What brake pads are best?

[PFlory]

Does anyone have a recommended pad for longer life when towing. Although my factory front pads went for 48,000 miles, which is better than I usually get on any other vehicle, (I keep the exhaust brake on all the time even when unloaded) I'd like to put on a pad which won't eat my rotors to much, but still give long life.

 

[JaredH]

I'm no expert in the the brake pad market... but I just read an article in Diesel World (I think) about the attributes of cyrogenically treating your brake rotors. Says the process helps to minimize the abrasiveness of the rotor metal, relieve stress (which could cause warping), and strengthens... thus leading to a MUCH longer life. The article claimed it could double the life of the rotors. Maybe that would help your pad life as well!



So I probably know just enough to be dangerous, might be worth checking into.



Just my $0. 02

 

[pullya]

I made the mistake of trying to save a little money and bought the Dodge "Value Line" brake pads. I have never seen so much brake dust in my life. IMHO they are junk, junk, junk!!!! I know others think they are the greatest in the world but that has not been my experience. Next time I will either get the Hawk adverstized in Geno's or pay the price for the good Mopar brakes.

Jay

 

[PFranzese]

I put the Hawk LTS on my wife Grand Cherokee, great stopping power over stock and the brake dust is non-existent. I have washed the Jeep twice since putting them on and haven't had to even wash the wheels with anything more than water from the hose. I want to put the Hawk pads on my truck but its too new to justify the cost right now.

 

[jelag]

We usually average over 160K miles on Performance Friction pads... . We've never seen less that 90K miles on the stock pads... and have gone as long as 160K miles on a set of stock pads on our 04 3500 dually...

I don't think there is a best pad... . In reality there are only 3 or 4 formulas that most pad manufactures use... remember that to be sold here in the US they should conform to the FMSI (friction material standards institute) and SAE ( society of Automotive Engineers) standards... so for most vehicles there is a low end, where it will barely stop to Fed DOT standards and those pads that are so aggressive that they wear the rotor as fast as they wear the pad... (race car applications).

Almost all pads are imported even with companies like Wagner, Bendix... We look at brake pads as an investment in reduced labor over the life of the vehicle... we're after 500K miles of truck life before we sell... and the fewer man hours of labor we spend the better we are...

 

[MMeier]

For the first brake job on the '03 , I already have a set of stock Premium Mopar pads on the shelf, just like the ones that came on the truck. Currently have 221k on the stockers with most of that hauling heavy. Don't see any need for cryogenically frozen rotors and the like for a one ton truck. 48k only on a set, I'd be reviewing my driving habits, especially if you have a exhaust brake on the truck. My . 02

 

[AABEN]

Use the same that came on it. If you go to a harder pad you will also ware out your rotors faster. I have over 60. 000 on my brakes and looking to go 60. 000 more I also have a jake brake and 40. 000 of those miles are pulling my fifth wheel. Good luck

 

[MZahn]

I did some research and hopefully I did well. I bought centic top of THEIR line rotors and ceremic/carbon-fiber/composite pads. Part # 120. 67061 rotors and # 106. 09650 pads. Price was right at rock auto site.

I hope the do me well. I made the mistake of doing the replacement of the original pads at 90K with auto zone semi-metalic. At 115K rotors are chewed up and badly grooved.

 

[HBarlow]

For the first brake job on the '03 , I already have a set of stock Premium Mopar pads on the shelf, just like the ones that came on the truck. Currently have 221k on the stockers with most of that hauling heavy. Don't see any need for cryogenically frozen rotors and the like for a one ton truck. 48k only on a set, I'd be reviewing my driving habits, especially if you have a exhaust brake on the truck. My . 02

Ditto. I agree with everythng MMeier said and my experience with OEM Dodge brake pads has been similar to his.

I am surprised how often owners completely overlook the fact that factory engineers spend a small fortune testing and evaluating items like brake pads before they select them for original equipment. It is very hard and very expensive to find better brake components than OEM Dodge Ram unless the truck is used for some purpose not considered by the engineers or for a purpose they would not recommend or approve of.

 

[TimothyLong]

I replaced my OEM front brakes at around 64K with Wagner ThermoQuiets. I have almost 111K on my truck now and still have the original rear brakes and the Wagner's are hanging in there. But, the Wagner's do squeal (probably due to rotor glazing) and they make A LOT of dust and they do have good stopping power. I think that I would agree that the MOPAR Premium replacements are very good. However, some things to consider, if you do a lot of braking, whether heavy hauling / towing or just heavy traffic, then you might want to consider going with drilled and / or slotted front rotors for better heat dissipation and less warping. I've also seen postings on here about EGR Kevlar brake pads. Good wear, good stopping power, little to no dust.

 

[HBarlow]

Brake pads and rotors are wear items. A brake pad that produces little or no dust is wearing the rotors instead of the pad. I'd prefer to replace pads ever two hundred thousand miles than rotors. A Ram truck with an exhaust brake, even towing heavy trailers, does not wear it's brake pads out very frequently.

 

[mwilson]

I am close to 90,000 miles on the original brake pads and have 25% lining left at least with no engine brake. Will get the same pads it was born with when I replace them. Why mess with a good thing?? Will also do the same with the shocks as it is the best riding 3/4 ton 4X4 that I have ever set my somewhat sizeable butt in.

 

[BarryG]

MY 01 is still running the original rotors with 240k on them. First set of front pads went 130k, rear pads went to about 180k. I checked on replacing them with stock ones but the dealer told me while they sell brake pads they dont sell the same ones that came on the truck. This may very well be wrong or outdated but that is what they told me. I ended up going with Hawk pads from Genos and have been very happy with them.

 

[TimothyLong]

MY 01 is still running the original rotors with 240k on them. First set of front pads went 130k, rear pads went to about 180k. I checked on replacing them with stock ones but the dealer told me while they sell brake pads they dont sell the same ones that came on the truck. This may very well be wrong or outdated but that is what they told me. I ended up going with Hawk pads from Genos and have been very happy with them.

I have heard that too and I'm not sure how true it is. What I heard is that the best brakes made by the manufacturer go to the auto companies for use on new vehicles. Ones that don't quite meet that standard are sold retail as replacement parts. Not that they are defective or bad in any way. Just not premium like on a new vehicle. On my old '98 second gen, I had to have the fronts replaced and put a new set of MOPARs back on it. They performed every bit a good as the originals. Don't know how long they lasted as I sold that truck to a buddy of mine so I could get my '03 with an 8' bed. He still runs and said there isn't a thing wrong with it.