Fwiw, early 2000s E350 and maybe E250 uses all the same brakes but is 8x6.5.
Yes, I have learned a bunch there.
E250 were pretty much all gas engine, have a semi float rear end but use the same brake parts as the full float E350 rear ends.
They were an option from 1996 on, but looks like 96 & 97 have different calipers. they are pinned not bolted like the newer trucks.
not every van in that era will automatically have a disc brake rear end.
looks like at least 98 to 2003 will work. I had heard up to 2005.
For the most part my drum brakes worked really well for years, but first problem I had was trying to stop at the bottom of a hill and had no brakes. Brake fade got me. We were stuck in slow moving traffic, I could not gear down far enough to stay off the brake pedal. Being a rare occasion I left it. Seems like every since then I could never keep the drums working properly, I would get pulling left or right when I hit the brakes. But randomly, no mater how many times I put all new stuff on again. So I gave up went to discs. That was 2003 I believe. After working out some bugs it has been a flawless system. never had brake fad, no more pulling left or right when hitting the brakes. I still think it can be better.
Just bought a semi float rear end for $75. have all the parts I need, now need to start cutting apart.
Currently I have the single piston eldorado calipers, a 99 expedition master cylinder and hydro boost. System works really well. It was not easy getting this far. Just can't leave chevy parts on my ford though. lol
I think my biggest complaint is Power steering pump, hydro boost. Needs some porting or better pump or both. That is on the list as well.
I have taken an ir temp gun and checked rotor temps. Under normal braking the rear barely works. Under hard braking the rear is working harder than the front. That seems messed up to me. the 99 expedition master cylinder has been the closest match to the front and rear caliper piston volumes. Don't know where else to go. Make my own master cylinder?
In my mind they all 4 should lock up at the same time with much less pedal effort, and do more equal work.
This dual piston setup is a step to a completely equal 4 wheel braking system. I have a topper and a lot more weight in the back than standard pickups so what works for others doesn't work for me the same. Just want the best braking possible for my setup and for the pedal to feel like my 2014 super duty.
I will have more master cylinder options to match my piston volumes with the dual piston calipers.
Over the last 20 years with this truck it is hard to tell what gets messed up. Would be nice to go back to completely stock and start over because now you don't know if you are fighting poor engineering, faulty parts that I put on, or is everything working properly and this is all the better it gets?
Seems like fixing one problem creates another, going to a factory style setup using the E250 rear brakes I hope gets me back to some kind of baseline instead of always wondering where the failure is. I can start over with all new Ford quality parts and I will always be able to go to the book and know what master cylinder it should have, brake pads, everything that Ford engineered. then I can just tweak it to get the balance and pedal feel I want.
For most people drums brakes, disc conversion, hydroboost, any of it will be good enough, work great, they will be happy. I am like 10 levels above that point.
