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Stoppin' Steel Style

Stainless Steel Brake Puts the Halt on an Expedition
From the February, 2009 issue of Truckin'
By Dan Ward
Photography by Dan Ward
0000Tr Brake 01Z
The new kit included everything... 
   
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0000Tr Brake 01Z
The new kit included everything we needed to help the Expedition stop on a dime. New 14-inch rotors, anodized four-piston calipers, new hubs, pads, and hardware made the kit complete.
1998 Ford Expedition Wheel View
The original brakes looked... 
   
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1998 Ford Expedition Wheel View
The original brakes looked too small for our tastes, and stopping distances were not acceptable for this low-rollin' Expedition
1998 Ford Expedition Wheel View
To start the install, Phil... 
   
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1998 Ford Expedition Wheel View
To start the install, Phil removed the front wheel and tire.
0000Tr Brake 04Z
With the wheel off, we noticed... 
   
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0000Tr Brake 04Z
With the wheel off, we noticed a previous attempt to upgrade the brakes with small-sized slotted rotors and some really bad blue
0000Tr Brake 05Z
After laughing at the wannabe... 
   
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0000Tr Brake 05Z
After laughing at the wannabe paint, Phil pinched the rubber brake hose to ensure no fluid leakage.
0000Tr Brake 06Z
The caliper bolts were located... 
   
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0000Tr Brake 06Z
The caliper bolts were located on the top and bottom on the backside of the rotor.
0000Tr Brake 07Z
Using a ratchet, Phil removed... 
   
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0000Tr Brake 07Z
Using a ratchet, Phil removed the caliper bolts, then pulled off the caliper and pads. These parts were trashed because the kit comes complete with all new pieces.
0000Tr Brake 08Z
The front outer wheel bearing... 
   
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0000Tr Brake 08Z
The front outer wheel bearing was held on by a cotter pin and flat washer. With the dust cover removed, Phil loosened the spindle nut and cotter pin.
0000Tr Brake 09Z
The outer bearing was removed,... 
   
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0000Tr Brake 09Z
The outer bearing was removed, and the hub/rotor assembly simply pulled off of the spindle. They were careful to pull straight back and supported the assembly to avoid shaft pitting and scaring.
0000Tr Brake 10Z
Phil then removed the caliper... 
   
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0000Tr Brake 10Z
Phil then removed the caliper mounting bracket and cleaned the surfaces for the new Stainless parts.
0000Tr Brake 11Z
Up next, Phil mounted the... 
   
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0000Tr Brake 11Z
Up next, Phil mounted the new caliper bracket and torqued the bolts down to the required specs, using a 1/2-inch torque wrench.
0000Tr Brake 12Z
The new hub bearing assemblies... 
   
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0000Tr Brake 12Z
The new hub bearing assemblies were the installed and prepped for rotor mounting.
0000Tr Brake 13Z
The original spindle nut was... 
   
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0000Tr Brake 13Z
The original spindle nut was reused and a new cotter pin installed to keep the freshly packed bearings from shifting.
0000Tr Brake 14Z
The new Stainless Steel Brake... 
   
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0000Tr Brake 14Z
The new Stainless Steel Brake rotor comes in two pieces. Here, Phil attaches the hat (in blue) to the rotor. By using two pieces, the assembly is lighter and looks truly race-ready.
0000Tr Brake 15Z
With the rotor on the hub... 
   
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0000Tr Brake 15Z
With the rotor on the hub bearing, the new anodized four-piston caliper was mounted and secured.
0000Tr Brake 16Z
SSB includes high-performance... 
   
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0000Tr Brake 16Z
SSB includes high-performance brake pads in all its kits. Phil installed the pads and checked for fitment.
1998 Ford Expedition Wheel View
After a quick check, the... 
   
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1998 Ford Expedition Wheel View
After a quick check, the lines were bled and the wheels were remounted.
1998 Ford Expedition Wheel View
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