2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Front Brakes Smell bad

[spatters]

I recently had the front disc brake pads replaced and then went on a trip with a 3000# Lance Camper over Ebbetts Pass(8730'), Monitor Pass(8314') and Tioga Pass (just under 10,000'). So needless to say there was a lot of braking involved. The front brakes would get very hot even on small declines and smell like both front tires were on fire. It was bad. I never had a problem with them being soft or not working, but it made me very nervous so I spent a lot of time in 1st gear.



Is this normal? I don't remember the old pads doing it but I never took a trip like this with them. Is it a good idea to upgrade the discs and pads to somethinig better considering the weight involved with the camper? I'm not sure what kind of pads they put on but I am going to find out.



What do you think?



Thanx,

Scott

 

[Dane]

Ebbetts Pass(8730'), Monitor Pass(8314') and Tioga Pass (just under 10,000')

Is this normal? Yup, the fact that the brakes never faded says they put good quality pads in.



The automatics don't have a low enough 1st gear in those conditions. Most folks with automatics are using an exhaust brake to help slow the truck on big downhills like those.

 

[Thomas]

What kind of gross weight do you have with a 1996 2500 Extended Cab 4x4 carrying a 3000# Lance Camper?

 

[spatters]

Gross is about 10,000.

 

[rrl989]

I had the same thing happen to me in Nova Scoatia with a 4000 Lb Lance, but I had big clouds of white smoke coming from both front brakes, I won't let that happen again ! Even with lighter use in Shenadoah, Skyline Drive,

they began to smell real bad, and just think, this was all on my first set of pads which gave me 75K miles!



Ron