Ok Guy's, (and gals of course) I wanna be pc here.

I have almost 56K on my 3500 and I will need new brake pads soon. A friend had new pads installed a coupla years ago on his 2500 and they lasted about 15K and were gone. He didn't know at the time that "any old brake pad" wouldn't do the job.

When he replaced those "new", but worn out pads, he bought what was recommended by a pretty good guy and they are doing real good. He does not remember the name of the pads, but they are RED in color.

Any idea who makes these red pads...or do you recommend something else. I am towing a travel trailer about 90% of the time my engine is running, so I need a good brake pad.

Also planning to install an exhaust brake...looking at pac brake right now. Any opinions...?
Thanks...
chuck

 

I've been told performance friction, sold at auto zone, makes a good pad but don't have any personal experience.

 

15,000 miles for a front set of pads is reasonable.

 

Geico266 wrote: 15,000 miles for a front set of pads is reasonable

Well...I guess I'm looking for unreasonable then... the ones I have on there now (original) have almost 56K on them. Had them checked recently and they have about 35-40% left, but I thought I would go ahead and change them b4 going out on the next extended trip.

I'm pretty easy on brakes...I let off and (gently) use the gears to slow down as soon as I see it will be necessary to slow or stop. I am almost 63 years old and have NEVER had to have brakes put on a vehicle...and I Put almost 150K on a 1984 crysler 5th ave once. The only thing ever done to it was the plastic timing gear replaced, (b4 it broke), and one (that's right O-N-E) new set of tires, front at 87K and rear at 97K.

So I am accustomed to things lasting a long time... I hope my luck holds out with the injector pump on my 3500...!!!!

 

You will have wear someplace over time. I would rather wear and change pads than chew up rotors. I just did my front brakes a few months ago and the previous owner had put on lifetime brake pads. I bought 2 new rotors.

 

Yep...that's my opinion also...that's why I want to change them b4 that happens...just need to find out which ones to get. The RED ones have done real well on my friends 2500. If I can't find them guess I will just go to the dodge dealer...the OEM's have done pretty well...!

 

Traveler,

My best advice is to replace the calipers at the same time!! I've been there and done that, ruined slotted rotors........in 15k miles!

Replace the calipers and brake pads/rotors and do it once instead of twice

Rick

 

Hmmm, I would not consider that reasonable. Yes one or the other will wear. I put over 50K on my '99 before I did the fronts. And it was used. The pads where not replaced by the dealer either. I went with the Autozone premium. The ones with a two year warrenty, not life time.

A friend of mine used them on his '97 2wd and had good luck. He failed to clean the edge around the caliper and one side froze. This in turn ate up one of the pads. They where warrentied and there was no damage to the rotor. Also they improve the stopping distance. When I (or my wife) go from the 97 to the 99 we usually eat the wheel one because of the difference in braking.

Randy

 

Is it possible that they guy's with disc's in the back are seeing a longer life on the front pads?
I got 35,000 out of my last set.

 

I'm following this conversation with a great deal of interest. It's interesting to note the different expectations each of us have from what we own/operate.

If I have "any problems" under a 100K on a vehicle, I feel like I have gotten a lemon...!

I average about 10K a year on my 01' 3500, have almost 56K on it now, and I'm still running the original michelin tires. If they don't give any problem b4 then, I will probably change them this next summer with about 60K on them because I tow a travel trailer, and the tires will be over 6 years old. That is the main duty of "clyde" (short for clydesdale) to tow the travel trailer and when the engine is running, the trailer is behind him about 90-95% of the time. I drive a jeep wrangler and a scooter for everyday vehicle's.

The jeep wrangler is a 2000 with almost 54K on it. It has never been touched with a wrench...not even plugs, and still has half the tread on the OEM michelin's that came on it.

So I'm kinda spoiled I guess and MY expectations have become somewhat more demanding than others. But I'm also a believer in the old addage..."you make your own luck". I think the way I drive and maintain my vehicles has a lot to do with their longivity.

Just food for thought....

 

OMG! Guys & Gals! You are only seeing 30-40K from a set of brake shoes????

I had the Jake brake added back in the first year I owned the truck...

I'm at 72K miles now on the clock and my brakes are NOT even 50% wore yet on the stock shoes. I figure I will be getting a set of brake shoes by 175K or 200K miles roughly. 75% of all my braking is done with a jake brake. The only time I use a service brake is to STOP!

Yes once a month I pull my tire to rotate them and inspect the brake pads.

By current logs I travel 22K per year in both highway and city traffic.
I got no idea what you guys are doing to eat shoes up that quick! 15K miles that's a joke... I would say someone has some poor driving habits... (Tailgating or following to close...)

 

Lotsa power =lotsa speed=short brake life!

 

I put the Performance Frictions on the front a couple of months ago, no complaints. $50 from AutoZone. They do dust about as much as the stock pads, I think, but since they're gray the dust isn't as noticeable on the wheels as the rust-colored dust from the stock pads. Which of course is going to make me even lazier about washing and detailing the truck...

 

Both mine and my buddy's truck had to have the front brake pads replaced before 60% worn at 160,000km(100,000 mlies) due to the pad material seperating from the backing plates. The rear were changed at the same time on both trucks but mine has discs, the inside on both rear discs were worn badly and the outside 50%. Less than 50k miles on brakes to me indicates other problems in driving technique or weather/road conditions causing excessive wear. Trucks with automatics will always have higher brake wear as the brakes are used for all stopping and some drivers will drag the brakes (riding the peddle). Replaced them with NAPA units and they seem to be OK at 215k kms. PK

 

I replaced my rears at 81k last month and the front will be done next month, the rear shoes were down to about an eight of an inch above the rivets and the front pads have about 70% worn off.

75-80% of my driving is towing.
I got shoes and pads from Checker Auto, but Auto Zone looks the same to me, just a little higher in this case.