Brake Pads and Right to Repair

[userdude]

Ah I missed that, thanks. I wouldn't be surprised if this guy just faked that screenshot though. lol

I dunno, I think it's probably real but if it isn't, whose the mook? The one stirring the pot or the ones fed by it? I think whoever they are probably feels this way but is conflating separate issues because reasons, of course. I've been there, been that guy. Now I guess the threat is they morph into a troll because they didn't get the response they wanted, that's a whole other thing.

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[Kevin Scarbel]

The time is coming where I think I should replace the brake pads on the '21 Badlands. I started the process by searching around and didn't really find a whole lot of info about what pads came on the Bronco from the factory so here is a thread on that subject. I've seen a few posts about avoiding Hawk pads as they don't have clips. And a few about Powerstops which apparently don't really do much better than the stock pads. I actually can't complain about the stock units as they've held up for over 66K miles and that's pretty good. They brake well enough for a vehicle that 5K pounds and has 35's. far better than my Cummins Ram 2500 did but that's a whole different story.

The internet isn't really giving up a lot of details on the factory bits but I think, read hope, that I found what I'm after. I went to oemfordpartsdirect after being led by the search engine. It appears the front pads are KB3Z-2001a listed as Fords number for the Motorcraft BRF-1874. And on the rears I believe it is, BRF-2061. Why I'm not certain of that part number is a story in itself.
While trying to find the parts you will need to use their part configurator to search. Which is fine, except it isn't very straightforward. The VIN search yielded a no parts found error. So I follow the drop down menu and fill in the year model trim etc..
It populates the key groupings such as disc pads and rotors but this actually is only the rear brakes. The fronts are located on the front brakes which is a few items lower on the list, but kind of not obvious. Apparently they are part of a different group? Either way the parts are added to the cart, there are no alternative options as only one pad works on these Broncos regardless of trim. I place the order and ....
a day later get an email saying they need the VIN for the order or it will be cancelled? So I call them. Why a VIN? There are no other options. This is the part they directed me to so what's the issue? Whatever I'll ask. The parts guy is pretty curt with me an says they can't send the part cause they would be held accountable for any accident if the part was the wrong item for the vehicle. He states it's a safety regulation! I'll let you all think on that but I call BS. We go back and forth a bit on that and he finally says he just needs the last 8. Okay whatever I give it to him. He then says see you ordered the wrong part for the rears! So I regurgitate the process I took to find them and he says I don't know what happened but now it's right on the order. Fair enough. What is the new part number? He doesn't give me an answer. So I have to send a reply to the email listing the VIN again and I ask for the new part number so I can keep the paperwork in line for the future. And to pass along what I've learned. The following day, day three now, I get a reply that doesn't say anything about the wrong part number rather it says the following:

THE BRAKE PADS ON YOUR ORDER ARE A VIN SPECIFIC MATCH TO THE VIN PROVIDED.



THANK YOU

In common speak this is Ford Monitoring who is working on their own vehicle. For those of you unaware, they are heavy in the process of lobbying Congress to remove the right to repair your vehicles. Look it up and enjoy that rabbit hole. It's but one of many efforts of the manufacturers colluding with the government to try and control your rights and abilities as private citizens.

Sorry for the Political rant but it is what it is.

Again I call this all BS and it's quite irritating to have my right to repair tracked by the manufacturer.

I'll update with the parts I receive just to confirm they are fit for purpose.

The best brake pads for your Bronco come in a box that says "Ford".

Front / KB3Z-2001-A
Rear / MB3Z-2200-D

The secret to long "wheel end" component life is keeping the heat down. Heat is generated during braking, and dissipated out the side of the brake pad material. As the brake pad wears and becomes thinner, less heat is able to escape out the side of the pad (i.e. brake heat increases as brake pads become thinner).
By replacing brake pads more often, you keep heat down and greatly extend the life of your rotors, calibers, bearings, seals and so on.
Ford brake pad sets are relatively cheap ($65) and easy to change. With a mix of city and highway driving, I change pads every 30,000 to 35,000 miles.
And when I see that traffic light ahead change from green to yellow, I immediately take my foot off the accelerator and coast up to that now red light which greatly reduces brake wear while increasing mpg.

 

[23OBX2.7]

The best brake pads for your Bronco come in a box that says "Ford".

Front / KB3Z-2001-A
Rear / MB3Z-2200-D

The secret to long "wheel end" component life is keeping the heat down. Heat is generated during braking, and dissipated out the side of the brake pad material. As the brake pad wears and becomes thinner, less heat is able to escape out the side of the pad (i.e. brake heat increases as brake pads become thinner).
By replacing brake pads more often, you keep heat down and greatly extend the life of your rotors, calibers, bearings, seals and so on.
Ford brake pad sets are relatively cheap ($65) and easy to change. With a mix of city and highway driving, I change pads every 30,000 to 35,000 miles.
And when I see that traffic light ahead change from green to yellow, I immediately take my foot off the accelerator and coast up to that now red light which greatly reduces brake wear while increasing mpg.

+1

 

[Knownman]

I've been posting off and on since I preordered on the first day Ford launched the Bronco. I pass along my experiences both pro and cons. Not everything is sunshine and lollipops. I had no intention to post here until this experience got me thinking. I decided to get a set of OEM brake pads because they worked well for me this far. I've not been much of a fan of the variety of aftermarket products through the years so that is why I went to OEM. Then after I order and pay for the parts from a Ford dealer I get a follow up email requiring the VIN or they will cancel the order? This is why I posted my experience of the process.

This became a question for me and I thought it would generate a healthy conversation so read into that what you will. I'm not calling out on the dealer. Not trying to say who's right or who's wrong. I'm just kind of surprised this is how it works now and thought its worthy of debate.
I have bought brake pads, rotors, calipers etc over the years on anything from a Mercedes, Cadillac, Pontiac, Chevy, Dodge, Ram, Ford, Volvo etc... I've done my fair share of brake pad replacements. I do not ever recall having to provide a VIN for any of those purchases especially not with the threat of canceling the order. Maybe your experiences differ? I don't know. But what I do query about and thought was worthy of discussing here was the idea that everything we do, read, shop for, travel to etc is a now a valuable commodity. This one purchase does not mean the world is upside down but it may be indicative of Ford harvesting data that they don't actually need. I'm buying a wear item part. Not too far off from a tire and It's my decision as to what I use that part on, not theirs or anyone else's. I could be using it on another vehicle like a late model dirt car or whatever. Yes race cars do use parts from all sorts of other brands. The point is it's none of their business. They are perfectly capable of maintaining an inventory and understanding the consumption rate of parts without needing to know where said product actually ended up.
The more we just accept whatever terms for whatever reason and don't question, why did that change? The quicker we will find ourselves being subject to decisions made by others that should have no relevance to our lives.

It's just a talking point!

 

[dougcjohn]

I've been prompted for VIN on my Super Duties and Bronco on Parts web sites. Just ignore them and order the parts. One did email me once to question the part / vehicle: TPMS sensors for F450 since they don't come OEM. That involved a yes it's correct, please send.... Done.

Low miles on my BRaptor, but the brakes are strong! It brakes quick and hard, takes a conscious effort to apply lightly so not over brake. I thought the F450's were strong, not compared to Bronco.

I've looked at the aftermarket performance 6 piston system and don't understand the need if the OEM brake as strong as they do.

 

[87-Z28]

I would personally never hand out my VIN to anyone. PERIOD. I keep it 697,564 bit digitally encrypted. They can determine your blood hematocrit from your VIN. Next thing you know you’re abducted by aliens and getting experimented on. Not doing that. Well actually you won’t know since they erase your memory.

wait, what’s a VIN??

 

[AZ_Liberty]

I've actually never had na issue with returning parts on Rockauto.

Had to fight them for weeks on returning a part for my Frontier. They said it was my fault for ordering the wrong part, I said it was their fault because they had the wrong part in their system.

They sent me the MAF for the V6, not the I4, but their parts configurator had the V6 part number listed under the I4.

Not that it matters. Rock Auto stopped shipping to my state because the State is suing them over back unpaid taxes.

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