2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Small Brake Rotors?

[Midnite]

I had a local shop do my brakes recently, and I noticed that my front braking power seemed a little weaker but I chalked it up to a different pad material, or something like that. Well, I was just out swapping my studded winter tires out for summer tires, and when I took the wheels off I noticed that the new rotors they gave me look like they're a smaller diameter than my old ones!



Do the gas-engine 2500 trucks have smaller rotors than the diesel 2500s? I'm just trying to figure out how I got smaller rotors (outside of the fact that the guy who worked on my truck was an idiot).

 

[CCiatteo]

Very good possibility. I recently did my front brakes and had to replace a caliper on the passenger side because the bleeder broke. When I went to get the new (rebuilt) one, the guy brought me out one for the standard front end (7500lbs?) not the 8800lb front axle and the caliper was different, so the same could have happened to you. Maybe he used rotors for the 7500lb front end?

 

[mwilson]

You have to constantly stress that it is an 8800lb. front axle to parts and service personell.



I just went through this when I repaired the RH inner axle on my 2nd Gen, argued for two days that there is a needle bearing supporting the end of the axle by the disconnect, not a plastic bushing like all the smaller Spicers have. Result was the Dodge on-line parts system didn't show it at all and I had to go into Spicer's on line stuff to find the part number for it.



It can be a challenge.



Did you look to see if the pads are hitting the rotor surface as they should???



If not, measure the diameter of the rotors that you have now, then swing into a good parts house and have them bring you out an 8800lb rotor to measure.

If you truly have a smaller one I would take the truck back and explain. It may not be all their fault even though the tech is supposed to check his parts, could have been boxed wrong.



Maybe the rotors are ok but they put cheap garbage brake pads on it. That could cause a loss of stopping ability as well.



Mike.

 

[Midnite]

Thanks--I didn't know about the 7500 lb vs 8800 lb front axle, but that's exactly the kind of thing I was thinking about.

The pads look like they're correct for the rotor, and they look okay from what I can see. I'm definitely going to measure the rotor diameter and compare. The online parts stores seem to indicate that I need a 12. 85" rotor. Both rockauto.com and discountbrakes.com came up with that.

I thought about taking it back, but honestly I'm done with this shop. I've already taken it back twice now on this same brake job. I'm just going to use this as an opportunity to learn how to do a proper brake job.

Thanks for the replies!