Front Brake Wear... NOT!!

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I put new tires on my 98. 5 3500 QC Saturday. I was prepared to have the front brake pads replaced, rotors turned, etc. Much to my surprise, my fronts don't even show 50% wear! This is after 56,000 miles, most logged grossing about 22,000 pounds! I don't have an exhaust brake, either! The rotors were smooth with no grooves, and the wear indicators (screetchers)were at least 1/4" away from the rotors. I'm very pleased, mainly because I've read very pessimistic reports on the Ram's front brakes. By the way, my original equipment Michelins made it 56,000 miles with out a single flat, no uneven wear or cupping. Needless to say, I'm happy.

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1998. 5 3500 QC, 2X4, 3. 54 limited slip, 5-spd, K&N, ISSPRO pillar mount pyro & boost, 275 hp injectors, 4" Dynomax Race Flow exhaust, Clarion CD, Rockford Fosgate power, Kicker solobaric, Husky floor liners, Capri Rodeo Delux Cabover, AWESOME TST POWERMAX!!

 

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well ross there must be a HUGE difference between the binders on that 3500 and the piss ant 1500 i presently have , not sure about yours but the 1500 has a delco system , which bites , and i've replaced pads twice in 45k miles and the goodyear's were just about done at 23k miles , i'm sure that my driving style has a lot to do with brake wear , but i put on a set of autozone specials , performance friction , and they actually feel better than a) the factory pads , and b) the wagners i put on the second time ...

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John W. in N. H.
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Y2K on order, DI status, schedule build date 12/3, ship date 12/15, 2500, SLT+, Quadcab, 4x4, CUMMINS, Auto, TT, CS, 3. 54 LSD, Driftwood, Camel Leather and LOADED, aspiring to B. O. M. B.

1969 Dodge Superbee, Black on Black, 383, 4spd , BOMBed

 

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45,000 miles and put on new michelins. Front and back break pads and shoes look great.

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98. 5 ISB 2500HD 4X4 SLT QC, 3. 54 forest green/camel leather, 5 spd. hood weather bra, cobra CB, Westech boost & pyro, Geno "A" pod, Dee Zee brds. Grover air horns, toaster LED's, HD light lens covers, bug deflector, J&J mud flaps, back up alarm, K&N, Guidon fiberglass tonneau, Ventvisors, Fuel door LED's, X-mission fltr. Fosgate/Clarion system, ABS, trailer tow, Aux rear suspension, factory clearance lamps, sliding rear window, Michelin LT265/75R16 LTX AT, RamZerks,

 

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Ross,
Ditto! My OEM pads are fine at 40K+ miles.
Many miles at GW of 12K lbs. Also, I don't get to drive to many Hwy miles, typically stop & go. I'll stick with OEM's. RonL

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98 Dodge 3500 QC SLT 4x4, 12V, Auto 3. 54, LSD, Camper pkg, Running Brds, Tow hooks, Tonneau cover, Cobra / K40, Westach Boost / EGT / transmission Temp gauges, Valley Hitch, Hadley Dual Air Horns, Mopar Bedliner, RS 9000's, Air-Lift system, Cup Smoothie, Down 'N Out Exhaust Tip, S/S Fender Trim. PIAA 90 ProXT's.

99 Lance 1110 Truck Camper

 

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Ross, count yourself lucky. I did a $600 brake job on my 95 3500 this summer. Two new rotors and two new drums. That made up my mind I'd never have another dually. They have there place but not in my garage.

Chris

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Chris
95 CC SLT Cummins auto
TST 230hp kit, TC lockup switch, TransGo.
Isspro EGT, trans/rearend temp, boost gauges
A-Pillar Mounted
Scotty Air System

 

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Same here. 52k miles and the brakes look great.

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David
1998 3500 QC 4x4 5 speed 4:10 235-85-16 K&N air filter. Emerald Green w/tan leather. B&W turnover ball.
1999 Exiss 3 horse slant, 4ft midtack, 6ft shortwall dressing.

 

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my 97 went 80,000 on the original front Goodyears, original brake pads, and original shocks, It has 87,000 on it now, and the rear brakes look like they will go 100k at least. At 80k, the front pads were still about 1/8" but got tired of checking them & put on a set of lifetime pads from Parts+... ..... DDG

 

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I wish that I could say that I also went in excess of 30k on my brakes and tires but I can't!!! I replaced the front brakes of my 96 at 20k and the factory bolonies (tires) at 22,500. I now have 48,500 and the front will be ready for a brake for in probably 10k miles. I will say that I was not very impressed with the factory brake pads or tires. I also called the service garage at the local dealer and he told me that it was absolutely normal. Let me see $35k for a truck and the brakes and tires don't even last 2 years, something about this picture that I am not seeing.

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RamNProwler
Ed Council
Lake Stevens, Washington

1996 Black 2500 SLT CC, Atuo, 4. 10 LSD, Banks Power Pack, BD Torque Loc, Converter and Brake, Pyro , Boost and Trans Temp, Ultra Wheels, 28575R16 RVT Wild Country TIres, TekStyle Tonneau Cover, Lighted Sun Visor, Power Vision Mirrors, Spray in Diamond Liner, Diamond Plate Rail Caps,Amsoil throughout
LOVE THE POWER
Pull 27' Prowler TT all over Washington



[This message has been edited by RamNProwler (edited 12-07-1999). ]

 

[Archive]

One thing I have noticed as a definate trend on the brake topic is that it is mostly automatic owners that have the brake problems. Once in a blue moon you hear about someone with a 5sp with premature wear but not often. I have a friend with a '97 that just replaced his front pads at 95,000 miles and only one pad was close to being worn out. I just replaced mine at 32,000 miles because I was worried about them and once I had them off and had the PF carbon metallic shoes in hand I figured why not change them now. They had at least 70% of their life left in them. I personally plan on replacing my pads early and just scuffing the rotors with emery cloth. That's what I did this time and the brakes are working much better than with the stock pads. I figure as long as they aren't warped or scored they shouldn't need turning. I never turned the rotors on my roadrace M/C and I was relying on those brakes to stop my from 160 mph.

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-Steve St. Laurent
'98 Quad Cab Long Bed (CMNSPWR), 4x4, ISB, 5sp, 4. 10 LSD, Prime-loc remote fuel filter,
boost & pyro gauges, TST Powermax, Permatech spray in liner, Grizzly stainless nerf bars,
front Draw-Tite receiver, BFG 285/75R16 AT KO's
http://my. voyager.net/stevest

 

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Steve, I guess I'm an exception. One thing I forgot to mention is that I remove those DWR's every 5K miles and manually adjust those shoes. Makes a big difference in stopping power. Even if my pads lasted only 30K, I wouldn't complain. None of my cars or trucks ever lasted that long. RonL

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98 Dodge 3500 QC SLT 4x4, 12V, Auto 3. 54, LSD, Camper pkg, Running Brds, Tow hooks, Tonneau cover,
3 pc BugFlecter, Ventvisors, Cobra / K40, Westach Boost / EGT / transmission Temp gauges, Valley Hitch, Hadley Dual Air Horns, Mopar Bedliner, RS 9000's, Air-Lift system, Cup Smoothie, Down 'N Out Exhaust Tip, S/S Fender Trim. PIAA 90 ProXT's.

99 Lance 1110 Truck Camper

 

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Ross,

Same here-66,500 original pads still look like new. Original Goodyears lasted 56,000 without so much as a flat.

My old 92 D350 had 92,000 on it's front pads and still looked good. Got 76,000 on the original Goodyears on it. i attribute the shorter life on the 97 because of the more horsepower and the LSD rear axle.

Bill

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97 3500CC,Auto,4. 10LSD,All Options incl Leather,Jardine 4" Cat back Exhaust,The following options removed and in box waiting on the Y2K: Pyro,Boost,Trans. Temp Gauges, PacBrake, RPM 40Gal. Aux. Fuel Tank, Reese 20K Hitch, Highway Products Tool Box. 2000 3500QC 6 Speed,4. 10LSD,SLT+, Camper & Tow Pkgs on Order since 9-28-99, Built 12-01-99, On Train, Stopped at Alliance(8 miles from my house),TX, 12-7 2:24PM waiting on truck transport to deliver to dealer 20 miles away.



[This message has been edited by Bill Stockard (edited 12-09-1999). ]

 

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I last looked at the front brakes on my '93 and 121K miles and they were still no where near worn out. !!!!!The clock is now at 125K
I pulled the rear drums at 106K miles and there was at least 1/3 of the shoes left, but since I had the drums off I went ahead and replaced shoes and cylindrs just because it did not make since to me not to.

I have the 5 speed and a Pac Brake, which I would not be without pulling a heavy fiver.

Vaughn

 

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merryman, great to have another "Vaughn" on the forum. You know how rare it is to meet up with someone with our first name. . .

My truck's brakes were redone at 40,000 miles by the first owner, but he packed his camper around a lot in the mountains with the boat hitched on behind. Brakes work great and new ones have no noticeable wear at 12,000 miles. Looks like I'm an exception to the "manually transmission brakes last longer" theory.

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Vaughn MacKenzie

1998 3/4T Quad Cab 4x4, 24-valve, 5-speed w/open 3. 54, White over Driftwood, Fog Lamps, Air Dam, Agate leather with most options.
245/75/16 Kelley Safari MSRs on M/T Classics, DeeZee running boards, diamond tread bedrail & tailgate protector.
52,580 miles (12/4/99) 16-17 City & 18-20 Highway MPG

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