Rear Rotor Warpage

[Shane Bevel]

OK, I know you all know the deal... my rear rotors warp every 18k miles like clockwork. 3 times now (four if you count the time they did a garbage job turning them) So the last time I did powerstop pads and brand new motorcraft rotors. There were no powerstop rotors available, and no ford pads available. It's been 18k miles.... warped... again.

So... searching and reading it looks like no one has found the issues (other than the fact that I was told I don't hit the brakes hard enough and the truck only uses the rear brakes)..... has anyone found a better solution? Anyone out there who has had this problem (not everyone does) found a set of aftermarket brakes that last more than 18k miles?

I seriously love the truck other than this one stupid issue. Photo just for fun.

Thanks,
Shane

PS... in case you were wondering... the warranty on brakes... is 18k miles. ha!

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[D Fresh]

With AdvanceTrac and traction control the rear brakes are used MUCH more than older vehicles.

Using the parking brake can cause problems by clamping the heated pads onto one portion of the rotor.

My suggestion. Turn off AdvanceTrak, or just don't put your truck in a position where it's activating, and stop using your parking brake.

 

[Shane Bevel]

I don't use the parking brake... and hardly ever drive the truck hard enough to turn on AdvanceTrac. I had a tech tell me that I just didn't brake hard enough and so the ABS was just using the rear brakes... which... maybe... but... dumb. Never had brake longevity issues with any of the other 5 Ford trucks I have owned. Most of them left me with north of 200k miles. Frustrating.

With AdvanceTrac and traction control the rear brakes are used MUCH more than older vehicles.

Using the parking brake can cause problems by clamping the heated pads onto one portion of the rotor.

My suggestion. Turn off AdvanceTrak, or just don't put your truck in a position where it's activating, and stop using your parking brake.

 

[D Fresh]

I don't use the parking brake... and hardly ever drive the truck hard enough to turn on AdvanceTrac. I had a tech tell me that I just didn't brake hard enough and so the ABS was just using the rear brakes... which... maybe... but... dumb. Never had brake longevity issues with any of the other 5 Ford trucks I have owned. Most of them left me with north of 200k miles. Frustrating.

That's odd.

Possible, but like you, it doesn't make sense to me.

Modern Ford's definitely use the rear brakes more from my experience. Rear pads are usually gone at the same time as the front.

It's possible that pad glazing is causing it. You could try a brake bed procedure every 1000 miles or so to remove glazing.

It's also possible that there is a manufacturing/assembly defect in the rears. Have you taken the rears apart to inspect them yourself?

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

I’ve had the wide sole of my winter or work boot catch the gas pedal while braking. Scary.

Could it be yours might be doing it the other way around and catching the brake while using the gas and effectively “riding the brakes”?

It wouldn’t take much to engage the brakes enough to heat things up and warp the rotors.

 

[Shane Bevel]

Nah.... after the last go round I started really watching my footing. Plus... I am far from the only one with the issue. Almost all of the accounts I have read have been right at that 15-18k mile mark. I think it's a combination of the ABS programming and just plain old shitty rotors. The question I have above is... does better metal yield better longevity. If not... I'll skip the high dollar rotors and throw on the 50 dollar ones from rock auto!

 

[2020XLT]

How often do you have the tires rotated? When we have our 2005 Ford 500, everytime I had those tires rotated, the guys used an impact gun to tighten the lugs and that caused the rotors to warp. I finally figured it out and from then on I requested them to hand tighten and then use a torque wrench to tighten to the correct value. Something to think about......

 

[Shane Bevel]

Not terribly often... but more importantly 5 or 6 k miles ago and I just noticed the warping. Plus, my shop uses a torque wrench.

How often do you have the tires rotated? When we have our 2005 Ford 500, everytime I had those tires rotated, the guys used an impact gun to tighten the lugs and that caused the rotors to warp. I finally figured it out and from then on I requested them to hand tighten and then use a torque wrench to tighten to the correct value. Something to think about......

 

[Silverfox]

I wonder if your truck has higher brake bias in the rear than it should. Although that should become apparent on slippery surfaces.

 

[Wytchdctr]

I wonder if your truck has higher brake bias in the rear than it should. Although that should become apparent on slippery surfaces.

I would go find an empty lot on a wet day and find out - after turning control system could off.

To OP: That sucks and has to be something odd going on. Hope you find it. I am still fighting a stupid noise... but the rear rotor issue is a bit more serious.

 

[Shane Bevel]

Yeah, I think it's honestly some combination of shitty rotors and the advancetrac applying only the rear brakes on light braking. But who knows. There was a TSB about the rear calipers hanging up, but it doesn't apply to my VIN.

 

[rfruscel]

Any chance it's related to cruise control during long downhill stretches? I took a long road trip once and I was amazed at how well it maintained my speed on steep downhill runs...figured it was using the brakes.

 

[VoodooRanger]

To the OP, have you seen the thread on how to “FIX YOU MUSHY BRAKES”?

I’m not sure if that would alleviate your braking wear issues, but it is a shot if nothing else has worked.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Any chance it's related to cruise control during long downhill stretches? I took a long road trip once and I was amazed at how well it maintained my speed on steep downhill runs...figured it was using the brakes.

I love that the cruise control does this in such a noticeable way - seems to be all transmission to me, but who knows with all the tech in our trucks. Anyway, I t’s way better than when my 5-spd manual ‘01 would get the hiccups on a downhill while on cruise. ?

 

[halligan1201]

Do you have/use adaptive cruise? It rides the brakes to maintain the space when it detects another vehicle. I deeply wish there was an audible alert when it engaged so you are aware of it. Instead, the truck just rides brakes until you notice your speed has decreased. I love the concept but the version we have is half baked.

Almost every vehicle made in the last 15 years or so is heavily rear brake oriented but your wear is ridiculous. It's also curious what he said about not braking hard enough considering the mush pedal from the factory; one can't wonder about a connection there.

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