2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Brakes

[Larv]

Well, here it is Christmas Eve and my '99 is in the Dodge Garage. Again. I've got 71k on the rig, bought it new, and this is my FOURTH brake job! At 21k I had to have the rear drums turned. I've had to replace the fronts twice and had the rotors turned once. One front brake job was at 41k and I don't remember the mileage on the other one. Now I've got the old "shudder" back under braking but only after the brakes are warmed up. Now the drums can't be turned anymore so they'll have to replace them.



I intend to vent my feelings to Dodge Corp for whatever good that will do. I love the truck other than these @#$%$%^ brakes!



I do pull a trailer for a couple of months every year and a few weekends locally. The trailer weighs 7k empty so that shouldn't be any problem.



Any ideas?



Larv

 

[Camara]

I have a 99 also and this weekend I will be putting in my fourth set of front pads. I presently have 77000 on my truck. The rear brakes are only about 50 percent worn. I guess Iv'e been getting about 25k a set. I just got a set from Sam Peterson. I don't tow too much but I usually run right around 9000lbs.

 

[John]

that's odd...

I had 81. 5 k mi. on my '98. 5 QC 4x4 LWB 2500 (AUTO. ) Ram before I needed new disc brake pads. I used an exhaust brake intermittently for at least 20 k mi. of that total mileage figure.



Are you guys riding the brakes or what?



BTW, I'm now in the process of switching EVERYTHING over to EGR brake components... front and rear (including the rear disc brake upgrade package).



"Operation Stop On A Dime"... lol

 

[Larv]

No, I don't ride my brakes. Whenever towing I've always got the trailer brakes set pretty heavy with the controller so undue stopping isn't put on the truck.



Anyone have a tel# or address where I can contact Dodge Corporate or such such number. Probably won't do any good but it will make me feel better.

Larv

 

[TowPro]

thats the way these trucks are (for most guys). I used to replace front brakes every 20K miles or so. The Right Front Inner would always wear out first. That was on a 98 5 speed. I would have thought a 5 speed wear out less brakes then an auto.



Once I bought the BD brake, the brake wear almost went away.



I had to do rear brakes including drums at 80K, the shoes looked brandnew, but they were cracked. the drums had small cracks in them as well.



My rear brakes used to "shudder" since new. Put on new shoes and drums, shudder came back within 10K miles.



I used to use Performance Friction Carbon Metalic brake pads, they would last longer then stock pads, had a life time warrantee, and did not wear the rotors down like full metalic pads do.



Now I have a 2002, man what a difference having those rear disk brakes!

 

[RADdodge]

John – I would like to do that too. I hope you are taking pictures!

 

[Herman8r]

DC Support

LARV



Look in your service manual for the toll free # to DC. They are usually helpfull. They can also refer you to a local area Rep.

They were very helpfull everytime I called them.



By the way--my first brake change on the front was at 49K & again at 92 K (caliper stuck on driver side)--rear brakes at 50 % at 92K. I pull a 10000 trailer about 5% of the time--full load (equipment) 50 % of the time.



I do not have an exhaust brake.



Good luck with DC

 

[John]

Originally posted by RADdodge

John – I would like to do that too. I hope you are taking pictures!

Well actually, I should take pics! I just purchased a very nice digital camera and I painted all four of my new calipers the same color as your Ram (or close) with Eastwood's caliper paint kit.



Those bad boys look awesome!

 

[BigMike]

I've got 60k on my truck and haven't touched the brakes yet. Guess I've been lucky. I haven't had any problem with anything on my truck, YET???

 

[duaneparks]

Originally posted by BigMike

I've got 60k on my truck and haven't touched the brakes yet. Guess I've been lucky. I haven't had any problem with anything on my truck, YET???

Lucky you! I just had the rear drums and front rotors turned and the front pads replaced yesterday at 30,2xx miles. The fronts had uneven wear and the drums had very small high spots on them.



I don't tow much at all (3 times I've pulled a 3500# trailer maybe 50 miles), but I do sit in a lot of stop-and-go traffic in Houston. You can see my truck in the sig below.



As far as the shudder goes, I didn't have it until I bought tires (at 20K miles... but that's another story) and went from 265/75/16's to 295/75/16's. On the way home from the tire store it shuttered at the first stop. Coincidence? Maybe. The shuttering I experienced seemed to come from the rear and not the front as it didn't shake the steering wheel but rather shook where you could feel it in the seat of your pants.



I'll give this new brake job 10K more miles and see what happens. On my last two Rams I had no brake probs AT ALL. My first, a 97 1500 4x4 5spd CC SB went almost 70K on the original fronts, and still had the original rears on it when I traded it at 140K, but a lot of those miles were interstate driving. My second, a '99 2500 4x4 Auto QC SB gasser got new fronts at 39,xxx miles, but I traded it for my current truck loooong before those brakes wore out.



That's my $. 02.



Duane

 

[DEZLPWR]

Originally posted by BigMike

I've got 60k on my truck and haven't touched the brakes yet. Guess I've been lucky. I haven't had any problem with anything on my truck, YET???

I see you have an exhaust brake..... That explains why you have 60k on your original brakes! Oo. Oo.

 

[lmills]

Re: Re: Brakes

Originally posted by TowPro



Now I have a 2002, man what a difference having those rear disk brakes!

Ain't that the truth. I love the brakes on my 2001. 5 I have 70,000 trouble and shutter free miles. (knock on wood) I have an annoying high pitched squeal coming from one of the rears, but overything else is OK. I took to a friends shop and had him check the brakes because of the noise. He said that since it only occured at random times it might just be some dust getting in micro sized pits in the rotor(I think that was his explanation). Anyway to make a long story short, he said if I can live with the noise on an occasion, then their was no since in spending money on it. It only occurs at low speeds when it does it, and 90% of my mileage is from highway use.

 

[FDziurda]

Brake TSB

Larv,



About a week ago, I performed the TSB that removes the proportioning valve from the rear brakes, and replaces it with a hose. The hose was available from the local Dealer for about $26.



It made a VERY noticable improvement in the truck's braking performance and is supposed to help reduce front brake pad wear. I managed to get about 55K miles on the OEM Pads and replaced them with Performance Friction Carbon Metallic pads.



Hope you have better luck with the new brakes.



Frank

 

[monkfarm]

76k on my brakes

1999 and 76000 miles and no touchum brakes. I got the jakebrake within 50 miles of the showroom floor. I rarely use the brakes, but I always shift down and usually have the jakebrake turned on

 

[Camara]

Just catching up on this topic. I don't ride the brakes but I do drive mostly in the city in stop & go traffic. Like I said earlier I also go heavy. I am going to save up some money this year for an engine brake. I know that will help stretch out the brakes.

 

[Tom W]

John, I am very interested in your EGR project. I am hoping that this will result in brakes that are equal to the new trucks, if so, that's what I want. I put the larger cylinders on the rear and this improved things but the brakes still suck. My surburban is a gutless wonder when comparing the power but the brakes are far superior.

I tried calling EGR on their 800 # but got no answer - probably closed for the holidays.



Frank, what is the TSB about removing the proportioning valve?

wouldn't this cause the rears to lock up?



Tom

 

[WTBurke]

Originally posted by John

I painted all four of my new calipers the same color as your Ram (or close) with Eastwood's caliper paint kit.



John... what is "Eastwood's caliper paint kit" I'm a detail nut and would like additional information.



William

 

[John]

William, here's some info. for ya...



Eastwood

263 Shoemaker Rd.

Pottstown, PA 19464



1-800-345-1178



www.eastwoodcompany.com



High-Temp Brake Caliper Coatings



available in the following colors:



gloss red (which I used), gloss yellow, gloss blue, silver, black, gloss green, gloss white, and gloss purple [note: the word "gloss" did not preceed silver or black in the Eastwood catalog]



Product description:



Eastwood's new caliper coatings are designed for both street and performance applications. Heat resistant to 900 deg. F. and easily applied without removing or disassembling the caliper. Our caliper coatings come in a variety of high gloss colors that will not fade with heat or UV exposure. The complete kit provides step-by-step instructions, 2 component color and activator system, mixing jar, stir stick, degreaser and application brush. The self-leveling coating is easily brushed on for a durable, high gloss, ultra-smooth finish that will also protect your calipers from potentially harmful oils and chemicals. Kit contains enough product to coat 4 calipers. Made in the US.



Price:



slightly less than $50.





First of all, I used a higher quality brush to apply the coating (this may or may not have contributed to the overall quality of the finished product but it sure didn't hurt! )



Second, the gloss red that I used was exactly as stated... an awesome, glossy shade of red.



Third, there is more than enough product to coat each of the four calipers at least three times! You are only limited by time... that is, once the two-part coating has started to "kick" you're all done! When I coated my calipers (off the truck), I had 4-5 hours of working time before the coating started to "kick. "



And last of all, I was very pleased with the results I obtained!



Hopefully I'll get this ---> :--) once I get everything installed.

 

[daveshoe]

Brakes turned on truck?

I am pretty sure that Dodge specs call for brakes to be turned on the vehicle. Think i saw it in TDR magazine. It seems that the way the hub bearings are seated can make the rotor wobble if the rotor is turned off the truck.

How about it guys, am I right about this?

By the way, my 02 is the first vehicle I have ever driven that the antilock brakes actually worked when called upon to do so. I went out on a rescue in an ice storm and the truck drove straight as a train on tracks. Tested the antis a few times and they worked great.

 

[FDziurda]

TSB 05-04-98 Link

Hi All.



Here is the link to the Brake TSB on Dave Fritz's site.



http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1998/05-04-98.htm



The rear brakes do not lock up but you will have very noticeably better braking. If you do a search on this web site for the TSB, you will get lots of info about it. Several others have done this TSB and were very pleased with the results (As I am).



Here's a link to a thread discussing the TSB.



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=61680&highlight=brake+tsb



Good Luck,



Frank