spitting brake pads

[texasrainman]

Anyone else having a problem with the friction material coming off the backing plate? I have had this problem sporadically over the last few years, mainly with my 2001 F350s. Seems to usually be the right front inner pad or the right rear inner pad. Every time it has done this the other pads show even wear and have at least 50% of the pad left. I have checked for sticking guide/mounting pins and sticking pistons and have never found anything wrong. I have had this happen with Raybestos, Wagner and Motorcraft pads. Never any warning brakes work fine and then there is a severe grinding noise. When it happens on a rear pad the backing plate will usually drop down into the dust cover and the caliper pistons come in direct contact with the rotor ruining both. I never gave this much thought as the trucks are driven/abused by roofers and figured I wasnt getting the whole story, until yesterday. Yesterday I had my shop truck and a supervisors truck spit the same pad out on the same day. I personally drove the shop truck earlier in the day and the brakes were just fine, and the supervisor that had a problem with the other truck is a driver i have worked with for years and he does not have a history of abusing trucks, as a matter of fact he taken very good care of every truck he has been assigned. Just wondering if anyone else has run across this.
Thanks, Wesley

[STLstroker]

i have had the same problem about 6 months ago. I do not know what caused this. My front right inner pad snapped off and ruined my rotor completely. No warning at all. I thought it was just a bad luck issue but possibly not if you have the same problem. I have changed the rotors and brake pads and havn't had the problem yet. (knock on wood) I thought i would have had warning about the brake pads with the squeeker on them. but this doesn't help when the whole pad comes off.

[Ditty]

I too had this happen to me on the freeway about 6 months ago. The outer pad on my left front decided to seperate and get lodged, locking the tire up at 70 MPH. Thank GOD I was in the right lane. I had to back up to reseat the pad so I could get off the road. I ripped the brakes apart the next day and WOW; major scoring on the rotor! I also noticed durring the brake pad repair that my caliper piston and gasket were fubared! Thanks FORD! So, $200 later I have new front brakes and still need to save for that new rotor. Maybe a big-brake upgrade kit is in order!

[texasrainman]

Originally Posted by STLstroker

i have had the same problem about 6 months ago. I do not know what caused this. My front right inner pad snapped off and ruined my rotor completely. No warning at all. I thought it was just a bad luck issue but possibly not if you have the same problem. I have changed the rotors and brake pads and havn't had the problem yet. (knock on wood) I thought i would have had warning about the brake pads with the squeeker on them. but this doesn't help when the whole pad comes off.

Ford doesnt use squealers, and I have not seen an aftermarket pad that does either, I guess they dont need them since the friction material wont stay on the backing plate long enough to wear down to a squealer

[texasrainman]

I should also note that I have not seen this problem with the factory installed pads, only replacement pads. With my 2004s I have been getting over 100k miles out of the original pads. None of my trucks have gone more than 50k on replacement pads before the material comes off the backing plates. Unfortunately the Ford dealers around here sell only the Motorcraft replacement pads. I sure would like to know who is the OE supplier to Ford.