2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Why do front brakes wear so fast?

[BigMike]

I've got 83k miles on my truck. Put new brakes on the front at about 50k. I rotated my tires yesterday, so checked my brakes. I have about 10k left on the fronts and over 50% left on the rears. By the time I need repace my rear brakes, I'll be on my 4th set of fronts the rate it's going. Why do the fronts wear out so much faster? Is there a brake out there that will last longer?

 

[jmeehan]

Do you keep the rear brakes adjusted? I guess, from what I've read on here, that the rear adjusters don't work all that well. Hence the front's wear out faster. You may try a search on brakes in the Second Gen forum and see what comes up.



On edit: I checked your sig again and see you have a stick and exhuast brake. Do you use the E-brake and down shift? I use mine all the time, my truck has 42,000 miles and my front brakes look great. I also have the four wheel disk, but I think it's the E-brake making the difference.

 

[wcjp]

Sounds like your driving style. I bought my used 96' about 45k ago. The dealership did a complete brake job f/r at the time. I recently bought new tires. While they were off I took a look. I had plenty of pad left. Honestly, it sounds like you're racing from light to light.



I don't have an exhaust brake.

 

[John - K5AWO]

I brake with my toe on the pedal. That allows for "feel" and a softer touch. Also, I visuallize stopping the truck so that I can see the axle of the vehicle in front. Allows some squirm room in case the guy in front stops suddenly.



I have one truck with 117,000 on the original pads before they were changed. I bought the '98 CTD and just changed the pads last week at 92,000. Right side was 50% down, the left front had a bad caliper and wore the outside pad to 25%, the inside pad was like the right side at 50%. The rotors were smooth so the previous owner was a soft brake pedal rider too.



Be sure the rears are set up correctly and use a soft toe.



IF you happen to be one who brakes hard in the last 100 feet, weight transfer will shift all the weight of the truck onto the front wheels. Rear wheel won't provide much stopping effort in that situation.

 

[msimmons]

The reason your front brakes wear more rapidly than the rear is that when stopping, the "weight" of the vehicle is "transferred" to the front wheels thus causing more brake wear. There is a GREAT article on brakes in the most recent edition of TDR... . recommended reading!



Mike

 

[willyslover]

Hey Mike . . turn on the exhust brake and leave it on. . life will get better

also put 1 ton rear brake slave cylinders on that bad boy. . it will make a big difference in stopping power on it. . they are a direct bolt in replacement

and as stated before adjust regularlyas the adjusters are junk IMHO

my 3500 was just changed out at 97500 and there was a bunch left on the pads. . I live in the mountains also... I use the exhaust brake all the time

 

[mhenon]

Front brakes!!!

I've noticed this same thing with my '02. Only the front brakes get dusty so I'm sure they're doing all the work. I thought there was some leveling sensor that would meter out more braking to the rear when the truck was loaded but I don't believe it. I tow alot (heavy) and just don't see that the rear brakes are doing much.

I'm not complaining about the stopping power of the truck in general. . it seems to work fine. I would just expect to see a little dust on the rear wheels if the rear brakes where doing their job.

Installing a 1 ton slave cylinder sounds like a good idea. I'll have to keep that in mind when the first break job comes up.



Mike

 

[willyslover]

mhenon

will not work on yours as you have 4 wheel disc brakes. .

the person I replied to has a 99 front wheel disc and rear wheel drum

 

[BigMike]

I believe mine has rear wheel drum!

 

[Joe G.]

I think that Dodge changed to the larger wheel cylinders for later trucks. You might want to check to see if the part number for the 2500 and 3500 brake cylinders are the same for your truck.



It's very important to keep the rears adjusted. You can't depend on the automatic adjusters. Some work ok, but most don't.



Driving habits cause more brake wear than anything else.

 

[BigMike]

The rears aren't my problem. It's the front brakes that are wearing faster!! I can probably get another 50k out of my rears.

 

[Joe G.]

If the rears aren't doing their job then all the braking is on the fronts so they wear faster.

 

[John - K5AWO]

Originally posted by BigMike

The rears aren't my problem. It's the front brakes that are wearing faster!! I can probably get another 50k out of my rears.

You have virtually answered your own question. The rears ARE you problem because they have NO wear on them.



The rear brakes are not working hard enough, if at all.

Check to be sure that they are adjusted correctly.



Jack up the back axle. transmission in neutral and roll the rear tires by hand. There should be the lightest of drag if the drum brake shoes are adjusted correctly.



i am betting (as others have already said here) that your rear brakes are not adjusted up to just barely kiss the drums.

 

[BigMike]

Yep. I finally put two and two together John. I'll do like you said and see what's up. Next question is: how do you adjust the rear brakes? Is it a manual adjust or can they be adjusted backing up like it states in the owners manual? I sure learn a lot from you guys!! I really appreciate it.

 

[Joe G.]

It's supposed to adjust by just backing up and slaming on the brakes. It usually doesn't work. If it does it only works on one side most of the time. Save time and frustration by just doing it manually.

 

[Turbo Thom]

Mike:

You sound a little lazy are just don't know how to adjust the brakes. So for the first part, put a jack under the rear chunk, jack the rear wheels off the ground, take the rubber cover off the lower hole on the brake backing cover, take a adjusting tool, insert onto the hole and rotate the adjusting wheel, bottom up. Now breathe. Turn the tire as you rotate the adjuster till you feel the shoe start to rub. Repeat the other side. Then you have the rear brakes adjusted. As to the other part, you gotta work on that.

My rear shoes lasted 196K miles before I replaced them. The fronts had been changed twice. I use my US Gear de-delerator all the time. Empty or loaded. Should be standard equipment on all diesels trucks.



. . Preston. . Good luck.

 

[BigMike]

Preston, I'm definitely not lazy. My wife can vouch for that. Truth is, I really don't know how to adjust brakes. I've always felt that god made some people to be mechanically inclined and some he didn't. I'm in the latter group. Thanks for your instructions. I'll give it a try. I've learned more about mechanicing through this forum than I ever thought I'd know. Thanks to all for your help

 

[Joe G.]

Mike,



It would pay you in money and satisfaction to learn to do some things on these trucks yourself. The brakes are a good example. Keeping them in good working order takes a little time, but it's a lot less expensive than haveing a shop replace them because they wear out too soon. These brakes also tend to pull to one side or the other if not maintained properly. PM me if you would like to know what I do and how to do it for brakes.

 

[BigMike]

Appreciate your offer of help Joe. I agree with you totally. I already know enough about my truck to be dangerous!! I'll bookmark this post and touch bases with you if I need to. Heading out of town in a few minutes and will be away from my computer until Tuesday nite. I'm already starting to suffer from withdrawals:--)

 

[Guest]

Heavy Engine up front and hot roddin wears em out quick... .