2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Need to find someone great at doing break jobs in northwest Georgia

[BC]

I need a good bit of brake work done to my '98 3500 4x4. It now has 150,000 miles. I pull 12k to 15k regularly. I need to find someone who is great at doing brakes and can turn the rotors.



I've went to the Dodge dealership in Cartersville, GA, last year for brake work. That was a mistake. They just started replaceing parts hoping to fix the problem.



I've been to three local brake shops. Yes they can replace the pads, but can't turn the rotors. The rotors must be turned while they're still on the truck.



I need to find a brake man who is in the Cartersville, Canton, or Marietta GA area.



Brake Problems:



1. Truck pulls hard to the left when braking.



2. When doing moving, if I engage the emergency brake, nothing happens. The rears are way out of adjustment.



3. Changed pads 5 months ago and they need to be changed again.



4. Last time I replaced pads the left pad was about gone. However, the right pad looked great.



Brake questions:



1. Do I need to turn the rear drums? That's never been done.



2. Do I need to replace the brake hoses? They're still orginal.



3. What can cause the left pad to be used up and the right pad to look normal? Yes, I know the left pad is dragging on the rotor.



4. Should I turn the rotors every time I replace the pads?



Thanks for any help.



Bill Cook

 

[fest3er]

Originally posted by BC
... Brake questions:

1. Do I need to turn the rear drums? That's never been done.

2. Do I need to replace the brake hoses? They're still orginal.

3. What can cause the left pad to be used up and the right pad to look normal? Yes, I know the left pad is dragging on the rotor.

4. Should I turn the rotors every time I replace the pads?

Thanks for any help.

Bill Cook

1 & 4. The rotors and drums should be turned if they need it.

2. If the brake hoses look and feel OK, you probably don't need to replace them. However, you should replace the brake fluid soon, if you haven't already so done (or have never done).

3. Could be the caliper is hanging up and keeping pressure on the one pad. Lubing the caliper slides on a regular basis should minimize this.

I'm still on the original rear brakes (I believe). I've never had the drums turned. One front brake failed at around 36K IIRC. New rotors, calipers, pads. The pads were replaced a time or two after. I next had the front brakes done (rotors turned, pads) at around 93K.

For that matter, I had a whole bunch of stuff done around 93K miles: switched everything (almost) over to Amsoil, replaced the brake and P/S fluid, ball joints, front axle u-joints and seals (since it was apart anyway for the ball joints).

See sig for my truck description. I'm at 115K miles now and the truck still looks and sounds pretty darn good, and still has no squeaks or rattles.

Fest3er

 

[BC]

fest3er,



Thanks for the info.



I do replace the brake fluid every 24,000 miles. Plus every time I change the oil filter I suck out as much brake fluid from the reservoir as possible then top off with new fluid.



I'll check the brake lines.



Guess what I'm trying to avoid is going to someone who will just start replacing things whether the truck needs it or not... the Dodge dealership replaced my calipers, rotors, and pads just trying to get the truck to stop pulling to the left (after they had replaced the pads). Turned out the rears were out of adjustment. That lesson cost me a pretty penny.



Bill

 

[Bhale]

I don't know everything about brakes but i just replaced everything except the drums on mine and here's what i can tell you...



If the rear drums haven't been turned before they should be OK. Look closely at the surface for small cracks which would indicate a need for resurfacing.



To keep the rear brakes adjusted, back up at good rate of speed (~ 10-20 mph) and brake hard to a complete stop. Do this on a regular basis, daily if possible. The rear adjusters will do their thing for you. I back out of my driveway onto the street which runs downhill so this is a regular event for me.



The rotors on our trucks should be turned while still on the truck as you mentioned.



Look for uneven tire wear in your front tires. If your wheel bearings aren't adjusted correctly and one is too loose, the rotor will cock slightly during braking and cause pulling, uneven pad wear and uneven tire wear. New bearings, which should have been put in with the new rotors, need to be tourqued to ~50 ft/lbs while turning the rotor and then loosened and retightened finger tight. I suggest you check them before having the rotors turned.



Front brake hoses will degrade over time and use, they get spongy and expand when braking hard. It's not expensive to replace them so go for it if your so inclined.



When you said you replaced the brake fluid every 24,000 miles i assume you mean you flush the entire system? Air in one of the lines will cause the brakes to pull to one side.



I'd be surprised if pulling was caused by the rear brakes being out of adjustment. Is that what you are telling us?



When the front brakes are serviced, it's very important to clean and lubricate the surfaces that the calipers ride/slide on. Binding can cause pulling and uneven pad wear.



Always use fresh fluid from a sealed container. Don't let it sit on a shelf in a half empty container for weeks or months and then use it. Brake fluid is very hydroscopic and absorbs moisture quickly. This moisture lowers the boiling point and can cause rust to form in various brake components.



Sorry for the long post and good luck finding a good shop, it ain't easy and thats why i decided to do mine myself. It wasn't fun and i ran into several bumps in the process but i'm confident it's done right and brakes are something very important.



Brian

 

[BC]

Brian,



Thanks for all the info.



I've spent a good bit of the day reviewing past posts about brakes. I think I have a better handle on what to do.



I'll adjust the rears. I'll inspect the front discs to see what the rotors look like. Need to find out if the rotors need to be turned, replaced, or if they're ok as is. Then I'll order new pads from Sam Peterson. Finally, when I replace the front pads I'll pull the callipers, take them apart, and clean them.



I'm still trying to find a great brake shop in northwest GA.



Thanks for all the help, this is a great board.



Bill Cook