2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Autozone Performance-friction pads

[DieselDoghouse]

Well, its finally happened!! The Doghouse had a Performance-Friction pad that completely delaminated. Luckily its only been a couple of days and the rotor, though scored, is serviceable. Anyone with these pads watch them carefully!!!

 

[Joe G.]

Thanks for the heads up. My experience (so far) with Performance Friction pads has been pretty good. I did notice that I use a little more pressure for slow speed stops than stock or other replacement pads. Maybe they work better when they have a little heat build up. A couple of weeks ago I came around a turn on US101 and there were stopped cars because of a wreck. The brakes worked really well. Locked up all four wheels (RWAL works when it wants to) and executed a hook slide. Let off to get it straight and hit them again. The turn caused the hook slide, no brake pull as far as I could tell. No observed fade at all. Pretty impressive looking skid marks. So far wear is even on the pads which is a first time for me. Usually the outside pads wear out and the inside pads are good in spite of keeping the pins clean and lubed. These pads are wearing even and lasting well.

 

[LSMITH]

How long were the pads on the truck? I am on the third set of PF pads, getting about 45K out of them, and have never had them even close to delaminating. I do change them at a year to 14 months though. I do a lot of driving in heavy road salt, and really get the brakes hot occasionally with no ill effects seen.

 

[dseabaugh]

My experience with one pad wearing more than the other on these dodges and brake pull when the pads are worn down has been that the sloppy machined calipers are often too tight or have been machined in a taper so that the caliper gets tight and can't slide anymore. If you give the caliper and the frame it slides in a good fileing that usually cures that for good. I think brake pad delaminating is a Federal Highway traffic safety reportable issue. Others may be experiencing the same failure.

 

[redram]

This is probably NOT a common problem with the PFC pads.

I have over 120,000 on them (although I have also serviced the calipers to correct the sticky right side common problem) and have also installed new totors at 100,000.



I also use the PFC racing pads on my road race car and have never had a delaminating problem.



If you had one go away, my guess is that you have a dragging caliper that is building up excessive heat which caused the damage. For the price, jsut R & R them with a set of rebuilts from NAPA or whoever but my guess the problem was nopt the pad but the caliper.



Autozone warranties my pads and right now my cost per set is below 12. 00. I can't really complain for that ROI.



36 for original set replace 2 times.

 

[BPINE]

What is the proper fix for the sticky right side Caliper? I cleaned and lubed everything like I have always done but the outer pad seems to be wearing faster.

 

[LSMITH]

Blair, take a file and clean up the nastiness that passes for machining these days on the caliper and knuckle slide surfaces. Take care not to change the angle of the slides, and stop filing when you get about 60% clean smooth surfaces. Basically you are taking the high spots off the slide surfaces. Lube them very lightly with some brake specific grease. Lube the caliper pins and sleeves with the grease at the same time.



If you need more detailed info let me know.

 

[BPINE]

LSMITH thanks for the info I will give it a try.

 

[Joe G.]

It's a good idea to replace the pins with new ones while you are at it. My originals had got a little rough so I replaced them the last time I did a brake job. This last time I also put some grease in the hole the pins slide in before installing the pins. The pads are about a quarter worn. Even on all pads.