2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission When to change brake pads

[pmcnulla]

I have 23. 5K miles on my pads and have checked them, front and back. The front ones have 3/8" pad showing, with 1/2" on the back ones. I don't have a service manual yet but have noticed that Haynes says to swap them out when they get to 5/16". That seems to be a lot of pad to throw away. Over 50% of my miles involve towing but my trailer only weighs in at 5K.

 

[lschultz]

If they are now giving you any problems let them go. Son went over 100,000 before he changed his,probably could of went longer. Are you one of those drivers thats waits to the last to hit the brakes hard to stop?Son had over 100000 on his 99 before he changed front pads. Depends on how much weight you pull and it your one of those aggressive drivers.

 

[DSteinel]

I would venture to say around 1/4 in left. If you go much further than that the surface of the pad can heat up and fall apart, leaving you with metal to metal like mine was. then you would probably need rotors too, just like me. I had 42k on mine. DEAN

 

[TowPro]

funny part is, I remember doing the same thing. Stretching those pads until they were shot. Then I put on Performance Friction Carbon Metallic pads. My first thought after they broke in and I saw how well they worked was "why did I wait so long to put these on?"

Originally posted by pmcnulla

I have 23. 5K miles on my pads and have checked them, front and back.

 

[greendragon]

brakes

BE sure to check all wheels. found on my 98 4x4 that the right front was doing all the work. It was almost gone. Left front look good and so did the back. have replaced with EGR upgrade. Already feels better when stopping hard. Be careful there is a lot of Deer out there.

 

[pmcnulla]

Thanks for the info. I am not an aggresive driver; my daily driver is an extended cap Isuzu p/u with over 100k on it. No brake pads yet. I had bought a replacement set at 95K but when I pulled them, the originals were as thick as the replacements. I will follow your advice not to continue with the mopar parts. Maybe I won't have as much dust. Other than nerf bars and a sprayin liner, I am 100% stock but will soon have an exhaust brake installed.



Pat

 

[LSMITH]

I run them till the thinnest pad is 1/8th" thick. There is no reason to change them sooner.

 

[The patriot]

I have 93 K on the factory pads and shoes(old truck ).

I think the pads are getting there, I dont adjust the drums as much as I should so the front works harder than it should be.

On my last new car, I did them at 75K miles. It was way too soon, there was over 40% left.

It has much to do with each individual circumstance.

Eric

 

[JerryB]

Brakes

My pads had a 'wear finger' on them. This is basically just a little 'tab' that contacts the brake disk when the pad wears to a certain point. Its purpose is to make the brakes squeal while there is still a little bit of pad left. I say replace when this happens, or at 1/8 inch pad thickness.



My front brakes lasted to the mid-40,000 mile range, the rear looked like new yet at 60,000.

 

[TowPro]

Re: Brakes

Only problem with this is this finger is most likely on the outer bad.



On my 98, Every time It needed brakes the RF Inner pad would be shot, while the rest only looked 1/2 way or less worn.



I started to "rotate" the inner pads, then when both were worn I would return them to AutoZone for a new "FREE" set.



Even after replacing calipers I still had the same problem.

Originally posted by JerryB

My pads had a 'wear finger' on them. This is basically just a little 'tab' that contacts the brake disk when the pad wears to a certain point. Its purpose is to make the brakes squeal while there is still a little bit of pad left. I say replace when this happens, or at 1/8 inch pad thickness.



My front brakes lasted to the mid-40,000 mile range, the rear looked like new yet at 60,000.

 

[LSMITH]

Tow Pro is right, and that is why I said "thinnest pad". It will be an inside pad that is thinnnest. I should have elaborated a bit, but thankfully TP stepped up and spread the gospel... .

 

[JerryB]

That's odd, my '94 wears the front pads very evenly.

 

[Shooter]

I replaced mine at 40k. They were about 40% worn but I tow a lot and they would fade a little on LONG steep grades. They aso provided me with a set of perpetual red front wheels. I installed carbon metalic and wondered why I did't do it sooner. The hotter they get the better they work. Lots less dust. they have 30k on them and still like new.



I would do it for safety, the oems would fade real bad if the wheel was dround, the CM's grip when soaked.

Make sure you use plenty of squeal stop on the pad backing plates or they will sound like a Chebby when you hit the brakes.

 

[tgbol]

I have 63,000 miles on my truck. This morning I put on my second set of carbon metallics. I changed the original at 21,000 because I wanted better brakes. This morining I though I would check the pads. Down to 1/8", so I put new ones on.