Time to do brakes and rotors on my 3500

[Gonzo 1066]

The 04 3500 is in need of brakes front and rear. I like the idea of a drilled and slotted rotor. Who had updated, who did you use. How did it go. . Is update in parts the way to go?? Or should I stick with stock rotors and pads.

 

[WalterJ]

Gonzo1066: Since I tow a 14K# 5th wheel RV about 15K miles/year, my brake expert advised I stay with the great OEM brake pads due to their strength. I've since had an exhaust brake installed, so the extreme duty of holding back 21K# rig on a 6% grade is no longer required IMHO. I'm ready for my 2nd set of brakes & will be installing drilled/slotted front rotors with premium ceramic pads. I'm at 184K miles on my '04. 5, 3500 SRW.



Your blog stated no details of load or driving demands on you vehicle, so I offered my 2 cents. Safe travels.

 

[ceastmen]

Brake Performance

Check out Brake Performance in Chatsworth California, a nice site.

Made in USA

 

[Grizzly]

Gonzo, I too support the OEM brake pads. I don't know about rotors having never installed any on either of my Dodge 3500 DRW's.



george

 

[AH64ID]

I have heard that the brake pads you buy over the counter are not the same pads that Dodge puts on the truck on the assembly line.

Let us know what you go with.

 

[BrianJ]

I have heard that the brake pads you buy over the counter are not the same pads that Dodge puts on the truck on the assembly line.



Let us know what you go with.

They have a value line and premium pad over the counter, with the premium pad being the factory original. If you want to get the same great life of the factory pads, go with the premium pads, the value line does not wear near as well.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

Thanks for the reply's Sorry I did not include more description of my towing-driving use of my truck Here it is
My 04. 5 has had a PacBrake on it from when it was new. IT has ALWAYS been pulling trailer and of the 120,000 miles on it MAYBE 600 miles are without a GCVW of 22,000#. I currently tow a 37' Living quarters GN cargo trailer. All of my towing is in the MTs of the western states. I do not avoid the big grade passes, and have been on as steep as Sonora pass at 26% grade in places!! (I wil never do that pass again) The stock brakes have held up rather well, but I just want to go with the best brakes I can buy.

Sonora Pass - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is going to be a winter project for me. Have to get through this towing season first.

 

[RBridenbaugh]

Just finished doing the rears (rotors, calipers and pads). Followed the procedure and more than 60 pictures from a different forum to pull the axles on the dually and do a complete rear brake job on my '05 3500.



Replaced the rotors with premium slotted rotors (150k miles on the originals, heat cracks visible) ~$159 each from Brake Parts Warehouse, brake rotors, brake pads, high performance brakes in Los Angeles (non-slotted were ~$110 each). Shipping added ~$30 each to get to San Mateo, since each rotor is 35 lbs each. Still less than locally available rotors. Their website isn't great, but just called and talked to Hector who was very knowledgable



Replaced the calipers with remanufactured ones ~$60 each (piston boot rubber starting to crack, slide pin boots cracked/torn and caliper not sliding smoothly). Caused uneven wear on the pad and was the root cause for the squeak that I heard, which resulted in me doing the rears.



Went with the factory original pads. Stopped truck well. Not much noise or dust. Reasonable rotor life. Use an exhaust brake most of the time with a 4,200 lbs slide-in camper in the back, so elected not to go with more aggressive fleet type pads.

 

[AH64ID]

They have a value line and premium pad over the counter, with the premium pad being the factory original. If you want to get the same great life of the factory pads, go with the premium pads, the value line does not wear near as well.

I am still on my OEM's, but I have heard neither of the pads available over the counter are the same as OEM's, and they both wear much faster. It has been several years since I looked into this, hopefully it has changed. . but at my last understanding the premiums were still a grade below OEM.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Here's another vote for OEM.



I've tried the value pads, . . . . er uhhhhh dust makers.



I'm at 200k and still have the original rotors and have only changed front/rear pads once.

 

[HBarlow]

I've never turned or replaced a rotor and have only replaced front pads once on my '01 with 325k and '06 with 230k. The pads are original in my '08 w/110k miles. All three have pulled a trailer extensively but have all had an exhaust brake. I would stick with OEM rotors and pads for my money.

 

[TGVET]

Brakes and Rotors

Finally changed brakes and rotors all the way around at 228,600 on 10/11 w/Duralast Gold severe duty pads and new parking brake pads as well. I got a lot of miles out of the OEM stuff @ 100miles plus per day. I wanted to go with the slotted rotors and better calipers but decided to continue on with OEM equivalents and spend the savings on other needed items.



Those being, a new MFS, hoses, Heater Treater blend doors,(can't wait to tackle that task. . NOT) a windshield (done), fan belt (better get that one ASAP)HID's, tires and whether or not to install the 50HP nozzles or entirely new injectors.



So far, I guess I've had better luck than some owners and worse luck than others from the various threads over the span of 5+years. Many are amazed at how well my Ram is still performing with OEM gear an little failures. I guess my biggest disappointment with my rig is the failure of the heater blend doors and what it's going to take to fix em the right way. The way they should have been built from the get go. I have nothing but endless four letter words for that failure in design.

 

[mroodzant]

I am still on my OEM's, but I have heard neither of the pads available over the counter are the same as OEM's, and they both wear much faster. It has been several years since I looked into this, hopefully it has changed. . but at my last understanding the premiums were still a grade below OEM.

Curious how many miles on them? I am about to turn 120K in the 03 6sp with J brake, all original pads, still look about 50%???????

 

[mroodzant]

Curious how many miles on them? I am about to turn 120K in the 03 6sp with J brake, all original pads, still look about 50%???????

Thats with a fair bit of towing

 

[HBarlow]

That's pretty common on trucks equipped with an exhaust brake.

 

[AH64ID]

Curious how many miles on them? I am about to turn 120K in the 03 6sp with J brake, all original pads, still look about 50%???????

That's pretty common on trucks equipped with an exhaust brake.

I am at 72K miles and well over 50%. Between the quality of the pads and the exhaust brake it pretty common for people to get over 150K miles out of OEM pads.

The exhaust brake is a great brake saver for sure.