Data point: 89,000 miles
Front brakes 4.5 mm remaining
Rear Brakes: 7 mm remaining

Front caliper hex wrench 9 mm
Rear caliper hex wrench 6 mm

Re Wheel spin: has anyone had their wheels spin on ice & snow like a regular powertrain car?

 

Looking at the "Multipoint Inspection Report Card"
generated by my local Ford Dealer when they inspected
my 06 FEH ( 75120 miles ) they noted that at all four
corners the brake pads measured 6mm therefore they
did not need servicing. I have all the records from the
vehicle since it was purchased new and nowhere can
I find any servicing done to the brakes.

Would you know what the pads will measure when new?

 

I haven't installed them yet, but the replacement pads I bought are 17mm.

I had expected to need them by now but they're still on the shelf for now.

BTW came in last night to a very slushy driveway and was able to spin all four wheels, but not at all like might have happened with a conventional drive train.

...And it didn't get stuck!

The driveway was churned up by a very heavy propane delivery truck, so there was chunky, slushy, piles of snow all over.

 

If you want to see a very good comparison of
AWD systems take a look at this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooQRxlChvMw

My only direct experience with this was a
76 International Scout with 4WD. It had
locking hubs in the front and a clutched
rear axle differential. As explained to me
by the IH service manager if the vehicle
was in 4WD and the front hubs were locked
there would always be drive to at least
one front wheel and both rear wheels would
share 100% of the energy coming down the
drive shaft. That thing was an animal.

 

Data point:
125,000 miles
Front pads, 7 mm
Rear pads, 8mm

I have FWD and in a 2005 FEH the wheels will spin on ice if you try.

 

Wheel Spin: True, they'll spin. What I've observed is that they don't spin up like a conventional power train. Rather they spin at a much lower rate. ...And so far, even in really slushy springtime weather, I don't get stuck.

 

I wonder if that has a lot to do with the
eCVT planetary gear design? The computer
is requesting torque from either or both
the ICE and the HVDC and reading the feedback
from the ABS system. Then it applies only
enough torque to slowly spin the tires
and no more.

 

You're onto it. I believe it's because of the characteristic of the Traction motor (a synchronous motor). If the commanded rpm is, say, 20, then the wheels will go 20 rpm. The way these increase their torque is thru increasing the torque angle inside the motor and not by increasing rpm as with conventional drive trains.

So, given the eCVT Planetary gear setup and with the traction motor connected directly to the wheels and with the engine connected to the planets and not the wheels, the commanded rpm is what you get, and the computer tells the engine to produce whatever power gives you the commanded rpm.

I suspect you're about right. I'd be interested to see what Ford has to say!