F-250 Super Duty Brake Problems

by Horacio Garcia
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red truck front view on metal background image by patrimonio designs from Fotolia.com

The Ford F-250 Super Duty pickup truck has had several recalls in recent years but none of those recalls deals with the brake problems that some owners have reported. The 2008 F-250 does have 77 published technical service bulletins attached to it and one of those bulletins cites possible brake problems.

Brake Binding

One complaint recorded on Carcomplaints.com states that the brakes begin to bind and pull to one side when the brakes are engaged. This is attributed to an overheated caliper but no reason is given for this problem. When a brake caliper overheats, it remains in the open position, causing the brake pads to constantly rub against the rotor, creating more heat and wear. This causes the F-250 to pull to the side because the pads are partially engaged at all times. The F-250 owner would have to take the truck into the dealership to have this brake problem corrected.

Brake Pedal Travel

Edmunds.com published a technical service bulletin issued by the manufacturer that addresses excessive brake pedal travel on the F-250. This could be attributed to a master cylinder malfunction. Excessive pedal travel creates less pressure on the brake pads, preventing the truck from stopping at the normal distance. The bulletin recommends that the mechanic perform a bypass test and pinpoint test on the master cylinder to determine what is causing this symptom. Once this brake problem is detected in the F-250, the owner should take the truck into the dealership to have this test conducted on the master cylinder.

Brake Bite

A minimum of one report of brakes biting on the F-250 is recorded by Carcomplaints.com. Brake biting is when the brakes engage quicker than expected, causing the F-250 to brake quicker than intended. This creates a hazard for the vehicles on the road behind the F-250. No specific reason has been given for this brake problem in the Super Duty but the report explains that the problem may stem from a defective the inner emergency brake cable. When this cable is not working properly, it causes the F-250 brakes to be engaged during operation of the truck. An owner who experiences this problem should take the truck immediately to a dealership for repairs.

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