2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission brake wear

[reanderson]

I just changed my front pads for the first time in my 2001 2500 4X4 with anti-lock and had very uneven wear in the right front inside pad the outside was barely pass half and the inside was gone is this common is there a fit so it won't happen again

 

[BigBadDodge]

I just replaced the pads and had the rotors turned at the same time for the first time on my 97 with 87k on it



BBD

 

[LSMITH]

It is common, your caliper is not sliding well in the knuckle, take a file and polish the high spots on the caliper and knuckle slide surfaces. Grease them with HIGH TEMP BRAKE GREASE. Nothing else will work and will be dangerous. Polish and lube the caliper pin sleeves as well. Take care not to remove a lot of material or change the angles of the slide surfaces, once you get better than about 60% of the surface flat and smooth you are good to go.



The freakin caliper and knuckle slide surfaces look like they were knawed out by angry beavers instead of machined, clean them up and you are set.



Oh, welcome to the TDR!!!

 

[Chipstien]

Lsmith, on my truck there were these metal covers that went over the caliper holder... . (knuckle?) My calipers slid on these smooth metal covers. Should I just omit these clip-on covers when I reinstall the brakes? Also what causes brakes to squeal. I have my brakes apart and they look fine, lots of material. The rotors are somewhat glaze but they do have 36,000 miles on them. Can I do something to the brakes that will make them stop squealing or should I resurface the rotors and install new pads. Thanks.

 

[Bob Wagner]

sam says to file the leading edge of the brake pad on a 45 degree angle and the squeak will be gone.



Mine are squealing like a very large pig

 

[LSMITH]

Chipstein, I am not familiar with the covers that clip on. Several of the guys in the local group have the 01's so maybe some investigation in in order. Sounds like a bandaid fix for rough surfaces and/or out of tolerance knuckles or calipers. There is a specific gap between the two that must be maintained, with a min and max tolerance. I believe that it is . 080-. 125" total gap, but check a service manual to be sure. Too little or too much and it will bind. If I could omit the clips and maintain the tolerance I would try it, but be sure it is in spec if you take them out. If the clips are smooth and not causing a bind I would leave well enough alone and leave them in.



Sqealing is a tough one. First I would try whay Bob suggests with also sanding the rotors and pads a little, just enough to take the glaze off is fine. 100 grit paper on a DA sander works great for this, just keep the sander in motion.

 

[Chipstien]

Well I did grind the leading edge, took an orbital sander to the rotors and lubed all the mateing surfaces..... has helped but it does still squeak. At least it is not all the time like before. It is just a little bit, but then I only drove it around the block. I will see in the next few weeks if it gets better otherwise I will be calling Sam in Olympia and getting a set of brake pads. Heck with it!