Brakes worn at 37k miles?

[jwdeeming]

Dealer tells me my truck's front brakes are worn and need replacing at 37k miles. Is this normal? I asked them to check and see if the rears were properly adjusted and doing their share of the load. They are.



I've towed a 4-horse trailer maybe 5k miles max. Maybe another 5k miles of Colorado mountain driving. Everything else is city/hwy daily driver stuff. Does this seem like normal brake wear?



Thanks in advance,

JimD

 

[SnoKing]

Update sig regarding transmission. It you have an auto, that may be about normal. SNOKING

 

[Ron Bissett]

Four horse trailer 5000 mi mountins w/o exhaust brake = worn brakes . Front brakes take 60% of the load when braking so 60% of the ware , I assume you have a auto transmission signiture not shown ,would be a costly addon with trans mods , check it out . as for milage its about normal for your type of driving ,with trailer and mountins . If no exhaust brake then down shift and lower speeds if you wan't better brake ware. Hope this helps , LOL Ron in Louisville KY

 

[CCBrady]

Jim, My 99 only has a little over 33k on it, 7 months and 18k are mine, so I don't know what it was used for by the first owner. But my front brakes will need to be replaced very soon. So as other folks on this site have said and I will do very soon, get an exhaust brake and save the wheel brakes. Thats my penney's worth.

Chris

 

[FFutch]

exhaust brake

My front brakes made it to 38,000. I live on top of a mountain so every direction I head is downhill. After a few white knuckle rides with 10k+down an8-10% grade I opted for an exhaust brake. Figure it'll pay for itself in a few years. Besides it sounds cool too . Doug

 

[jwdeeming]

Sig is updated - yes it's an auto and points are well taken about that. I am religious about downshifting for downhill runs but without an exhaust brake (and perhaps a proper torque converter) that's not a lot of help under load.



I'd just get off the brake pedal and go faster down them hills but the horses complain, and when I storm up into somebody's rearview and all they can see is that big Ranchhand bumper, they get nervous...

 

[sam peterson]

Jim D--The dealer telling you the brakes are worn & need replacing is one thing but you need to pull the front wheels and take a look for yourself. It is not uncommon to need pads at 37k but you could have miles left. If it is time to replace the pads use a carbon met pad and you will probably double the mileage. ---Sam

 

[Ninearrow]

Pulled heavy loads with my 96, and had to replace front brakes at 17,000. That's right, 17,000.



When I traded it for my current truck, a 99, I installed a Pacbrake. 51,000 and still got brakes left. I highly recommend an exhaust brake if you are towing. Best option I have on my truck. Even more valuable than the hp upgrades.

 

[Patriot Diesel]

Just replaced my front pads at just under 30,000. I pull an 8000 lb 5th wheel about every 3 weeks. I will be putting a PacBrake on in the spring.

 

[Bob Wagner]

Originally posted by sam peterson

Jim D-- If it is time to replace the pads use a carbon met pad and you will probably double the mileage. ---Sam

When I need brake pads I will purchase them from Sam Peterson



I read that Sam has the right pads at the right price

 

[jGiacobbe]

Can you use an exhaust brake on an auto?

 

[Bob Wagner]

here ya go JGiacobbe

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26882

 

[Diesel Freak]

you guys are hard on brakes!

WOW, my '94 chevy 1/2 ton went over 100K miles on the original brakes. My dad's '91 dodge cummins went over 150K on the factory set, I am at 45K on my 2001 and no appreciable signs of wear, same with my dad's '99 auto.

 

[SnoKing]

All manuals????? Right? Your Dad's 91 did not have brakes and from what I hear the 94 had them on only one side, you just could not tell which side!!!! SNOKING

 

[Diesel Freak]

all manuals except for the '99

the '91 tows all the time..... Massey Ferguson 360 4x4 with loader and empliment... all four tires are loaded. Tractor and trailer weigh over 11k combined

 

[MidwestMotorman]

brake wear

Does anyone know which side of the disc brake pads wear out first, inner side or out side? I know the first gens will wear to the rotor faster on the inside pad, as the backside pad is thinner, but what about the second gens?



My 99 has 46k on the brakes. The fronts still looked like new at 37k, and yes I have a manual.

 

[DavidGardner]

Jim D.

If you need to know about brakes contact Sam Peterson . He is to brakes what Bill Kondolay is to transmissions. His E-mail is -- email address removed --.

 

[sam peterson]

Thanks for the kind words Bob & Dave. I have a rather large building and I was thinking that maybe Bill & Piers could move in and we could do a total makeover on these Dodge trucks in one stop. ---Transmission---Engine Mods---Brakes---$$$$$$$$$$$



Nathan--If everything is working properly the inner & outer pads should wear out close to the same considering the inner pads is thicker on the 4x4's----Sam

 

[tcourse]

Mine went 66000 but mostly freeway with the hammer down.



TC

 

[Larv]

I had to turn the drums on my '99 at 22k and replace the front pads at 40k and, yes, it's an a/t and I tow a 29' trlr quite a bit. Larv