Ranger Raptor Brakes performance?

[Tailwagger]

Ex racer here as well. Don't do a lot of highway driving, so I can't comment on behavior at higher speed. At lower speeds, IMO the less than stellar performance in hard stops seems to be a combination of the tires, a lot of weight on the nose, not much in the rear and possibly the ABS system calibration. Personally, if I really felt the need to address the issue, after changing rubber, the first thing I'd do is look into a leveling kit to get the rears more involved.

Probably worth noting that I'm 95% of the time in the normal shock setting. Things might be a tick better in sport mode as presumably theres a bit more resistance to weight xfer in the former than either normal or baja mode.

I mention ABS calibration as panic stops from 50 or so wind up locking the fronts long enough that I actually have felt the need to modulate my foot pressure (having raced a vintage 911 with no ABS for many years old habits die hard I suppose). My suspicion is that the RRs ABS is calibrated more for off rather than on road ie. loose surfaces rather than pavement, hence more of a willingness to allow some lock up on asphalt. Regardless, lockup, by definition, says there's more pad/caliper/rotor than tire, hence my thinking that after changing rubber, finding ways to limit weight xfer forward would likely yield more of an improvement than a BBK (at least for normal road use).

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[daytoncarter]

For me, this is more ideal. In low stress with fine motion control, brake pedal is very responsive. For high stress (e.g. emergency braking), no difference.

That would be jarring for passengers, and dangerous in spirited driving. Most professional drivers actually consider linear braking to be superior.

Anyway, the truck does have a brake support program that looks like your "ideal" but it depends on inputs such as fast brake pedal application and/or forward collision warning to use the electric brake booster to assist in braking force.

 

[jordantii]

Would love to know if we could log the brake pressure sensors. Not even sure if we have them.

 

[Hande]

Would love to know if we could log the brake pressure sensors. Not even sure if we have them.

Interesting idea. I am sure there is a sensor and you can read the signal with FORScan. I remember seeing it somewhere, need to find out again…

 

[jordantii]

Interesting idea. I am sure there is a sensor and you can read the signal with FORScan. I remember seeing it somewhere, need to find out again…

That’s different than being able to log it against other sensors via the CAN bus. I’m gonna ask some friends in the data logging world and see if they have fords CAN bus protocols. We used to but I’m not sure what has change.

 

[purdyd]

When I was researching I found the RR to have the longest braking distance of any (North American) truck in its class.

IMO brakes are one of the weak points on the truck, I have formed the habit of getting on the brakes early but we are talking about a quick 5000lb truck too.

the raptor is a heavy truck

the base ranger didn’t set any stopping distance records either.

I have noticed it seems I have better brake response these days st 6k miles.

I used to almost go through the windshield when I drove my wives car the first time I tapped the brakes and not anymore.

I have also discovered the beauty of sport mode, not that it goes fast, but that it downshifts earlier like I would do on a manual transmission.

put it in eco mode, and it coasts forever and a lot more brakes to stop.

i find the brake issues that others are experiencing very concerning.

 

[MGKRISTON]

Not knowing where the brakes are going to catch is a huge issue. Tapping them to go around a round a bout is useless. We’re not driving race cars here folks. Just trying to navigate safely. Driven hundreds of cars and never felt a brake pedal like this. Most catch and stop the vehicle with 1” of throw. Normally you can let up on the pedal as you coast to a stop. Ranger pedal keeps sinking until you finally stop and not in your desired stopping area. Very dangerous and not normal.​

I have a MY 25 Lariat and the brakes are good, albeit pedal pressure is more than I'm accustomed to with my other car.

If you jam the brakes it stops quickly and confidently, but my truck is opposite some other members like MGKRISTON who are complaining about a "soft" pedal.

Test drove a 2025 and brakes were as most of you folks are describing…meh! They did not however continue to move to the floor when braking.

the raptor is a heavy truck

the base ranger didn’t set any stopping distance records either.

I have noticed it seems I have better brake response these days st 6k miles.

I used to almost go through the windshield when I drove my wives car the first time I tapped the brakes and not anymore.

I have also discovered the beauty of sport mode, not that it goes fast, but that it downshifts earlier like I would do on a manual transmission.

put it in eco mode, and it coasts forever and a lot more brakes to stop.

i find the brake issues that others are experiencing very concerning.

8 Common Reasons Why Your Brakes Feel Spongy When Pressed (With Fixes And Repair Costs) | The Motor Guy

 

[MGKRISTON]

8 Common Reasons Why Your Brakes Feel Spongy When Pressed (With Fixes And Repair Costs) | The Motor Guy

Great article which explains all the causes of soft mushy erratic brake pedals. The Ford tech didn't even check for air in the lines. I read somewhere that some Rangers had left the factory without complete brake bleeding processes.

 

[RCMUSTANG]

Bleeding on previous Gen and bedding in the brakes made a big difference on the 19-23's. I installed big 6 piston with 2 piece rotors on my 19 and it felt much, much better. Once my Raptor arrives I'm going to see if they end up fitting on the new truck.

 

[purdyd]

Not knowing where the brakes are going to catch is a huge issue. Tapping them to go around a round a bout is useless. We’re not driving race cars here folks. Just trying to navigate safely. Driven hundreds of cars and never felt a brake pedal like this. Most catch and stop the vehicle with 1” of throw. Normally you can let up on the pedal as you coast to a stop. Ranger pedal keeps sinking until you finally stop and not in your desired stopping area. Very dangerous and not normal.​

Test drove a 2025 and brakes were as most of you folks are describing…meh! They did not however continue to move to the floor when braking.

8 Common Reasons Why Your Brakes Feel Spongy When Pressed (With Fixes And Repair Costs) | The Motor Guy

that is certainly not how my brakes work. I’ve never had it go all the way to the floor.

and they catch in the same place.

easy to let up the brake for a soft stop.

i can understand why your are not happy with your brakes.

i would say air, contaminants, maybe a an anti lock brake issue?

i cant believe a dealer service department wouldn’t figure out there was a problem.

you have the regular vacuum brake boost system right?

 

[MGKRISTON]

that is certainly not how my brakes work. I’ve never had it go all the way to the floor.

and they catch in the same place.

easy to let up the brake for a soft stop.

i can understand why your are not happy with your brakes.

i would say air, contaminants, maybe a an anti lock brake issue?

i cant believe a dealer service department wouldn’t figure out there was a problem.

you have the regular vacuum brake boost system right?

I do. Puzzling because sometimes its ok and most times it's not. thanks!

 

[Bigmikey65]

A Ranger Lariat weighs in at around 4500 pounds, the Ranger Raptor weighs in at around 5300 pounds. Can the brakes be the same in both vehicles ? From what I read the Raptor was primarily developed in Australia with help from Ford Performance. Yeah most pickup trucks have crappy brakes. But this is a performance vehicle. And a really cool one. I would find in perplexing why Ford Performance would not update the brakes in the Raptor over the Lariat - or any other Ranger.

 

[Flak]

Out of curiosity are any of the drive modes known to change brake sensitivity? Mostly driving in normal and slippery during winter, so wondering if that could be a difference if others are in sport all the time.

 

[Bigmikey65]

From the roads tests that I read , 70 to 0 braking in the Raptor is 217 feet. 70 to 0 braking in the Lariat is 190 feet. Considering the 800 pound difference between the two vehicles this would tend to make one think that the brakes in both vehicles are probably the same.

 

[daytoncarter]

From the roads tests that I read , 70 to 0 braking in the Raptor is 217 feet. 70 to 0 braking in the Lariat is 190 feet. Considering the 800 pound difference between the two vehicles this would tend to make one think that the brakes in both vehicles are probably the same.

Another major difference is tires. The KO2s are not good handling tires on pavement and the KO3s are hardly better. The Lariat and below come with a road-focused Goodyear AT tire.

I'm 100% certain that the pad/rotor is capable of locking the Raptor tire/wheel on dry pavement so braking force isn't the issue, as you mentioned weight but also grip are the limiting factors.

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