Minimum disc brake pad thickness?

[MojaveJoe]

Going to pull my wheels tomorrow to inspect my brakes.

Have never seen the new disc brake pads or rotors.



Does anyone know the new and minimum pad thicknesses?

How about new and minimum rotor thicknesses?



Trying to figure out when a brake job will be needed.



Any and all help appreciated.

Joe

 

[Hoefler]

Pad thickness depends on whether you have bonded or riveted pads. Generally an 1/8" is as low as you should go. Rotor thickness is cast into the rotor in the none wear area near the hub.

 

[rbattelle]

I checked the service manual, but it doesn't specify the minimum pad thickness. I'd use Hoefler's suggestion.

Ryan

 

[MMeier]

IIRC, the stock pads are bonded, correct? I have 179k on the originals and they are still at approximately 50%!!

 

[rbattelle]

I have 179k on the originals and they are still at approximately 50%!!

MMeier uses drag chutes instead of the brakes. It's a bit unnerving for the drivers behind him.



Ryan

 

[Prairie Dog]

MMeier uses drag chutes instead of the brakes. It's a bit unnerving for the drivers behind him.



Ryan

:-laf :-laf





Either that or he's got Fred Flinstone brakes!

 

[opjohnny]

do the oem pads have a wear bar that starts squeaking?

 

[MMeier]

MMeier uses drag chutes instead of the brakes. It's a bit unnerving for the drivers behind him.



Ryan

Not worried whats behind me!! Usually in a black cloud anyways! Or they have a view of this !!

 

[WoodJ]

The minimum pad thickness is . 060 of an inch for 2003 to 2006. discard rotor thickness for rear rotors is 1. 117" for 2003 to 2006. front rotors for 2003 are1. 029" and 2004-2006 are 1. 334". They are from a new Rayabetes book.

 

[MojaveJoe]

Thanks for the info Woodj... So you are saying that Dodge 2003-2006 OEM pads are made by Raybestos?

That . 060 measurement is roughly 1/16" pad thickness. Must not be riveted?

Your front and rear rotor minimum thicknesses are right on. Same as in the 2004 Ram manual.

Regards,
Joe

 

[FGoodwin]

Thanks for the info Woodj... So you are saying that Dodge 2003-2006 OEM pads are made by Raybestos?



That . 060 measurement is roughly 1/16" pad thickness. Must not be riveted?



Your front and rear rotor minimum thicknesses are right on. Same as in the 2004 Ram manual.



Regards,

Joe

He isn't saying they are made by Raybestos, he is saying the spec that he gave came from the Raybestos catalog. The ONLY way you can get the exact O. E. formula on friction material is to buy the O. E. from the manufacture of your vehicle. Regardless if it is made by a company such as Raybestos or Bendix. They cannot give the aftermarket the same formula as they do their O. E. customers. Close, maybe better, maybe worse, but different none the less. They have these aggreements with their O. E. customers always.



Frank

 

[Cattletrkr]

I replaced my rears at 96K and they were paper thin. So close to being metal on metal it's amazing I caught them in time. Nothing there to make noise. Can't say I'd recommend pushing them that far.

MMeier has me beat. My fronts are maybe a little under 50% and are still factory. Notice we both have 6spds and exhaust brakes...

 

[MojaveJoe]

FWIW...
I just bought the rear brake pads at Dodge for about $105. They come with new anti-rattle springs. They also have warning scratchers on only one pad end for each wheel. It is set to start screeching on the rotor at 1/16" or . 060 just like Woodj said.

The new pads are 1/2"+ thick or 0. 54". The pads all appear the same size and design, with no holes on the inside, meaning they are bonded not riveted (probably?). The metal backing plates are of slighlty different design than original, otherwise very similar. I don't have my original pads off yet, so can't say for sure.

Like Cattletrkr said, you can run the pads really thin without knowing it, if they are not wearing perfectly even. Do they ever? One rotor scratcher on four pad corners is like 75% odds Dodge will be replacing your rotors, before you even hear a squeal from your rotors.

Conclusion - check both ends of every pad for thickness whenever you have your wheels off..... or you will eventually be buying new rotors.

Thanks to everyone for your input.

FYI,
Joe

(Disclaimer - Author makes no claims of accuracy for above statements, and urges anyone using these numbers to check all of them against their individual vehicle's specs. )

 

[Cattletrkr]

Like Cattletrkr said, you can run the pads really thin without knowing it, if they are not wearing perfectly even. Do they ever?

I got lucky and checked mine just in time. They actually did wear perfectly even. The inside pad was the one that was almost gone on both sides of the truck. The outers were probably 30-40% yet.

To those who have never looked at your brake pads before: Make sure you check both pads on each wheel. The one on the caliper wears a lot faster than the one opposing it. At least that's been the case 100% of the time for me.

 

[MojaveJoe]

Thanks for your input Cattletrkr.
Your comments would make me think the warning scratcher is placed on the outer pad, and is why you never hear it.
I have not seen any instructions as to which side the scratcher goes on, so I will have to watch carefully when I remove my pads. If the rear pads tend to wear on the inside first, perhaps that's where it should go. Will be interesting to see what Dodge does. I will report back after the pad job, if I can.