2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Brake Rotor question

[JGheen]

Does anyone know where to get good quality front brake rotors for a 3500 4x4? I don't even want to call the stealership for their ridiculous price they will have them for, so I thought I would ask if there is any aftermarket company out there that would carry a pair for a good price. I am not looking to buy any Kragen brand or Napa, unless some one out there will chime in with some good luck with that brand.



Thanks, Joe

 

[RabidRam]

Do a search for a brand called "EGR". I've also read on here that Raybestos (sp?) is a good brand. Just passing along what I've read...



Now sit back and wait for everybody to start fighting about drilled vs. slotted



Dave

 

[redram]

What are you whining about - the rotors on a 3500 4X4 are separate from the hubs - unlike the 2wd version. you should be able to get a good price on a NAPA / AutoZone brand for less than $100 each, probably more in the $60 / each range. The ones for the 2WD due to being part of the hub (at least on my '96 they are integral to the hub) are $200 each if you can get them at wholesale price.



Gees, put a couple of hundred into your now 7 year old truck. The truck will like you for it!

 

[JGheen]

Who said I was whining? I just don't want to get boned by the dealership for their way over-priced rotors when I could get some, probably better quality ones from an aftermarket place. At a much more attractive price as well. I think the hubs have to come apart though on my truck to get thr rotors off. I hear it is a real PITA.

My current rotors are the original ones and I have over 130,000 miles on them. I noticed they have a few heat stress cracks in them, small ones but enough of them to make me want to find new ones before I throw on my new Hawk brake pads. I could probably just run a piece of scotch brite over the rotors to scratch the surface up a bit for the new pads to bite on instead of machining them. I doubt a good machine job will make those heat cracks disappear.

 

[GrantP]

Try http://www.tirerack.com. I picked up a set of EBC dimpled/slotted rotors for my 2500 4x4 for $150, cheap shipping too.

 

[JGheen]

Well, I've done some searching on this issue. Does anyone have any recommendations on which pads to use with which rotors? I ordered some HD Hawk pads and was wondering if there would be any problems with replacing the rotors with some aftermarket slotted rotors? I just want to piece together a good set up for my lifted truck that is easy enough to install in my driveway. I was going to just replace the pads but now I am on a mission to just go ahead and replace the rotors and calipers as well. I saw the EGR package but I thought it was a little on the too expensive side. I know good brakes cost money but any advice would be greatly appreciated.



Thanks

 

[GrantP]

I'm using the Hawk's with the rotors I mentioned above. So far, so good.

 

[JGheen]

How about calipers? Are yours till the original stock applications? Sounds like I might be able to get away with just replacing the pads and the rotors and use the stock calipers, obviously depending on the condition of the stockers.

 

[JGheen]

Another question.....

Which Ram trucks came with rear ABS only and which ones had four wheel ABS?

 

[GrantP]

I'm still on the original calipers, only 66k on the truck. I can't really help with the ABS question. other than that my 97 has 4 wheel ABS that makes working on anything on that side of the engine a real pain. Sometimes I actually wish I didn't have ABS at all.

 

[rblomquist]

Whatever you do DO NOT go cheap on the rotors i. e. made in china; you will regret it real soon if you do. My shop is very trustworthy and they told me to go with the Dodge rotors and pads as their expereince is they last much longer than anything else that is equivalent (not EGR or other high-end performance stuff). You can always buy the stuff on the web from online dodge parts dealers and save some coin right there over your local dealer.



I just had my fronts changed out about 2 months ago and it's like a new truck, no more heading for the ditch when I apply the brakes. All the time I thought it was just alignment and/or Dodge front end nature of the beast type thing.



Your call but some things the factory did get right.

 

[P Madrid]

I have done a few trucks with EBC pads and rotors, a huge difference in braking performance. The pads will not last as long (2/3 - 3/4) as the OEM but I will never go back to OEM pads. Have not had any experience with EGR but have only heard good things from trucks with them. Stay away from ceramic pads, improvement over OEM but will eat-up and warp a rotor really fast.



Pablo

 

[redram]

rotors

Sorry - I did not mean this to be a personal attack - (although it did come off that way). What I wanted you to realize is that other 3500 owners with 2WD have an even more expensive brake repair in that some years have integral hub and rotor design which ends up being 3X's the cost of replacing rotors on 4X4's.



I have had excellent results using Performance Friction pads (the cheap $36 /set from Autozone with a lifetime warranty) on the original rotors (which also heat checked and heat cracked) and then also good results using Napa aftermarket calipers and rotors.



With the Hawks, you should see a similar improvement.

Regarding slotted or drilled rotors, this will only be an improvement over stock if you are having problems with heat fading due to excessive loading. The slots or drilled holes allow the built up gas from the pads someehere to escape. However, those slots or holes also take away surface contact pad area and in some cases, although they look great, can result in reduced braking force due to reduced surface area.



Now if you increase the size of the rotors / calipers / pad area, that is something totally different.



Since you were asking for 'cheap', going slotted or drilled with different calipers is NOT going to be your least expensive option.



Cheers,

 

[Cooker]

For a quality replacement rotor at a reasonable cost I perfer the Brembo's from the Tire Rack.



Wasn't there an article in the magazine that stated drilled rotors are not the best to use? Something to do I think with the holes weakening the rotor?



As far as the ABS most trucks had rear ABS only unless it was ordered with 4 wheel ABS.

 

[Jetson]

I think it was the TDR mag. that had the article about rotors that said drilled rotors offered no help on our trucks. The slotted rotors were supposed to help.