This past Sunday I replaced the brakes pads and shoes on my neighbors 98 F150. Just that, nothing else. Rotors were worn even and not too much of a lip on the edge (from the previous pads) so I figured they could go on without cutting them. (Hey it worked on my Silverado). Everything went well and when I was done I took it for a spin around the block, driving slowly. Brakes worked perfect. Not one sound or anything. E-Brake even worked 10 times better. My neighbor gets in the truck and does about a dozen 40 MPH sprints and then parked it. (Don't ask I have no idea why). So Everything was OK until last night. I came home late from work and his truck was sitting in my drive way with a note on it. "Today the brakes gave out on the highway". Oh sh*t. Well I took it around the block and the brakes were almost gone. When going in revese it felt and sounded like they were wet. You know that rubbing sound you get when you go through water and then hit the brakes? Yeah that. Also when stopping in reverse they clicked a little. GOing forward, no noise but they weren't holding well at all. You could feel the drums holding but not the front brakes. The neighbor told me they worked perfect all day until he picked up a sofa and was getting off the turnpike exit, then they sort of faded real quick on him and began making noise. So I figure:

1. He glazed them over with the sprints he was doing. If so should I just return them?

OR

2. Since I didn't get the rotors for him or have his cut they might have screwed up the pads. I guess I am screwed then.

I am pulling it apart today after work. Any input would be appriciated.

 

It never fails! When I try to be kind and help someone save money, something that shouldn't happen, happens, and always for the worse!!
Murphy's Law!!!!
Probably need rotors and new pads.

 

look at the rear backing plates and see if 1 is wet...if you replaced the shoes and not the wheel cylinders,i imagine they **** on ya...always do both...lesson learned the hard way for me!

 

Maybe the master-cylinder or antilock system went bad.

 

Anti-lock I assume would be ok since the light isn't on. But I'll look into it. I guess I should check out the front AND rears before I take any more guesses but I really does seem to be the front brakes that are having the issue. There is very "resistance" in the steering if you cut the wheel, move forward and then hit the brakes. It also seems to be the front wheels that are making the noise.

I do want to check out the wheel cylinders tho. I mean they seemed ok but I make the mistake of spraying the sh*t out of them with brake clean before I took them apart. I should have looked at the backing plate before I did this. (But there was a TON of brake dust in there).

Thanks guys!