V-8 Calipers Install - Getting Your Big Brake

Swapping the brakes is a breeze. We began by jacking up and removing a front wheel.

Removing the wheel revealed the factory brake caliper.

The front wheels had been on for quite some time and were stubborn when we tried to pull them off. To prevent this in the future, we cleaned the small rust deposits using a wire brush.

We used antiseize compound on the studs and the face of the wheel hubs.

While we unbolted a stock caliper, we did not disconnect the brake line at this time. We wanted to minimize the time the line was disconnected in order to prevent air from getting into the system.

After removing the two 16mm bolts, the caliper was pulled away from the rotor and placed on the leaf spring.

The SSBC calipers were slipped over the rotors and bolted into place using the existing bolts.

With the calipers bolted up, we removed the brake line...

...inserted the new Banjo bolt and copper washer...

...and quickly connected it to the SSBC calipers.

The big aluminum calipers fit snugly onto the F-350's hub. They'll look cool parked behind the Alcoa wheels.

By comparison, the SSBC calipers are not much larger than the stock ones, but they are 11 pounds lighter and will provide improved braking performance.

Before hitting the road, it was necessary to bleed the brakes. Chris Winter of Crazy Horse Racing uses a vacuum pump to expedite the bleeding process. While the vacuum pump got out most of the air, we still used the pump/crack/release method to ensure all the air was out of the lines, and that we had a firm pedal.

When bleeding the brakes, the fluid level in the master cylinder will drop, so it's important to have some brake fluid handy. With the brakes bled and the master cylinder full, we tooled the black beauty out to seat in the new pads. The brakes felt great and stopping was much improved, especially with the trailer hitched up.