In 2009 and 2010, the Ford Transit Connect posted record sales due to the innovative design of the vehicle, high load capacity and of course the fuel economy of a small car.
On the topic of brake jobs, the Transit Connect is the proverbial ‘walk in the park’. It is the usual single piston floating caliper in the front and drums in the rear. There are no special tools or procedures needed to replace these rotors and pads.
For replacement pads and rotors, always use high-quality replacements because the ABS and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) system in the vehicle are counting on it. If the front pad or rear shoes are not the right formulation, they could be the root cause of premature wear and potentially future stability control problems.
How does EBD work, and how is it used?
Instead of mechanical/hydraulic height-sensing valves attached to the rear axle, the Transit Connect uses the ABS modulator to regulate the pressure in the rear brakes. This is done to prevent rear wheel lock up during abrupt stops and also to add stability during all stops. This EBD system is always active.
Ford issued TSB 11-7-14 in 2011, concerning premature front brake pad wear on 2010 and certain 2011 vehicles. When the engineers at Ford “Americanized” the Transit, they left the brake calibrations alone, but changed the pads to a non-asbestos organic (NAO) brand that minimized noise. The solution was new front brake pads and a reprogramming of the ABS module on the AdvanceTrac vehicle.
If there is a DTC in the ABS module specifically for the HCU, or if there are two or more wheel speed sensor DTCs, the EBD will be disabled. When the EBD is disabled, the ABS warning indicator, the red brake warning indicator and the sliding car icon will be illuminated.
The number one complaint by Transit Connect drivers is brake pad and shoe life. Most of these complaints can be traced back to two sources. First, ABS system problems that disable the EBD and cause the system to go into a failsafe mode that does not adjust brake bias like it should. Second, inexpensive pads and shoes that do not work well together. This can cause either the front or rear to work harder.
Original piece authored by Andrew Markel, for Brake and Front End.