Brake Caliper/Rotor Replacement

[Mike Wenrich]

Seems I recall Genos carrying brake rotors and calipers but I don't see them listed now. Also I recall a thread on these that folks recommended but I cannot find that. My 2004 will be needing new rotors I believe and I figured I would do the whole job at once. Any thoughts on where to look? I saw one reference to Akebono pads but not much beyond that and they are made in China. Would like to buy quality very good stopping brakes made in the USA.

 

[Yo Hoot]

Powerstop

 

[Mike Wenrich]

Looked them up on Amazon and the kit for front and rear, minus the calipers, is 558 plus Kalifernia tax. Double that with the calipers. But free shipping. An ad for Detroit Axle came up with this and they are also ceramic bit a couple hundred less. Powerstop made in China but Detroit does not say where they are made. Any thoughts or feedback on Detroit Axle?

 

[GrantP]

Do some poking around on Detroit axle parts first. Not a lot of positive reviews and plenty of BBB complaints. At least some of the manufacturing is in China. That said, I've never used them.

I have been using Powerstops on several vehicles and have been nothing but happy with them. I currently have them on my 3rd gen.

 

[BigPapa]

Any thoughts or feedback on Detroit Axle?

Never heard of them. I have heard of Powerstop.

 

[Darkbloodmon]

I saw one reference to Akebono pads but not much beyond that and they are made in China.

Where did you read that? Akebono Is a Japanese company with many United States Manufacturing Facilities. They are made in the states. Akebono is an OE pad supplier to a multitude domestic, European, and Asian car manufacturers.

I put Akebono on just about all the vehicles I work on for family, friends, and customers.

ACT965 :front caliper set on an 03 Dodge 2500 "Made in USA"

Before ordering drilled or slotted rotors (which PowerStop is popular for) call you're local shops and garages and ask if they turn drilled and slotted rotors. Many shops don't because the holes and groves catch on the blade (I don't remember the formal name for it) and chip it. I know specifically the shop I worked at didn't and many others in my area as well because of that and the rotors had to be replaced.

I personally would recommend any solid faced fleet duty spec'd rotor. Centric, Raybestos, Bendix etc. all reputable brands with good quality control.

You're better off buying parts from the chain auto parts stores than from Detroit Axle. Akebono is the best brand if not one of them in the Bake OEM and Aftermarket.

 

[Yo Hoot]

Where did you read that? Akebono Is a Japanese company with many United States Manufacturing Facilities. They are made in the states. Akebono is an OE pad supplier to a multitude domestic, European, and Asian car manufacturers.

I put Akebono on just about all the vehicles I work on for family, friends, and customers. If you've ever machined cast iron, it is quite soft and comes off in small soft chips. Not sure holes and slots would be an issue especially with today's carbide grades meant specifically for interrupted cuts if even needed.

ACT965 :front caliper set on an 03 Dodge 2500 "Made in USA"

Before ordering drilled or slotted rotors (which PowerStop is popular for) call you're local shops and garages and ask if they turn drilled and slotted rotors. Many shops don't because the holes and groves catch on the blade (I don't remember the formal name for it) and chip it. I know specifically the shop I worked at didn't and many others in my area as well because of that and the rotors had to be replaced.

I personally would recommend any solid faced fleet duty spec'd rotor. Centric, Raybestos, Bendix etc. all reputable brands with good quality control.

You're better off buying parts from the chain auto parts stores than from Detroit Axle. Akebono is the best brand if not one of them in the Bake OEM and Aftermarket.

Many shops don't have their rotor lathes anymore. Rotors became so cheap it was easier to just replace with new.

 

[JR]

I just bought a set of these

https://nrsbrakes.com/galvanized-steel-brake-pads/

I'm tired of dealing with rusted pads. Pads rust, slides rust, next thing you know everything is jacked up and tighter than two coats of paint. I'm really hoping these will outlast the linings... I don't know if I've ever actually wore a set of pads out. They always end up needing replaced due to corrosion. I feel the Mopar premiums were great performers but in the end they just couldn't hold up to the elements.

 

[Blakers]

I have had my 03 since new and I've probably replaced the rear rotors 4 times so far, and the front ones twice. I've tried everything and the ones that have held up the best are the NAPA
Adaptive One Coated Brake Rotor
Here is the url for the rears.
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/UP_880139CR?impressionRank=3

Don't waste your money on the EBC rotors that are made in England and claim the never rust. Mine lasted about two years and were rusted bad. They were more money than these NAPAs.

As far as calipers, I like the NAPA ones as well because you get a new mounting bracket included for the same price as just the caliper. And the brackets wear out too.

For pads, I have the NAPA pads on the back. They work and wear well, but they do squeak some. I just bought the Bosch pads on Amazon for the front.

I used my truck to tend gas wells for three years and it ran every day on dirt roads, off road in ruts and deep mud up to the axles. I've had calipers get loaded up with grit from the dirt roads and eat right through the rotors. Always a problem with rear discs in these conditions.

 

[Darkbloodmon]

these NAPAs

400 on rotors alone for the rear axle is pretty steep, I can easily price out a coated rotor set and pads for all four corners for 400 if not less.

As @Yo Hoot said

Rotors became so cheap it was easier to just replace with new.

What rotor brands have you tried? I'll be doing a rear axle brake job shortly after I get my trans back.

 

[Blakers]

400 on rotors alone for the rear axle is pretty steep, I can easily price out a coated rotor set and pads for all four corners for 400 if not less.

As @Yo Hoot said


What rotor brands have you tried? I'll be doing a rear axle brake job shortly after I get my trans back.

Yeah it's steep, but they are good. Looking back, I think I got them for less than that. Under $200 each. If you don't live in the rust belt you can probably get away with Chinese from the local parts store.

 

[Darkbloodmon]

Alot more offerings online of better quality and lower price if you can wait for delivery. I know all to well about the highway robbery of markup from a garage and parts store perspective. Pricing and sales strat. designed to push mid tier products which make up appox. 60% of sales, 30% for the bottom tiers that are "roll the dice" shoddy, and then highest tier that makes up roughly 10% of sales but requires the most wasted breath listing is features and differences.

I'm not sure if this was a company wide change but during my time at Advanced auto there was a massive inventory phase out of the old Carquest rotors for their new line of rust resistant coated rotors for all or most tier levels as well as new line of platinum pads that really stood out as improved on the parts store level from anti rattle shims, powder coated backing plates, stainless hardware, assembly lube and included wear sensors for Euro vehicles.

 

[JR]

For rotors I don't think you will find any that last as long as the OE. At least that has been my experience where things rust away before they wear out. This is one place I recently found through a friend, you can get OE parts at a good price, shipping is generally reasonable.

"Mopar Factory Parts - BRAKE - ROTOR 2AMV0144AA | BAM Wholesale Parts" https://www.bamwholesaleparts.com/o...yNTAwJnk9MjAwNCZ0PXNsdCZlPTUtOWwtbDYtZGllc2Vs

I would have went with the Mopar premium (OE) pads again if not for them rusting away before half the lining was gone. Hoping the galvanized pads hold up....we'll see.

 

[Mike Wenrich]

I have 146K on the truck with the original rear pads and Genos front pads at about 80K. The ABS unit failed so I disconnected the fuse/relay for that with no change in the braking affect. Seems I have lost some braking over the years and curious if the rotors might be the problem from wearing or glazing. Minor squeaking coming from the pads but that might be normal for the Genos pads. So with no caliper change I was thinking of doing a complete job and maybe, just maybe getting the ABS working again, although I hear those units are really expensive and hard to bleed. Any recommendations from those who have been there? Most of my towing is with lighter weight trailers (car trailer) that have brakes as well. And I appreciate the comments. Since I do not live in the rust belt the NAPA product might be sufficient. I will check on that tomorrow for price and brand in this region.

 

[Blakers]

I have 146K on the truck with the original rear pads and Genos front pads at about 80K. The ABS unit failed so I disconnected the fuse/relay for that with no change in the braking affect. Seems I have lost some braking over the years and curious if the rotors might be the problem from wearing or glazing. Minor squeaking coming from the pads but that might be normal for the Genos pads. So with no caliper change I was thinking of doing a complete job and maybe, just maybe getting the ABS working again, although I hear those units are really expensive and hard to bleed. Any recommendations from those who have been there? Most of my towing is with lighter weight trailers (car trailer) that have brakes as well. And I appreciate the comments. Since I do not live in the rust belt the NAPA product might be sufficient. I will check on that tomorrow for price and brand in this region.

Your ABS not working may simply be a bad sensor on top of your rear end. I did the same as you — unplugged the fuse — for about 2 years, then found out the whole problem was that rear sensor. Cheap fix.

 

[Mike Wenrich]

Good info but how did you detect that? Is there a way to test them on or off the truck?

 

[Blakers]

Good info but how did you detect that? Is there a way to test them on or off the truck?

I took my truck to our local Diesel Tech class at the vocational school for another reason and their analyzer found it.

 

[Ozymandias]

Good info but how did you detect that? Is there a way to test them on or off the truck?

Resistance, but they are so cheap it's worth a shot.

On mine I had the same problem with the rear sensor, but in addition the wires from the chassis down to the pumpkin were internally broken from all the movement through the years.
So I replaced the wires and the sensor, problem gone for years now with lots of offroad driving where the truck gets really beaten up.

 

[bcbender]

wow, guess I am the lucky one..never touched the front brakes (bought the truck at 90k) and after 195k miles and only ever cleaned up the rear rotors with a new set of pad around 140k when I replaced the bearings.

But 4:10s a Pac brake and a NV5600 do most of the braking for ya....

 

[Superdawg]

On all my cars now I do Akebono Proact pads and Bosch Quietcast rotors (no rust). No complaints.