Brakes gone bad

[Dieselmann]

Took the truck out for a spin yesturday only to find that the brakes are gone on the truck:{#@$%!... ... Any body know how many miles you should get off dealer brake pads... . Thing is that I had them put on 20,000 miles ago and I'm a little concerned that maybe I didn't get the full life outta my pads. I don't do crazy towing with my truck. Also, anybody have any recomendations on brake pads and do I need to turn the rotors every time I replace the pads. Thanks

 

[BK]

20K isnt bad if it's around town driving.

It's bad if you do a lot of highway... but if you do a lot of highway and are heavy on the pedal... and have to brake everytime you see a cop... well then it maynot be bad either.



just like mpg,,,, your mileage will vary.



I have a lot of around town towing and trips upstate in the mountains... no exhaust brake and I got about 20K , also, from my 1st set of front pads.



Are you getting any pulsing in the brakes?

If you are you probably need to cut them if they warped.



You dont need to cut the rotors everytime you replace the brake pads. It's subjective to the condition of the rotors. warping, crackes, groves...



Are you keeping up with adjusting the rear brakes?

It does help in extending the life of the front brakes and helps prevent warping the front rotors.

 

[azcummins]

I got about 60k out of my factory pads. I say about 60k b/c when I took them out @ 70k, they were shot. One pad was worn down past the studs so I ruined my rotor @ the same time.



I didn't do hardly any towing and most of my miles were city miles.



I'd do the pads and take a look @ the rotors while you have the wheels off. Any grooves... trash'em. $44 a piece for new rotors @ auto zone and they aren't that hard to put new ones on. I've heard turning them doesn't really help. (That's the word from several SAE cert. mechanics and the most recent article in the back of the TDR).



If you live close to Fort Collins, CO, bring your truck over and I'll do them for you. Just buy me dinner.

 

[Dennis Garrett]

80k on original front pads, on my 97, have almost 160k on the original shoes, but they're getting close.

 

[Wiredawg]

Also depends what kind of transmission!

Guys:



Another big element in brake wear is whether you have an auto of standard. I down shift and use my exhaust brakes so I expect to get good wear out of my brakes. I also have my tires rotated every 5K miles and have my brakes inspected each time.



Wiredawg



BTW, I have 52K miles on my truck and haven't half worn 'em out.