2010 FORD F550 brakes

Note: If air is released from your tires, the Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS) indicator light may illuminate (if equipped).
Mud and water
If you must drive through high
water, drive slowly. Traction or
brake capability may be limited.
When driving through water,
determine the depth; avoid water
higher than the bottom of the hubs
(if possible) and proceed slowly. If
the ignition system gets wet, the
vehicle may stall.
Once through water, always try the brakes. Wet brakes do not stop the
vehicle as effectively as dry brakes. Drying can be improved by moving
your vehicle slowly while applying light pressure on the brake pedal.
Be cautious of sudden changes in vehicle speed or direction when you
are driving in mud. Even 4WD vehicles can lose traction in slick mud. As
when you are driving over sand, apply the accelerator slowly and avoid
spinning your wheels. If the vehicle does slide, steer in the direction of
the slide until you regain control of the vehicle.
If the transmission, transfer case or front axle are submerged in water,
their fluids should be checked and changed, if necessary.
Driving through deep water may damage the transmission.
Refer to Transmission temperature gauge in the Instrument Cluster
chapter for transmission fluid temperature information.
If the front or rear axle is submerged in water, the axle lubricant should
be replaced.
After driving through mud, clean off residue stuck to rotating driveshafts
and tires. Excess mud stuck on tires and rotating driveshafts causes an
imbalance that could damage drive components.
“Tread Lightly” is an educational
program designed to increase public
awareness of land-use regulations
and responsibilities in our nations
wilderness areas. Ford Motor
Company joins the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land
Management in encouraging you to help preserve our national forest and
other public and private lands by “treading lightly.”Driving
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Driving on hilly or sloping terrain
Although natural obstacles may make it necessary to travel diagonally up
or down a hill or steep incline, you should always try to drive straight up
or straight down. Avoid driving crosswise or turning on steep
slopes or hills . A danger lies in losing traction, slipping sideways and
possibly rolling over. Whenever driving on a hill, determine beforehand
the route you will use. Do not drive over the crest of a hill without
seeing what conditions are on the other side. Do not drive in reverse
over a hill without the aid of an observer.
When climbing a steep slope or hill,
start in a lower gear rather than
downshifting to a lower gear from a
higher gear once the ascent has
started. This reduces strain on the
engine and the possibility of stalling.
If you do stall out, do not try to
turn around because you might roll
over. It is better to back down to a
safe location.
Apply just enough power to the
wheels to climb the hill. Too much
power will cause the tires to slip,
spin or lose traction, resulting in
loss of vehicle control.
Descend a hill in the same gear you
would use to climb up the hill to
avoid excessive brake application
and brake overheating. Do not
descend in neutral; instead,
manually shift to a lower gear. Your
vehicle has anti-lock brakes, apply
the brakes steadily. Do not “pump”
the brakes.
Driving on snow and ice
4WD vehicles have advantages over 2WD vehicles in snow and ice but
can skid like any other vehicle. Driving
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Should you start to slide while driving on snowy or icy roads, turn the
steering wheel in the direction of the slide until you regain control.
Avoid sudden applications of power and quick changes of direction on
snow and ice. Apply the accelerator slowly and steadily when starting
from a full stop.
Avoid sudden braking as well. Although a 4WD vehicle may accelerate
better than a two-wheel drive vehicle in snow and ice, it won’t stop any
faster, because as in other vehicles, braking occurs at all four wheels. Do
not become overconfident as to road conditions.
Make sure you allow sufficient distance between you and other vehicles
for stopping. Drive slower than usual and consider using one of the lower
gears. In emergency stopping situations, avoid locking of the wheels. Use
a “squeeze” technique, push on the brake pedal with a steadily increasing
force which allows the wheels to brake yet continue to roll so that you
may steer in the direction you want to travel. If you lock the wheels,
release the brake pedal and repeat the squeeze technique. If your vehicle
is equipped with a Four Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), apply the
brake steadily. Do not “pump” the brakes. Refer to the Brakes section of
this chapter for additional information on the operation of the anti-lock
brake system.
WARNING: If you are driving in slippery conditions that require
tire cables, then it is critical that you drive cautiously. Keep
speeds down, allow for longer stopping distances and avoid aggressive
steering to reduce the chances of a loss of vehicle control which can
lead to serious injury or death. If the rear end of the vehicle slides
while cornering, steer in the direction of the slide until you regain
control of the vehicle.
Maintenance and Modifications
The suspension and steering systems on your vehicle have been designed
and tested to provide predictable performance whether loaded or empty
and durable load carrying capability. For this reason, Ford Motor
Company strongly recommends that you do not make modifications such
as adding or removing parts (such as lift kits or stabilizer bars) or by
using replacement parts not equivalent to the original factory equipment.
Any modifications to a vehicle that raise the center of gravity can make
it more likely the vehicle will roll over as a result of a loss of control.
Ford Motor Company recommends that caution be used with any vehicle
equipped with a high load or device (such as ladder racks or pickup box
cover).Driving
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the transmission vent tube is submerged may allow water into the
transmission and cause internal transmission damage.
Once through the water, always dry the brakes by moving your
vehicle slowly while applying light pressure on the brake pedal.
Wet brakes do not stop the vehicle as quickly as dry brakes.
SNOWPLOWING
Ford recommends that the Super Duty F-Series used for snow removal
include the Snow Plow Package Option.
Installing the snowplow
Weight limits and guidelines for selecting and installing the snowplow can
be found in the Ford Truck Body Builders Layout Book, Snowplow
section, found at www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas. A typical installation
affects the following:
• Certification to government safety laws such as occupant protection
and airbag deployment, braking, and lighting. Look for an “Alterer’s
Label” on the vehicle from the snowplow installer certifying that the
installation meets all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards (FMVSS).
• The Total Accessory Reserve Capacity (TARC) is shown on the lower
right side of the vehicle’s Safety Compliance Certification Label. This
applies to Ford-completed vehicles of 10,000 lb. (4,536 kg) GVWR or
less. This is the weight of permanently-attached auxiliary equipment,
such as snowplow frame-mounting hardware, that can be added to the
vehicle and satisfy Ford compliance certification to FMVSS. Exceeding
this weight may require the auxiliary equipment installer additional
safety certification responsibility. The Front Accessory Reserve
Capacity (FARC) is added for customer convenience.
• Rear ballast weight behind the rear axle may be required to prevent
exceeding the FGAWR, and provide front-to-rear weight balance for
proper braking and steering.
• Front wheel toe may require re-adjustment to prevent premature
uneven tire wear. Specifications are found in the Ford Workshop
Manual.
• Headlight aim may require re-adjustment.
• The tire air pressures recommended for general driving are found on
the vehicle’s Safety Certification Label. The maximum cold inflation
pressure for the tire and associated load rating is imprinted on the tireDriving
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7. If the fluid is low, add fluid in small amounts, continuously checking
the level until it is between the MIN and MAX range. Refer to
Maintenance products specifications and capacities in this chapter for
the proper fluid type. Be sure to put the cap back on the reservoir.
BRAKE FLUID
• Vacuum boost system
• Hydroboost system
The fluid level will drop slowly as the brakes wear, and will rise when the
brake components are replaced. Fluid levels between the MIN and MAX
lines are within the normal operating range; there is no need to add
fluid. If the fluid levels are outside of the normal operating range, the
performance of your brake system could be compromised; seek service
from your authorized dealer immediately. Maintenance and Specifications
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A
Accessory delay ........................126
Air cleaner filter ...............388–390
Air conditioning ........................102
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ........................................185
and child safety seats ............186
description ..............................185
disposal ....................................189
driver airbag ............................187
indicator light .........................189
operation .................................187
passenger airbag .....................187
passenger deactivation
switch ......................................190
Ambulance packages ....................7
Antifreeze (see Engine
coolant) .....................................365
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ......................269–270
Anti-theft system ..............159, 162
arming the system ..........160, 162
disarming a triggered
system .....................................163
triggering .................................163
Audio system
(see Radio) ......................42, 44, 51
Automatic transmission ............275
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................275
fluid, adding ............................384
fluid, checking ........................384
fluid, refill capacities ..............391
Auxiliary Input Jack ...................58
Auxiliary power point ...............123
Axle
refill capacities ........................391 B
Battery .......................................363
acid, treating emergencies .....363
jumping a disabled battery ....331
maintenance-free ....................363
replacement, specifications ...390
servicing ..................................363
Bed extender ............................145
Belt-Minder
.............................181
Booster seats .............................212
Brakes ........................................269
anti-lock ...........................269–270
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................270
fluid, checking and adding ....383
fluid, refill capacities ..............391
parking ....................................270
shift interlock ..........................274
trailer .......................................256
Bulbs ..........................................113
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....391
Cassette tape player ...................42
Cell phone use ............................10
Child safety seats ......................199
attaching with tether
straps .......................................207
in front seat ............200, 203, 206
in rear seat ......200, 203, 206–207
LATCH .....................................207
Child safety seats - booster
seats ...........................................212
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............347
instrument panel ............349–350
interior .....................................351 Index
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Instrument panel
cleaning ...........................349–350
cluster ........................................14
lighting up panel and
interior .....................................109
J
Jump-starting your vehicle ......331
K
Keyless entry system
autolock ...................................149
keypad .....................................157
locking and unlocking
doors ........................................159
programming entry code .......157
Keys ...................................160–161
positions of the ignition .........264
L
Lamps
autolamp system .....................107
daytime running light .............108
fog lamps .................................107
headlamps ...............................107
headlamps, flash to pass ........108
instrument panel, dimming ...109
interior lamps .........................113
replacing bulbs ...............115–119
LATCH anchors .........................207
Lights, warning and indicator ....14
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........270
Limited-slip axle .......................273
Load limits .................................244
Loading instructions .................251
Locks
autolock ...................................149 childproof ................................152
doors ........................................148
Lug nuts ....................................330
Lumbar support, seats .....168–169
M
Manual transmission .................278
fluid capacities ........................391
reverse .....................................279
Message center .....................24, 32
english/metric button .........27, 36
system check button ................36
warning messages ...............27, 37
Mirrors ...............................126–127
automatic dimming rearview
mirror ......................................126
fold away .................127, 129–130
side view mirrors (power) .....127
signal .......................................130
Moon roof ..................................138
Motorcraft
parts ..............371, 390
N
Navigation system .......................97
O
Octane rating ............................375
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................360
P
Parking brake ............................270
Parts (see Motorcraft

parts) .........................................390
Pedals (see Power adjustable
foot pedals) ...............................131Index
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