any tips add them to that thread please

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