2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission OEM Brake pads no more

[BT]

Maybe this is old news - but I tried buying OEM pads for my 2001 from several dealers. They all said Dodge no longer supplies them, only the value line models are available. Said once the trucks start getting older they quit making parts. Not good and Dodge sucks for not supporting their vehicles.



I've heard the value line models are cheap immitations compared to the OEM's. Any recommendations on equivalent or better aftermarket pads?

 

[DAN V]

Les Schwab

Have you tried Les Schwab. They treated me pretty good in the past with brakes for my past vehicles.

 

[JR]

Ebc pads and drilled and slotted rotors. They make different grades of pads, I would get the softer ones (yellow IIRC)

I just checked on them the other day when I had my tires off, after 25k miles they dont even look like theyve worn much if any. Major improvement in stopping power over oem stuff.

 

[Dick Langendorff]

I just bought both front and rear OEM for my 04 2 wheel drive form Antioch Dodge in Antioch, CA. I made sure they were OEM and not Value Line. Yes, they are OEM.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Ebc pads and drilled and slotted rotors. They make different grades of pads, I would get the softer ones (yellow IIRC)

I just checked on them the other day when I had my tires off, after 25k miles they dont even look like theyve worn much if any. Major improvement in stopping power over oem stuff.

D4L

I dont know about those slotted rotors my Nephew put the drilled and slotted rotors on his wagon. STOP THEY DID!!!! and NO FADE AT ALL!!! but he went thru the brake pads like he owned a parts house. He questioned the store where he bought them and they said that the drilled are great for most all Road APPLICATIONS but the slotted are for more of a performance kind of thing. The Drilled would let the brake pad heat and gas from using them escape thru the middle of the rotor, that is a good thing. The slots act like a cheese grater type thing ALWAYS CLEANING THE PAD and giving a FLAT CLEAN brake pad surface to make stops better but pads are NOT!! going to last as long????????????????????

 

[JR]

D4L

I dont know about those slotted rotors my Nephew put the drilled and slotted rotors on his wagon. STOP THEY DID!!!! and NO FADE AT ALL!!! but he went thru the brake pads like he owned a parts house. He questioned the store where he bought them and they said that the drilled are great for most all Road APPLICATIONS but the slotted are for more of a performance kind of thing. The Drilled would let the brake pad heat and gas from using them escape thru the middle of the rotor, that is a good thing. The slots act like a cheese grater type thing ALWAYS CLEANING THE PAD and giving a FLAT CLEAN brake pad surface to make stops better but pads are NOT!! going to last as long????????????????????

BIG, my guess is he either didnt have the correct pad for his rotors or they were simply a cheap pad. The slotted rotors will actually initially build heat quicker than solid or even drilled roto:rs (pads need heat to bite). So if your running a cheap pad on a slotted rotor and the pad is rated for a lower temperature than yes it will rapidly wear the pad. Its important to buy a quality performance pad that is rated for the higher temperatures to go with the slotted rotors, and you should have no problems. Most places Ive seen that offer slotted rotors also recommend a specific brake pad to use with them.

If you go to EBC website they are a reputable company and offer many different combonations of pads/rotors from performance to towing. I got the set up they recommended for towing, they grab really well and are showing little to no wear to date. They dont cover my wheels with brake dust either

 

[BIGNASTY]

D4L

Dont know for sure what he bought!!! I use the Raybestos Advance Technology pads and have no intention of going to anything else. I use them on stock rotors and may look at drilled rotors when they need to be replaced. Have the same pads on my stock trailer, it has disc brakes on it and IM MORE!! THAN HAPPY WITH THE PRODUCT on both pieces of equipment.

http://www.raybestos.com/wps/portal...rake+Pads/Advanced+Technology+Disc+Brake+Pads

 

[Road Dog]

Most dealers sell several grades of pads from several manufacturers so who cares if a specific OEM pad is still available. Maybe it's been replaced by a better pad or the original was discontinued because it contained something bad for your health (like asbestos).



Drilled rotors are bad if you go offroad. Sand and gravel gets into the holes and chews up the pads.