Working on brakes question

[NSperduto]

What kind of front brake pads are you folks using on your trucks and have any of you replaced your front rotors ?

Reason I'm asking is mine went metal to metal tonight. (I have 103k total on the truck)



My factory pads went to 44k (and I thought that was ok) and one of the inside pads was worn quite a bit more than the other, I put on a second set of OEM pads and they lasted 33k and they went metal to metal. So I popped on another set of factory pads and made a note to myself that I'll need rotors when I need the next set of pads, well these pads only lasted 28k. I'm guessing because of the rotor already having been chewed up and just putting pads on it, it wore out even faster. I've greased the slides and stuff on the caliper, but I'm guessing I have a sticking caliper or maybe they slides just aren't free enough. I've just been hesitant to change the calipers because of all the problems I had on a Dode Dakota with the brakes, the truck still stops well and straight, so I haven't changed the calipers.



Anyway it's now time for rotors and pads and the debate if I should change calipers.

I'm a bit nervous about using aftermarket rotors because on my Dakota and my Windstar, I had the cheapo rotors warp.



I need my truck this week because I believe snow is coming, so my plan was to throw on a cheap set of autozone pads tomorrow morning, and then continue to do research on what to buy.

I need to buy front pads, front rotors and I'll get new caliper slide pins, bushings, etc, making sure all is greased up well when I reinstall.





Any suggestions from you folks that have been through this.



Thanks,

Nick

 

[MMeier]

4th set in 103k ?? Maybe learn how to use them ?? I'd be starting over with all fresh factory stuff if it were mine . Just did my brakes all the way around for the first time a few weeks ago..... with 225k on the original stuff, most of that pulling/ hauling way over GVWR. Just roughed up the rotors some and put on some premium Mopar pads again, GTG !!

 

[NSperduto]

I agree, the truck is eating brakes and there is definitely something sticking on the front left wheel. I noticed it when I took the first set of pads out and I tried making sure the slides were not sticking, but that wasn't the case as the second set went to metal in a shorter time.
Now the 3rd set is even shorter on mileage and to be expected as it's braking on a rotor that's chewed up. but it's been awhile since I put them on, for the last 30k my truck is usually only used when It's snowing, i'm towing something or hauling something, the rest of the time it sits parked in my driveway. I bought a car for my regular driving. The towing is shared between a 10k camper trailer and a car trailer, the car trailer has no brakes, so I'm using my brakes even more. Since it's been awhile, (about 3 years) I actually forgot all about my brake issues until I heard them grinding tonight.
I put 77k on my truck in the 1st 3 years with a lot of commuting and 28k in the last 3 years with mostly hauling and towing.

I would say that when I took the 1st set out at 44k, the inside pad on the driver wheel was worn twice as much as the rest of the pads.

So the reason I'm going through so many brake pads is because I've never bothered to fix the problem, I've just thrown new pads at it and kept going.
And trust me, it's not me not knowing how to use the brakes properly. I've never had a vehicle eat brakes like this before.

I did change the rears out at 77k, I don't remember how close to worn out they were, but I had the pads already and the wheels off, so I did them anyway.

225k on brakes is wonderful, but you must do a lot of highway driving and have a stick, you have an exhaust brake ?.

So anyway, this is why I'm here asking to see if anyone else has had issues.

Thanks
Nick

 

[MMeier]

Yep, stick, and exhaust brake ! But I was hauling all kinds of heavy "stuff" for a while too... ocean containers, out of the L. A. , Long Beach ports, tanks, mining equipment and the like, and stacks of trailers out of Oklahoma. Most of the time coming out of the L. A. area, I was using the whoa pedal alot more then the go pedal ! LOL! Just trying to add a bit of humor to your situation, nothing personal !!! Sounds like a caliper piston may be sticking on the one side to me.

 

[pullya]

Just don't let them sell you the "value line" pads. There junk!!!!!!!! Stick with the OEM pads. They are a little pricey but they are a lot better than the "value line".

Jay

 

[jelag]

My 04 went 160K before the first brake job pulling a 20K lb trailer and my 05 now has over100 K with the OE brakes and my 08 has 110K with the OE brakes...

I've written pages on this forum about brakes and their upkeep... if you can't find my other posts I'll be happy to sit down in the next few days and write them again. .

I just don't have time this morning to do it now... .