2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Truck Likes to Eat Brakes

[MDunscomb]

A little background first:

Pads were worn out so I replaced them in Oct of '03. This was before I had found the the wonderful resource that is the TDR. So I didn't do anything but replace the old pads. No pins, no lube nothing. Sure enough I started getting heavy dusting, so I replaced the pads again with a new set of rotors and this time I carefully replaced and lubed the pins and any area that slides. Well that didn't work worth a darn, so in January I replaced the pads again in addition I also replaced the calipers, and the flex hose, in addition to flushing the brake lines and starting over. I took extra special care in lighlty filing the sliding surfaces. All three times I used quality pads with lifetime warranties from auto zone, and then Napa. After I replaced the pads and everything else realting to the brakes up front, I'm still getting much heavier than normal dusting, and a slight pull to the left. I'm not quite sure what to do at this point. Being a poor college student, I don't really want to take the truck to the dealer if I don't have to! Any help is appreciated

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Have you adjusted the rear brakes? You need to manually adjust the rear drum brakes periodically - the auto adjusters don't do a very good job.

 

[jelag]

Steve is correct about adjusting the rear brakes so they pull their share of the work load.....



You might want to do the following... . drive the truck and get the brakes hot... and pull up to a little grade... . and take you foot off the brake and put the truck into N and see if it will start to coast... if it doesn't you might have a caliper that is not allowing hte piston to retract and relase the brakes, which will cause rapid pad wear... . if you find that the truck doesn't roll... I'd put the truck up on a stand and see if I can spin the wheel by hand... (I do this test once a day by habit at a stop light on the way home)



When ever we see an excessive amount of brake wear its always because of piston / caliper fit... . and dirt that does't allow the piston to retract... . fresh Caliper kits and NEW pistons.....



Hope this has been some help... .



BTW - if you lube the moving parts... do it very carefully... . that lube will attract dirt... . and can cause more problems.....



Jim

 

[dmistal]

MDunscomb,I'm wondering what pads you liked better,the AutoZones or NAPAs? I've got the PFCM now and my peddal is good,but I don't seem to have the stopping power I'm looking for. I too adjust my rears periodically,towing quite a bit.

 

[MDunscomb]

I'm don't know why I never thought to look at the rears, but when I went to adjust the left rear, much to my dismay I found the spring that connects the two pads on the bottom to be broken and hanging down in front of the self adjuster! looks like I have a project for tomorrow evening... Thanks guys, Matt

As far as perferred pad- the Napa's didn't get eaten up near as fast as the Auto Zone pads... But I think there are too many variables in this equation to make a fair statement!

 

[dseabaugh]

If you find you still eat pads after getting your rear brakes in order, then you may need to install oversized rear wheel cylinders. DC finally came up with a TSB on this after everyone else had been doing it for years. It puts more pressure on the rear shoes so the front doesn't have to work so hard. This is mainly for trucks that don't run around empty all the time. I have posted Napa parts numbers several times but can look it up again if you need them. Cost me about $25. 00 bucks for the change. Big difference.

 

[willyslover]

[as stated above]. . also put in 1 ton slave cylinders in rear . . huge improvement !! they are a bolt in job. . fit fine !



do a search on it and you'll find several good threads

 

[GrantP]

According to this info... . http://dodgeram.org/tech/specs/brakespecs.htm

The 1997-99 2500's already have the same size wheelcylinders as the 1 tons. Seems like only the 94-96 2500's would benefit?

 

[C Schomer]

Mine had the small cylinders! Craig

 

[dseabaugh]

My 97 had 7/8" inch cylinders. I replaced the sad wimpy factory cylinders with NAPA tru stop part number 4637337. Both sides are the same and it is a simple unbolt-bolt on change with a brake bleed afterwards. I always thought my wifes Cirrus had the best brakes of anything I have ever driven. Now her brakes seem like wimps to my truck and no more front brakes every 10,000 miles. Oo.