Dusty Front Wheels & Rusty Rear Rotors

[MCecil]

I have noticed my front wheels dust up considerably more when pulling my 5th wheel than when empty. I got to looking at things today and found the front rotors bright and shiny with what appears to be excessive ridging, but both rear rotors rusted and very smooth (new looking except for the rust). What could be the likely causes; proportioning valve, ABS function, or... ? Is the braking 60/40 between front & rear like it used to be before the advent of ABS?

I'll be taking it into the dealer, but would like to have some idea of what the possible problem is before taking it to them, as the truck is out of the basic warranty (right at 37K mi now). I have the extended warranty with deductible, but don't want to be blind sided by unnecessary parts and labor. Been there and done that ~36 years ago with a Ford dealership, which got very unpleasant before it was resolved.

Has anyone else encountered this brake issue? Thanks in advance.

Enjoy your day and God Bless,
Merv

 

[sag2]

The wheels dust up more pulling because you are working them harder and the pads are wearing more than when not loaded. Brake dust is from the material worn from the pad. This is perfectly normal.

Now for the rears, are you saying the face of the rotor where the pad rides is rusted after you have been driving it? It is normal for them to rust overnight, or after you wash the truck, but unless you leave it sitting for weeks or months at a time they should not have excessive rust pits.

And the service contract does not cover pads or rotors in any case, so don't get your hopes up.

 

[JApol]

It sounds like his back pards are not even touching the rotors while the front ones are doing all the work. The pads an rotors are not warrented because of wear. The front pads should be warrented for wear from a bad part causing them to wear.



As far as what part is bad I can't tell you as I don't know how this braking system works. But I do know that the back pads should be helping out

 

[MCecil]

sag2,

I know with the new pad materials dusting is to be expected and more so when worked harder when towing. I wrote of both front and rear brake conditions for contrast, and to indicate that the rear breaks appear to not be working. As far as the rusted rear rotors, I live in wet western Washington and have only seen rusted rotors on vehicles that haven't been driven in a good while. Perhaps in the bay area where you live with the salt air maybe they will rust up over night. But why didn't the front rotors rust up the same? Maybe I should have been more clear and stated outright that the rear brakes don't appear to be working rather than describing the condition of the front and rear rotors, which I thought conveyed that idea.

JApol,

Yup, it looks like the rear pads have rarely, if ever, contacted the rotors. I am sure all 4 rotors will have to be turned, front pads and calipers at my expense. What I am most interested in is some idea of what might be the cause of the condition described. What really pisses me off about the whole thing is I had it in for 30K mi service in May and specifically asked for and paid for a brake inspection since I was going back to Indiana in July to pick up my new 5er. So much for 5 Star dealers.

Thanks to you both for your inputs.

Merv